About Fire Danger Ratings

Fire Danger Rating wheel The Fire Danger Rating tells you how dangerous a fire would be if one started.

It helps you to know when conditions are dangerous enough to enact your bushfire survival plan.

Ratings are forecast using Bureau of Meteorology data for up to four days in advance, based on weather and other environmental conditions such as fuel load.

The rating is your prompt to take action to stay safe.

Check your district's rating

What do the ratings mean and what should you do?

	What does it mean?	What should I do?
	These are the worst conditions for a bush or grass fire. Homes are not designed or constructed to withstand fires in these conditions The safest place to be is away from high risk bushfire areas	Leaving high risk bushfire areas the night before or early in the day is your safest option - do not wait and see. Avoid forested areas, thick bush or long, dry grass Know your trigger - make a decision about: when you will leave where you will go how you will get there when you will return what will you do if you cannot leave
	Expect extremely hot, dry and windy conditions. If a fire starts and takes hold, it will be uncontrollable, unpredictable and fast moving. Spot fires will start, move quickly and come from many directions. Homes that are situated and constructed or modified to withstand a bushfire, that are well prepared and actively defended, may provide safety. You must be physically and mentally prepared to defend in these conditions.	Consider staying with your property only if you are prepared to the highest level. This means your home needs to be situated and constructed or modified to withstand a bushfire*, you are well prepared and you can actively defend your home if a fire starts If you are not prepared to the highest level, leaving high risk bushfire areas early in the day is your safest option Be aware of local conditions and seek information by listening to your emergency broadcasters, go to cfa.vic.gov.au or call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667
	Expect hot, dry and possibly windy conditions. If a fire starts and takes hold, it may be uncontrollable. Well prepared homes that are actively defended can provide safety. You must be physically and mentally prepared to defend in these conditions.	Well prepared homes that are actively defended can provide safety - check your bushfire survival plan. If you are not prepared, leaving bushfire prone areas early in the day is your safest option. Be aware of local conditions and seek information by listening to your emergency broadcasters, go to cfa.vic.gov.au or call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.
	If a fire starts, it can most likely be controlled in these conditions and homes can provide safety. Be aware of how fires can start and minimise the risk. Controlled burning off may occur in these conditions if it is safe - check to see if permits apply.	Check your bushfire survival plan. Monitor conditions. Action may be needed. Leave if necessary.

What does it mean?

What should I do?

These are the worst conditions for a bush or grass fire.

Homes are not designed or constructed to withstand fires in these conditions

The safest place to be is away from high risk bushfire areas

Leaving high risk bushfire areas the night before or early in the day is your safest option - do not wait and see.

Avoid forested areas, thick bush or long, dry grass

Know your trigger - make a decision about:

when you will leave
where you will go
how you will get there
when you will return
what will you do if you cannot leave

Expect extremely hot, dry and windy conditions.

If a fire starts and takes hold, it will be uncontrollable, unpredictable and fast moving. Spot fires will start, move quickly and come from many directions.

Homes that are situated and constructed or modified to withstand a bushfire, that are well prepared and actively defended, may provide safety.

You must be physically and mentally prepared to defend in these conditions.

Consider staying with your property only if you are prepared to the highest level. This means your home needs to be situated and constructed or modified to withstand a bushfire*, you are well prepared and you can actively defend your home if a fire starts

If you are not prepared to the highest level, leaving high risk bushfire areas early in the day is your safest option

Be aware of local conditions and seek information by listening to your emergency broadcasters, go to cfa.vic.gov.au or call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667

Expect hot, dry and possibly windy conditions.

If a fire starts and takes hold, it may be uncontrollable.

Well prepared homes that are actively defended can provide safety.

You must be physically and mentally prepared to defend in these conditions.

Well prepared homes that are actively defended can provide safety - check your bushfire survival plan.

If you are not prepared, leaving bushfire prone areas early in the day is your safest option.

Be aware of local conditions and seek information by listening to your emergency broadcasters, go to cfa.vic.gov.au or call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.

If a fire starts, it can most likely be controlled in these conditions and homes can provide safety.

Be aware of how fires can start and minimise the risk.

Controlled burning off may occur in these conditions if it is safe - check to see if permits apply.

Check your bushfire survival plan.

Monitor conditions.

Action may be needed.

Leave if necessary.

You can download a copy of the Fire Danger Rating Brochure - pdf 76k

What do the ratings mean and what should you do?

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