Local residents are being urged to remain on guard as the autumn bushfire outlook reveals an increased fire risk will continue in the region over the coming months, with Waratah Bay and Wilsons Promontory singled out as areas of particular concern.
The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) has warned in its latest bushfire outlook for Autumn 2025, that despite cooler temperatures arriving, the persistent dry conditions mean bushfire risk remains higher than in previous years, with West and South Gippsland districts among those facing elevated danger.
“The dryness of the vegetation in the environment will still remain,” said CFA Chief Fire Officer Jason Heffernan, who identified Leongatha, Waratah Bay, and Wilsons Promontory as locations with particularly high fire danger.
Fish Creek and District CFA Captain Ray Poletti told the Prom Coast News that it’s not just Waratah Bay that would be in trouble if a fire sparks. “It’s the entire coastal area that’s drying out at the moment. Sandy Point, Walkerville, Venus Bay, all the coastal fringe tends to dry faster because of the winds.”
He recommends leaving if the conditions are bad in one of these towns. “If you’re living in an area of high fire danger and the conditions are dangerous - that is, high temperatures and low moisture - the best thing to do is to get out. If any of the coastal areas go up, there’s only one road in and out.”
The extended fire season comes as rainfall remains scarce across Victoria, with eastern parts of the state recording no more than 50-100mm since January 1. Fish Creek has recorded just 72mm while Foster has seen drops of only 62mm since the start of the year. This lack of precipitation has left topsoil and forested areas particularly vulnerable, even as autumn progresses.
While significant fires have already affected western Victoria this summer, including thousands of hectares in the Grampians and Little Desert national parks, authorities are now concerned about fire activity spreading eastward. A fire near Licola has already burned more than 2,000 hectares and is not yet under control as of writing.
Visitors to campsites that allow fires - such as Bear Gully in Walkerville South - are being asked to take extra precautions, with authorities warning that a fire near Licola was most likely caused by a campfire. With the Prom Coast almost as popular in autumn as summer, officials are emphasising the need for responsible fire management in recreational areas.
Victoria’s acting Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch was emphatic in his warning: “It doesn’t matter where you live, now is not the time to be complacent.” Cara Schultz
