New Fire Danger Ratings are here

All hazards

Risks spanning across multiple hazard types and across the emergency management system.

Biosecurity

Exotic animal and plant disease outbreaks and pest incursions can have significant economic, community and environmental impacts.

Bushfire and other fires

Bushfire and other fires have potential consequences including loss of life and property, and damage to infrastructure and environment.

Climate change

Risks include more days of extreme heat, harsher fire weather, less rainfall and rising sea levels.

Communications disruption

Communications services are crucial in keeping communities safe, connected and informed before, during and after emergencies.

Cyber security and ICT systems failure

Risks relating to the confidentiality, availability, integrity of information and data and disruption of services.

Energy supply disruption

Reliable energy supplies are critical to many social and economic activities.

Flood

Major flood events have occurred in Victoria every 10 to 20 years, with much of the increasing risk created by human settlement.

Hazardous material incident

Potential risks relate to many places where Victoria’s hazardous materials are manufactured, stored, transported, used and disposed.

Heatwave

Heatwaves are considered to be the ‘silent killer’ of extreme weather events and are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in Australia.

Public health emergency

Risks may relate to the delivery of public health services, with impacts on community health and wellbeing and potential for loss of life.

Supply chain disruption

Geopolitical, environmental, economic, societal and infrastructure-related shocks can expose supply chains to wide ranging consequences.

Terrorism and extremism

Attacks carried out by individuals or non-state groups with ideological, political or religious goals can result in loss of life, severe injury and/or material damage.

Water supply disruption

Risks include collection, storage, treatment, delivery, availability and allocation of water for consumption and environmental, recreation and cultural uses.

Workforce and resourcing

Risks may relate to human resource supply and skills to support emergency management operations.

Fire Danger Ratings have changed
The way we determine and communicate Fire Danger Ratings has changed.
A new national Fire Danger Rating System has been developed using the latest science to be more accurate and relevant to where you live.
The new system will be used across Australia so whether you’re at home or travelling, you will see the same system being used.
Community feedback was used in the design process to help it make it easier to understand and to provide you with clearer advice about how to stay safe.

The new Fire Danger Ratings

There are four levels of fire danger in the new system:

Moderate - Plan and prepare
High - Be ready to act
Extreme - Take action now to protect your life and property
Catastrophic - For your survival, leave bushfire risk areas

Fire Danger Ratings will be issued on days when there is a fire risk.

Each fire danger will have a clear set of messages including the actions the community can take to reduce their risk.

What are Fire Danger Ratings?

Fire Danger Ratings provide information so people in affected areas can take action to protect themselves and others. The higher the fire danger, the more dangerous the conditions and the greater the impact will be if a fire starts.

What’s changed?

The new Fire Danger Rating system has four levels (instead of six); Moderate, High, Extreme and Catastrophic.

There’ll be actions for each level, so you’ll know what to do to protect your life, family and property.

You’ll start seeing the new fire danger ratings online and in your local community from September 2022.

Fire Danger Rating roadside signs

Roadside signs will start to be replaced and updated from 1 September 2022. The look and feel of the new signs will be the same in all states and territories across Australia. Prioritisation in Victoria will be given to those communities most at risk. 

Find out more

Check out the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities (AFAC) website (External link) and FAQs, or Prepare and Get Ready - VicEmergency (External link)

You’ll be able to check the daily fire danger for your area on the CFA website (External link).

You can also use the VicEmergency smartphone app to check the fire danger for your area.

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The new Fire Danger Ratings

What are Fire Danger Ratings?

What’s changed?

Fire Danger Rating roadside signs

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