South eastern Australia, including Victoria, is among the most bushfire-prone areas in the world.

Victoria’s high bushfire risk is due to a combination of factors including increasing population density in fire-prone areas.

Major bushfires can lead to loss of life and injury, damage to key state infrastructure such as electricity transmission lines, water supply assets and transport links.

Additionally, fast moving grass fires in metro/rural interface environments, structure fires in urban environments, and mine fires caused by fires in nearby bushland all pose their unique challenges and consequences.

Examples of significant bushfires and related fires include the 2009 Black Saturday fires, 2014 Hazelwood mine fire and more recently the 2019-20 fires which led to major reviews at state level and a Royal Commission at national level: Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian Fire Season and Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements respectively.

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Publish year Assurance activity Summary Organisation
2022 Assurance of DELWP breaches of planned burn control lines - 2020-21 (External link) IGEM's sixth report on breaches of planned burn control lines, covering the period 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. It includes a summary of bushfire fuel management in Victoria, and provides a progress update on implementation of two, ongoing recommendations made in previous reports - assessing one as complete, and the other as in progress. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2022 Major Event Review of the 2019–20 bushfires (External link) A review that assessed Victoria’s Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) in relation to the impacts of the 2019-20 bushfires. The review panel prepared a suite of 37 recommendations, identifying remedial actions for the Victorian and Australian governments to address the impacts of the bushfires on RFA regions. Independent
2021 Annual Report 2020-21 Year one: Setting the foundations (External link) A snapshot of key progress, issues and opportunities across the Fire Services Reform Year One Implementation Plan activities in the period 15 October 2020 to 30 June 2021, it identifies further areas for action or review. Fire Services Implementation Monitor
2021 10 Years Beyond Bushfires Report (External link) An overview of the key learnings in the 10 years since the 2009 Victorian bushfires, including Black Saturday. The results showed individual and community capacity to recover from a disaster experience and subsequent disruptions, and to adapt to changed lives and environments. Recommendations made in the report help to apply these findings to individual decision making, community-level strategies to strengthen resilience, and the targeting and timing of recovery services. Academia
2021 Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian Fire Season - Phase 2 report (External link) An examination focusing on progress and effectiveness of immediate relief and recovery arrangements following the 2019–20 fire season. The report includes 48 observations, 111 findings and 15 recommendations in identifying good practice and opportunities for continuous improvement. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2021 Assurance of DELWP breaches of planned burn control lines - 2019-20 (External link) A report on observations and progress updates relating to DELWP’s planned burns that breach control lines, and a summary of implementation of ongoing recommendations related to planned burning. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2021 Speaking Up: Young people’s experience of Bushfire and Recovery (External link) A report produced in partnership with the Victorian Government’s Department of Education and Training and Bushfire Recovery Victoria, and informed by consultations with young people and community members to document their experience of disaster recovery and response to the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires. It makes 13 recommendations by young people and by YACVic based on young people’s expressed needs. Emergency Recovery Victoria, Department of Education, Independent
2021 Bushfires 2019–20 (External link) A short overview of the 2019–20 fire season and government responses to date. It includes an overview of bushfire inquiries that have been conducted over the past two decades and highlights the considerable information collated by recent inquiries relating to two of the major issues linked with this fire season - prescribed burning and climate change. Parliament of Victoria
2021 Lessons to be learned in relation to the Australian bushfire season 2019-20 - Final Report (External link) The second and final report examines the impact of the 2019-20 bushfires on human health and welfare, and the recovery process including assistance provided and the appropriateness of recovery programs; insurance issues; aerial firefighting capability; and hazard mitigation for future events. The report makes 16 recommendations to ensure more coordinated, equitable and efficient recovery processes. Parliament of Australia
2021 Fire Services Implementation Monitor Annual Report 2020-21 (External link) An assessment of the first eight months of implementation progress of Victoria’s fire services reforms (15 October – 30 June 2021) focused on 36 of the 54 Year One Fire Services Reform Implementation Plan (Year One Plan) actions, categorised and assessed under three themes: agency capacity and capability, collaboration between CFA and FRV, and workplace culture and diversity. Fire Services Implementation Monitor