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
2018 Summary of investigation into DELWP breaches of planned burn control lines 2016–17 (External link) A summary of observations, findings, and recommendations into management of investigations into planned burn breaches for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017. This process has led to the improvement of DELWP’s risk assessment process for planning its bushfire fuel management on public land and its internal assurance processes. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2018 2018 South West Fires Community Report (External link) A report capturing feedback directly from the community and identifying key lessons from the 2018 South West fires, it identified areas of ongoing concern including perceived fire risks associated with vegetation management, roadside vegetation, and power distribution systems. Emergency Management Victoria
2018 Annual Report - Implementation of recommendations on bushfire fuel management - October 2017 (External link) The second and final annual progress report on implementation of recommendations from the 2015 Review of performance targets for bushfire fuel management on public land and the 2015 Independent Investigation of the Lancefield-Cobaw Fire. The report signals the completion of the move from a hectare-based fuel reduction target, to a risk reduction target. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2017 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry - Annual Report 2017 (External link) A progress assessment of implementation of recommendations and affirmations from the 2014 and 2015–16 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry reports. The report concluded significant progress to improve emergency planning and coordination, health outcomes and mine rehabilitation in the Latrobe Valley following the Hazelwood mine fire. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2017 Implementation of recommendations from the Review of Performance Targets for Bushfire Fuel Management on Public Land – Annual Report 2016 (External link) An annual progress report of recommendations from the review of performance targets for bushfire fuel management on public land, this report found that the move from a hectare-based fuel reduction target to a risk-reduction target had been completed. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2017 Inquiry into Fire Season Preparedness (External link) A public inquiry into the preparation and planning undertaken for fire seasons focusing on the work of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and its agencies, including Parks Victoria.
This report considered causes of bushfire ignitions, fundamental principles of bushfire fuel management with a focus on planned burning, other bushfire mitigation measures with a focus on evacuation policies, the effect of climate change on the bushfire season and emergency management coordination arrangements with a focus on the concept of shared responsibility and relevant legislative frameworks. 		Parliament of Victoria
2016 2013–14 Fire Season Compliance Report – 2016 Final Progress Update (External link) Final progress report on the implementation of identified actions from three 2013–14 fire season reports; these actions related to improvements to road traffic management, community involvement, initial attack and utilisation of resources, cross-border fire arrangements and other systemic issues. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2016 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry - Annual Report 2016 (External link) An assessment of the Victorian Government's progress of the recommendations from the 2014 and 2015–16 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry reports, in line with the Victorian Government Implementation Plan and its 246 actions to address the recommendations and affirmations. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2016 Lancefield-Cobaw Fire - Interim Progress Report - February 2016 (External link) A progress report on the implementation of the 22 recommendations from the independent investigation into the Lancefield-Cobaw fire and 10 additional commitments that DELWP made to improve the delivery of the Bushfire Fuel Management Program. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2016 Report of the Victorian Fire Services Review: Drawing a line, building stronger services (External link) A review on the capacity of CFA and MFB to continue to deliver essential services to the community in the face of new challenges around population growth, demographic changes, climate change, urbanisation and globalisation. The review identified three areas for improvement: Workplace culture, governance and interoperability. Independent