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Fire Danger is a rating system which indicates how a fire will burn under current conditions.

Fire danger is influenced by:
Fuel type
Wind
Relative Humidity
Fuel Moisture Content

To work out your fire danger refer to the appropriate weather station by Clicking Here

Note: Fire weather data is measured at 12.00 noon each day and calculated to predict the Fire Danger during mid-afternoon - the danger period.
Southern Rural Fire District monitors daily the fire weather indices. These indices can then be used to calculate the current fire dangers.

The Fire Danger can vary significantly throughout the day and is greatly influenced by wind and relative humidity. Fire Danger can increase up a class within any day if the wind increases over that which was blowing at 12.00 noon, or the relative humidity drops below that which was recorded at 12.00 noon.

All people lighting fires should carefully watch for changing conditions It should also be noted that the weather stations may not reflect all locations within the district and should be used as a guide only.

Fire Danger Class	Description of probable Fire Potential and Implications for Fire Suppression	Nominal Max Flame Height
Low	New Fire starts are unlikely due to moist surface conditions. However, ignition may take place near large and prolonged heat sources (for example: camp fires, windrowed slash piles) but the resulting fires generally do not spread much beyond their point of origin and if they do, control is easily achieved. Mop-up or complete extinguishment of fires that are already burning may still be required provided there is sufficient fuel and it is dry enough to support smoldering combustion.	No Visible Flame

Moderate	From the standpoint of moisture content, fuels are considered to be sufficiently receptive, to sustain ignition and combustion from both flaming and non-flaming (for example: glowing) firebrands. Creeping or gentle surface fires are commonplace. Control of such fires is comparatively easy but fire damages can still result and fires can become costly to suppress if they are not attended to immediately. Direct manual attack around the entire perimeter by fire fighters with only hand tools and backpack pumps is possible.	Up To 1.3 Metres

High	Running or vigorous surface fires are most likely to occur. Any fire outbreak constitutes a serious problem. Control becomes increasingly more difficult if it is not completed during the early stages of fire growth following ignition. Water under high pressure (from ground tankers or fire pumps with hose lays) and bulldozers are required for effective action at the fires head.	1.4 to 2.5 Metres

Very High	Burning conditions become critical as the likelihood of intense surface fires is a distinct possibility, torching and intermittent crowning in exotic forests can take place. Direct attack is feasible for only the first few minutes after ignition has occurred. Otherwise, any attempt to attack the fires head should be limited to helicopter buckets or fixed wing aircraft, preferably dropping long term chemical fire retardants. Until the fire weather severity abates, the uncertainty of success control exists.	2.6 to 3.5 Metres

Extreme	The situation should be considered "explosive". The characteristics associated with the violent physical behaviour of conflagration or firestorms is a certainty (for example: rapid spread rates, crowning, medium to long range mass spotting, fire whirls, towering convection columns and great walls of flame). Fire poses a great threat to life and property. Breaching of roads or firebreaks occurs with regularity. Direct attack is rarely possible except immediately after ignition and should only be attempted with the utmost caution. The only effective and safe control option that can be taken until the fire expires is at the back and up along the flanks.	3.6+ Metres