Fire and Other Emergencies

Community Engagement About Fire on Public Land

Two guidebooks are available to assist state fire staff working with communities in regional Victoria. The documents address the recommendations of the Victorian Bushfire Inquiry (VBI) which called for the inclusion of local knowledge and greater community involvement in fire planning and management.

‘Community Engagement About Fire on Public Land – Plan to Improve’ outlines how state fire staff will build on current best practice to strengthen relationships between government and communities about fire management issues.

The ‘Plan to Improve’ is written specifically for people who will be driving internal improvement and helping staff to improve their skills, knowledge and practice in the field of community engagement about fire. Research into what the community wants, and the experience of the many staff involved in working with communities, formed the basis of this plan. The ‘Plan to Improve’ outlines recommendations to be implemented centrally and in the regions over the next four years.

Plan to Improve (PDF - 2.2 MB)

‘A Practical Guide’ is designed to provide practical steps to help staff identify the appropriate type of engagement for their activity or project; to understand what is expected from them when engaging the public; and to then assess success based on indicators.

A Practical Guide (PDF - 1.5 MB)

A summary brochure highlights the key points in the two documents.

Summary brochure (PDF - 846 Kb)

The documents complement the Effective Engagement: Building Relationships with Community and Other Stakeholders Kit and the Effective Engagement Planning Tool.

Community Information

Community information about current bushfires can be found on Fires Today
Information about current planned burns can be found on Burns Today

To hear updates about significant fires;

• Stay tuned to your local ABC radio station
• Call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667 (free call).