The Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission has heard fuel reduction burns should at least double in size to better protect against catastrophic bushfire.

DSE assistant chief officer Liam Fogarty told the commission there was "no solid basis" for the current figure of 133 000 ha, which represents only 1.7 per cent of Victoria's public land.

The commission heard that burning an area of 275 000 ha would be better suited to preventing serious bushfires, like those that tore through Victoria on February 7 last year.

Mr Fogarty said DSE would need extra staff to make such a significant step-up in its burning program.

Nationals leader and shadow minister for bushfire response, Peter Ryan, said Mr Fogarty's comments were in effect a serious admission of failure by the Brumby Government.

Mr Ryan said a 2008 recommendation of 385 000 ha be burnt to reduce fuel loads should be adopted.

"The Victorian LiberalNationals Coalition has repeatedly urged the government to adopt recommendations by Victorian Parliament's Natural Resources and Environment Committee that prescribed burning be tripled from 130 000 ha to 385 000 ha, but John Brumby has not listened," he said.

Mr Ryan said the claim that more staff would be needed was also an indication of the government's "failure".

Victorian Lands Alliance secretary Max Rheese said he supported Mr Fogarty's comments that fuel reduction burning should be doubled, but urged the government to adopt an even tougher stance.

"Liam Fogarty said double it, we would prefer to treble it," Mr Rheese said.

"While we're very pleased that the DSE recognise that prescribed burning is vital to bushfire prevention, we would like the government to adopt the ENRC target of 385 000 ha."

Mr Rheese said he also supported Mr Fogarty's comments that DSE was currently at capacity and needed extra staff to carry out further burns.

"We are calling on the government to properly fund the fuel reduction program and get the job done right."