Grassland curing is the annual drying out of grass and the drier the grass becomes, the higher the fire risk.
At this time of year, curing data feeds directly into CFA fire danger calculations, making accurate figures essential for determining fire danger ratings.
The ground observations are combined with satellite imagery to produce weekly maps that show how dry the grass is across Victoria.
CFA remote sensing analyst Danielle Wright said boosting the number of trained observers would help fill gaps in the current data coverage.
“There are still a few areas of the state, including the north-east, north-west and south-west parts of the state, where we would really benefit from having more volunteers out on the ground,” Dr Wright said.
“In regions where on-ground observations are not occurring, we are solely relying on satellite data.
“The satellite model is extremely useful, but it can’t always pick up every detail.
“It can overestimate and underestimate curing. Cloud cover can block readings for weeks, grass under trees can be missed entirely, and rainfall can impact readings.
“After rain, new green shoots might appear, but they’re tiny and don’t affect fire behaviour. The satellite sees green and assumes the area is of lower risk.
“Having volunteers makes a huge difference. They’re the ones confirming what is actually happening on the ground and capturing the details the model often misses.”
John Taubman has been a ‘citizen scientist’ for nine years and said the role was a great way to serve the community and contribute to more accurate fire risk information.
“Being a grassland observer really sharpens your awareness of how the environment changes from day to day,” he said.
“You learn to read the landscape, from the wind and temperature to the humidity. You don’t always need instruments to tell it’s a bad fire day.
“The satisfaction comes from knowing we are providing a service to the community. The more data points we have on the map, the more accurate the data is.”
Danielle said becoming a grassland observer was a simple yet highly valuable way to support local fire safety.
“Everyone is welcome to participate, not just CFA volunteers. It’s a great way to support CFA without needing to be on the fireground,” Danielle said.
With summer approaching, regular grassland observations are more important than ever to help track fire risk across Victoria.
For more information, head to cfa.vic.gov.au/grass or email grassland@cfa.vic.gov.au
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