By Allanah Sciberras

Rural Australians who have already faced years of heightened fire risk will be placed back on alert ahead of summer due to persistent dry conditions.

The fire danger is expected to remain elevated in parts of Victoria, WA and central-northern NSW, according to a seasonal outlook from the National Council for Fire and Emergency Services.

Western Victoria won’t see any relief from fire risk, with the outlook warning that current green grass growth is likely to become highly flammable again by January.

Parts of the region experienced its driest spell in decades, although widespread rain in October brought some relief to dry paddocks and farms.

However, the outlook warns that prolonged hot and dry spells in the coming months could quickly dry out the landscape again, increasing the risk of bushfires as summer progresses.

Blazes in Victoria’s Grampians and Little Desert national parks over December and January razed more than 181,000 hectares of bush, forest and farmland, equivalent to more than two-and-a-half times the entire area of Singapore.

The heightened fire risk also extends to parts of Western Australia and northern and central-western New South Wales, due to abundant surface fuels resulting from long-term rainfall deficiencies.

“Australia is a great place to be in summer but no matter where you live or travel this season, everyone can play an important role in bushfire safety by being prepared and staying alert to warnings and advice,” AFAC chief executive Rob Webb said.

Communities in fire-prone areas are encouraged to remain vigilant and stay alert.