Minister for Education Bronwyn Pike said a register of 728 schools and children's services that will be subject to closures on a Code Red (Catastrophic) day had been developed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD), the Catholic Education Office and the Association of Independent Schools Victoria.

The register includes schools and kindergartens at Elmhurst, Glenorchy, Great Western, Halls Gap, Landsborough, Pomonal, St Arnaud and Concongella.

The schools and children's services include many located in the 52 areas identified by fire authorities as being at high risk this fire season as well as some schools outside those areas that may also be deemed at high risk due to geographic and environmental factors.

Further work is being done with some schools that may be added to the list with information for schools, and parents available on the schools bushfire information line on 1800 059 866.

The register will allow for the pre-emptive closure of schools on a Code Red (Catastrophic) day following the Fire Danger Rating declaration by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

``The task for us all is to work together to make our state as fire-safe and as fire-ready as possible so that lives can be protected,'' Ms Pike said.

``Our Government has adopted the new nationally agreed Fire Danger Rating scale to help individuals and communities to understand the fire risk in their area on any given day. Clear warnings and clear directions are the best possible protection for Victorians from a fire threat.

``We have taken the decision that on a day which is declared a Code Red (Catastrophic) Fire Danger Rating, the safest option for schools identified as being at high risk this fire season is to close and we want clear systems in place for the fire season so that every school community that may be affected is fully informed.''