The Bureau of Meteorology released its South Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook on Monday.

It declared the wet winter has resulted in extensive grass growth across the region.

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said he predicted high summer temperatures and excess vegetation have increased the risk of grass fire. 

The authority’s District 16 operations manager Chris Eagle said it is essential residents begin preparation for the fire season now. 

 “It’s no good wanting until it’s hot and dry to consider your plan,” he said. 

“In summer there will always be fires, it’s just a matter of how big and what you can do about them.

“There are two main things to prepare. First is actual home preparations, cutting trees, grass and other vegetation around the house. 

“Second people need to start working on their plan to make sure come summer they have a plan in place and know that plan. 

“If they’re going to stay and defend, they know how. If they’re going to leave, they know the trigger point and have everything packed.”

Mr Eagle said the outlook for the region was in line with previous years, depending on rainfall.

“We aren’t predicting any significant rainfall in summer so we are working on the premise that the wet winter has promoted grass growth and created fuel,” he said.

“It all depends on how much rain we get in spring, and how hot and dry it is over summer – whether the grass dried out completely or the rain keeps it green.”

Mr Eagle said the fire season would be beginning as usual in mid to late November. 

He said the increased rainfall also had other implications. 

“We’ve noticed the dams are starting to fill up, which hasn’t happened in recent years,” he said. 

“It means bonus water sources for us.

“Getting more rain keeps the forests damper over summer which decreases the chance of a forest fire.”

Mr Eagle said the authority and Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning have undertaken burns.

“The biggest benefit of any burns in the year whether forest or grassland is the reduction of fuel,” he said. “If fire goes through it’s not as intense.”