Forest Fire Management Victoria has recruited an additional 19 firefighters in the Grampians region this year bringing the total seasonal workforce to over 100.

FFMVic is continuing preparation work and building on fuel management works conducted throughout the year to reduce bushfire risk for communities and the environment.

The latest recruits will be based across 10 locations and will work along-side FFMVic's full-time operational workforce undertaking fire prevention, response and recovery activities.

FFMVic personnel will also be attending a rolling schedule of training, briefings and exercising, with partner agencies, in preparation for the summer ahead.

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Teams of emergency specialists will be on standby for the Horsham, Ararat and Ballarat Incident Control Centres, ensuring FFMVic and partner agencies are ready to respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Testing and servicing the Grampians region fleet of specialised firefighting vehicles is also underway, while water-bombing aircraft will return to Nhill, Stawell, Ballarat, and Bacchus Marsh airbases in summer.

FFMVic Grampians Deputy Chief Fire Officer Tony English said the organisation were well-resourced and prepared for the upcoming season.

"...are continuing to build on our year-round program of works to reduce bushfire risk for communities and the environment," he said.

"Fire preparedness is a shared responsibility - and that's why we're also working with the CFA and communities to help residents understand the actions they can take to reduce their own bushfire risk."

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In the coming months fire lookout observers will also be stationed at local fire towers.

This preparation builds on FFMVic's fuel management works throughout the year, including planned burning, slashing and mulching to reduce the speed and intensity of potential bushfires in the Grampians region.

Since mid-last year, planned burning by FFMVic in the Grampians region has covered 7,800 hectares, with crews taking every opportunity to conduct burns when conditions allow and it is safe to do so.

This has included planned burning to reduce bushfire risk around townships such as Stawell and Linton and in the Grampians National Park, with the highest-priority burns conducted near Daylesford.

In the same period, mechanical works covered 2,300 hectares, with crews using heavy machinery to mulch flammable vegetation to reduce fuel near Smythesdale, Inverleigh and Moyston townships.

All FFMVic crews are adhering to appropriate public health and hygiene guidelines to ensure operations can safely continue across the state.

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