General News
21 March, 2026
Firewood collection safety reminders
With energy costs continuing to rise, the recent opening of the autumn firewood collection season may be of greater importance to rural communities.
The autumn firewood collection season started on March 1 and ends on Saturday, June 30.
Due to the recent bushfires, ongoing recovery work, and safety concerns, some collection areas may change or start later.
This includes all of Murray Goldfields District, which spans from Cohuna and Echuca in the north through Bendigo and surrounding forests to Kyneton and Macedon in the south, where the firewood season will start on April 1 due to ongoing elevated fire risk in that area.
Forest Fire Management have been working quickly to establish new collection points in fire-impacted areas where firewood can be cut and collected.
Firewood typically comes from natural tree falls, hazard tree removals, planned burn operations and storm and recovery activities.
Most firewood is green and needs 8 to 12 months to dry before it is suitable for burning.
Financial assistance is available for people on low incomes who rely on firewood as their sole source of heating and buy firewood – go online to bit.ly/3N8if8d or bit.ly/47O5K8G
Maps of firewood collection areas can be found online at ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood and will be updated throughout the season as collection areas open or close due to availability or access.