Although rain over the Christmas period has provided some respite, it will only take a couple of hot days and a breath of wind for grasses to dry out to the point where they will easily ignite.

We only have to look at the devastating Great Ocean Road fires to see what can happen with a single spark.

More than 110 coastal homes have been razed over the Christmas period during this Victorian disaster.

The 2200-hectare Jamieson Track fire burnt through 98 homes, while nearby Separation Creek lost another 18 in a fire triggered by a lightning strike on December 19.

It is expected the Great Ocean Road fire will continue burning for weeks with only a decent amount of rain to extinguish it.

Landowners across the local region are reminded that fire permits are required until March 31.

These permits contain specific conditions to allow a safe, controllable fire to be undertaken.

Penalties apply for failing to notify the NSW RFS and your neighbours that you are planning to light a fire, for allowing fires to escape or for not abiding by the conditions of a fire permit.

Local Fire Control Centres can provide advice on how to best prepare yourself, your property and your family for the bushfire season if you haven't already done so.

Fires may be a fact of life during an Australian summer, but that doesn't mean we can avoid our responsibilities to keep all risks to a minimum.

Those in the Central Tablelands have already had a taste of the dark side of summer with the recent Mutton Falls Road blaze, so we all need to be vigilant as December rolls into January.

Our local firies work hard enough at this time of year.

Let's not make their jobs any more difficult.