FIREFIGHTERS have burnt off more than 6500 hectares of the Otways this financial year.

Department of Sustainability and Environment district fire manager Stephanie Ryan said the figure for the financial year, 6600 hectares, was a “bit below” the previous year’s level.

“But it has allowed us to achieve our targets for the season,” Ms Ryan said.

Wet weather has prevented burnoffs continuing this week and the DSE has fewer opportunities to burn off as winter approaches.

“We’ll just continue to monitor ground and weather conditions to see if we can complete any more burns across the district,” Ms Ryan said.

Planning for a burnoff at Carlisle River is ongoing.

Ms Ryan said the Colac district’s burnoffs were important.

“Some of the key burns we’ve been pleased to achieve this year have been Lorne Stoney Track, and probably Deans Marsh View Hill,” she said.

“They’re two burns we’ve invested significant time and planning into.”

Ms Ryan said between 150 and 200 DSE officers from across the state were involved in burnoffs in the Colac district.

“It’s a significant resource movement of people to complete our plans,” she said.

“Given the wet conditions we’re experiencing, opportunities might exist in the north-west of the state, we often send crews away to assist in their programs.”