Prepare early to cut fire risk

But the South East, parts of the Murraylands, and areas on the WA border face an 'above normal' risk from bushfires.

The prediction comes as the Southern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for 2015-16 was released by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre on Tuesday.

Country Fire Service chief officer Greg Nettleton said reduced rainfall in the SE led to soil drying out and increased the potential fuel load.

"In the SE we have a deficit of moisture, which makes it easier for fires to start in heavier fuels," he said.

Despite that he said the region should practice the same caution as the rest of SA.

"The lesson for the SE is no different to the rest of the state," he said.

"The message, irrespective of where you live, average or above average, you still need to prepare."

The outlook, which is used by fire authorities to make strategic decisions on resource planning, also warned of above normal bushfire conditions for most of Vic, eastern NSW, south east Qld, and large areas of WA.

In SA, the Lower SE, Upper SE and parts of the Murraylands had suffered from below average rainfall for the past six months on top of a dry spring and early hot summer in 2014 which may result in firefighting resources being needed for a longer period of time.

Vic is also expected to be at high risk with the report warning it would need significant rainfall over the spring period to alter its outlook.

In western NSW rainfall has been close to, or above, the long-term average, but there has not been significant grass growth, leaving it at normal risk level.

Mr Nettleton said regardless of the region, it would only take one hot, windy, dry summer afternoon to change the bushfire risk potential and people should develop a plan well before summer arrived.

He said he expected the fire danger periods for each district to start at their customary times, although they would be reviewed on a weekly basis, particularly the SE.