Shaded from the glaring sun as the temperature sought to pass 20 degrees on Saturday, South Wangaratta resident Kerry Burgoyne listened intently as South Wangaratta CFA community safety co-ordinator Sue Sheldrick explained how to install and use the VicEmergency app on her phone.

"Having the app and knowing how to use it will help alert you to any emergencies," Sue explained, stressing its significance as part of preparing for what is expected to be a challenging fire season ahead.

Elsewhere in the brigade's busy station, fellow CFA members engaged with other community members, offering advice on preparing their properties to reduce fire risk, and having bushfire survival plans ready in advance, as part of the CFA's statewide Get Fire Ready community open days, also run at Laceby West, Thoona, Wangaratta North, Lurg and Bowmans-Murmungee CFA brigades over the weekend.

"We've had more than 40 people through so far...it's all about people being ready and having their property ready for the fire season," Sue said.

"I think we're seeing a greater awareness, with many people already working on preparations and seeking re-assurance about what they're doing."

Clearing gutters, mowing lawns, trimming branches, knowing where you’ll go if a fire breaks out and setting a watch zone in the VicEmergency app were all on the list, and some people said they're slashing grass in the absence of cattle and sheep which would usually help graze down the hazard.

"We've already signed up a few people to our free Property Advice Visit Service where we walk around the home with the owners and look at reducing fire hazards...looking at how close trees are to homes, creating buffer zones, location of LPG tanks, mowing and slashing," Sue said.

For Kerry and husband Paul Burgoyne, Saturday's attendance at the event helped keep them informed and re-assured them of their fire preparations at their home of 40 years.

"We're on several acres and we've seen one of two large fires in the nearby Warby Range over the years," Paul said.

"A focus for us has been reducing leaf litter as flying embers from a fire are a big hazard."

With below average rainfall for the area so far this year, the bushfire hazard remains high for the Warby Range.

Extreme bushfire risk areas in the Rural City of Wangaratta, based on insurance premium risk analysis, are Myrrhee, Whitfield, Whitlands, Cheshunt and Henley Ridge.

South Wangaratta CFA captain Brendon French said Saturday's event was a successful start to what he urged the community to be ongoing fire preparations.

He said running grass fires remained a concern this fire season, noting more people were potentially exposed to the risk with the ongoing residential growth of the city's perimeters.

Captain French said a minimum of three tankers will respond to any grass fire and on CFA designated 'hot days' the response will be a minimum of five tankers with air support from aircraft based at Ovens, Wodonga or Benalla.

For helpful advice on fire season preparations visit: www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about-us/cfa-events/get-fire-ready

Get Fire Ready events in the local area include:

• Sunday, 12 October, 9am to 12pm, Killawarra Fire Station

• Saturday, 18 October, 9am to 12 noon, Eldorado CFA at Gunhouse Park

• Monday, 27 October, 6pm to 8pm, Bowser Fire Station