AUSTRALIA is facing one of its worst bushfire seasons in recent memory.

Three years of wet are giving way to below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures.

And the High Country around Mansfield is one of the areas most at risk.

Three years after the catastrophic Black Summer, experts warn the fires are poised to return.

And, we are nowhere near prepared, authorities say.

CFA chief fire officer Jason Heffernan said Victoria was among the most bushfire-prone areas in the world and conditions would be warmer and drier this fire season after Australia declared an El Nino “event”.

The forecast of a hot and dry summer in Australia comes as raging fires devastate communities throughout the northern hemisphere.

“The predicted El Niño weather pattern means Victorians can expect a hotter and drier summer than recent years, and communities should begin preparing their properties and creating a bushfire survival plan,” the CFA said in a statement.

Parts of New South Wales have already been hit hard.

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service worked tirelessly last Sunday to battle 85 fires.

By late last Sunday night the RFS confirmed only 46 had been contained, with 39 blazes still resisting efforts of emergency crews.

Residents in Bawley Point were given a Watch and Act warning over a blaze on Bundle Hill Road, but it was later downgraded to an “Advice” level as cooler conditions prevailed into the evening.

The same was the case with a fire burning east of Bredbo with the RFS changing its warning down to “Advice” despite the fire still burning as of Sunday night.

A report by the Climate Council and Emergency Leaders for Climate has warned governments at all levels to prepare for a potentially devastating fire season in 2023. It called for more funding to agencies, full-time staff and volunteers and was critical that emergency services and state and local governments lacked permanent arrangements while still struggling with ad hoc solutions to manage long-term disaster recovery.

"I haven't seen it this bad in years," said a shire resident who asked not to be named because they work for an official organisation.

“I have my plans in place for me and my stock.

“But when it hits… well, you just never know.”