Concerns raised about Vic planned burns

Bushfire investigators say those making decisions on planned burns should have their work "peer reviewed" to minimise the risks.

Investigators say it's too early to say if the Lancefield burn, which razed houses and 4000 hectares of bush north of Melbourne earlier in October, should have gone ahead.

But Lancefield fire investigation leader Murray Carter says checks need to be put in place.

"There are areas of concern around the planning of contingency in case planned burns do not go to plan," Mr Murray said on Tuesday.

"We are looking at the safety nets and processes that are in place."

The review also looks at difficulties with weather forecasts, finding there are "some gains to be made" on what information is available to those making the decisions on planned burns.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning faced a community backlash for going ahead with the Lancefield burn despite predicted strong winds and high temperatures.

Feedback from communities around the fire zone found people felt vastly "unprepared" to deal with the bushfire threat.

Victorian Environment Minister Lisa Neville said new strategies were needed to ensure communities were better prepared to deal with bushfires, but planned burns would continue to be part of the government's bushfire management strategy.