The CFA will be at Bendigo’s Lansell Square Shopping Centre until Friday to answer as many questions as locals can throw at them about planning and preparing for the fire season.
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Shoppers should keep an eye out for a CFA display located in the entertainment court opposite the specialty stores near Kmart.
The display has been designed to make vital bushfire and grassfire safety information as easy to access as possible, and will be manned by specialists from the Loddon Mallee Region Community Education group.
One of the best things people can do before the fire season is to talk to the CFA face to face.
There are very few “one-size-fits-all” rules when it comes to bushfire, which is why we always encourage you to come and have a chat.
Everyone’s situation is different – where your property is situated can make a big difference to your level of risk and the preparations you need to make.
We’re more than happy to walk you through the basics, and help you to be confident that you’re prioritising the actions that are most likely to protect your home and family this summer.
Even if you’ve done quite a lot of preparation and planning, it’s still a good idea to stop by to make sure you’re on the right track and have all the local updates.
With the fire danger period now declared in almost all municipalities across the region, now is the time to take action.
In addition to the fantastic display we’ll have at Lansell Square, we’ll be running Fire Ready meetings throughout the summer, so look out for notices in your local paper.
The Loddon Mallee Region Community Education Group comprises volunteers from various CFA brigades, who come together to talk to the community about fire safety.
This season, CFA recommends you:
nSpeak with your local brigade about the risk in your area.
nMake sure you know what fire weather district you’re in, and check the Total Fire Ban and Fire Danger Rating for that district every day over summer.
n Talk to everyone you live with about your plans so you all know what you’ll do on a bad day.
n Pack a relocation kit with important documents, photos, medications, money and clothes so you’re ready to leave early. Practise packing and leaving.
nDon’t rely on getting a warning – it’s your responsibility to know when to leave.
n Download the FireReady smartphone app so you can check Fire Danger Rating and alerts and warnings any time, any place.
Check out CFA’s website – cfa.vic.gov.au – or call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667 for more information on how to stay safe this summer.
Paul Tangey,
community education co-ordinator,
Country Fire Authority
