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FIRE authorities are warning residents in Bendigo and surrounding areas against being complacent ahead of what is shaping up to be a dangerous fire season.
The updated Southern Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook 2014-15, released ahead of the start of the fire danger period for the central Goldfields earlier this month, warned Victoria's summer would be drier and hotter than initially forecast.
Redesdale Fire Brigade's second lieutenant Lindsay Booker echoed some of outlook's forecast and fire warnings for the City of Greater Bendigo, especially its outlying towns.
"We have had a fairly dry year, the fuels around are very dry and will burn like crazy," he said.
"There is lots of dry, dead grass around."
With just two days until the official start of summer, Mr Booker said now was the time for people to be fire ready.
"It’s hot already, imagine what it will be like in a month or so," he said.
"Every day from now on should be about being fire ready.
"Grass fires really run, and are a concern when they run into bush and become bushfires."
He said unfortunately, there was often a tendency to get a bit complacent.
"People think it won’t happen to them," he said.
"As we all know, fires can start accidentally or deliberately. If you haven’t done the preparation, you’re in trouble."
He said the benefits of being fire ready included piece of mind.
"We don't have that many code red days, but when you do have one, it's going to be a doozy," he said.
"If you're well prepared, and all the people at your house are well prepared – including visitors – and have plan in place, it should give you piece of mind."
To help facilitate this, the Redesdale Fire Brigade are holding a fire awareness session tomorrow from 2pm.
Mr Booker said the session was about teaching people about the simple things they could do around their house to be prepared in the event of a bushfire.
He said what people did not realise was it was often the smaller, fine fuels around the outsides of a home which were the danger.
"It's important to get rid of anything smaller than a small finger," he said.
Mr Booker said the Redesdale Fire Brigade was also interested in recruiting more firefighters at Sunday's meeting, which will be held at the fire station.
"At this meeting, I'll be suggesting... you don't have to be Superman to be a firefighter," he said.
"I try and get people to be a bit active at the session, rather than just chat at them, will go outside to do practical thing like use a fire extinguisher, put out a fire with fire blanket.
"Sometimes if you're actually doing things it actually sinks in a bit more."