Now is the time to prepare for the coming fire season. That is the message from the Country Fire Authority as the first fire restrictions for the season begin in Victoria.
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While no fire danger period has been declared for any area in central Victoria, Monday marks the start of restrictions in the east of the state.
Community education co-ordinator Paul Tangey for the north west said the CFA was prepared, regardless of whether the fire danger period had already started.
“Our brigades have been training all year, our brigades have been preparing themselves and our control centres are ready,” he said.
“CFA is on preparedness all the time, 365 days of the year.”
Friday marked the beginning of Fire Action Week, calling on the community to prepare now for the fire season.
Preparations have begun earlier this year, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting another above-average fire season this summer and bushfires already affecting the east of the state.
Warm weather is on its way this week, with Bendigo headed for temperatures in the high-20s for most of the week and above 30 degrees on Wednesday.
Mr Tangey said there was the potential for fires based on the forecast, but other factors such as wind and fuel growth needed to be considered also.
He urged people to prepare now, with a lot of growth in the region due to recent wet weather.
“Now’s the time to prepare your property,” he said.
“Now’s the time to consider what you and your family will do on a day of bad fire risk.”
Cleaning gutters, slashing grass and reducing fuel around the house were all measures people should be taking now, Mr Tangey said.
State Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards said Fire Action Week was important in terms of raising awareness of the coming summer and the fire risk that communities faced.
“This will be a very challenging fire season for everyone, so the start of Fire Action Week is about making sure that people are very aware that right now is the time to start preparing to prevent those fires from being in your backyard,” she said.
For more information on how to prepare, visit the CFA’s website, www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare, or drop into your local fire station. For up-to-date information during the fire season, download the VicEmergency app.
Fire Action Week tips from the CFA
- Check the fire risk where you live.
- Download the VicEmergency app to your mobile device.
- Start checking Fire Danger Ratings daily.
- Check warnings – make sure you understand the three levels of warnings and what they mean.
- Pack an emergency kit of essentials. This should include important documents, medications, a mobile phone, torch, battery operated radio, money and clothes so you can leave quickly before a fire starts.
- Talk to your household and neighbours about how you'll know when to leave and where to go to stay safe.
- Do you have family, friends or neighbours who need help preparing to leave early? Talk to them about when they're going to leave, where they're going to go, and how you can help.