Victorians living in high-risk bushfire areas are risking their safety by underestimating the risk to their homes.
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The CFA’s Bushfire Community Survey found 52 per cent of people living in high-risk bushfire areas considered the fire risk to their home moderate, minor or non-existent.
A third also said they would only evacuate when a fire threatens their town or suburb rather than the morning of or night before a day of extreme fire danger.
The survey responses are worrying to firefighters given the CFA’s grassland curing maps show Victoria significantly drier compared to the same time last year.
The most recent seasonal outlook shows October rainfall was generally below to very much below average across Victoria.
“It’s important to get your head around what the real risk is to you and your friends and family,” CFA Acting Chief Officer Stephanie Rotarangi said.
“If rainfall trends continue, this season will be in line with Victoria’s driest seasons increasing the risk of bushfire.
“People need a plan – exactly what are you going to do for you family, for your kids, your partner or parents, your loved ones, pets, other animals if a fire occurs and a fire truck may not be able to get there? Start having the conversations now.”
The Bushfire Community Survey showed that attending a CFA bushfire planning workshop was one of the most effective ways people gained an understanding of bushfire risk.
Upcoming workshops in central Victoria include Mount Macedon Fire Brigade at the at Mount Macedon Primary School Fete on November 17 from 10am, the Golden Square Fire Brigade open day in High Street, Golden Square, on November 25 from 10am; and the Maiden Gully Fire Brigade Open Day in Beckhams Road, Maiden Gully on November 25 from 10.30am.
Family fire plans should have access to regularly updated information on fire risks, warnings and weather conditions and include an emergency kit so you are ready to leave quickly and calmly.
Families should decide which Fire Danger Rating is the trigger to leave.
The fire plan should also be clear on where you will go, what you’ll do with your pets, what will you do if your car won’t start, the wind changes direction, roads are blocked, someone is hurt or people aren’t where you expect them to be.
Visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au for more information about bushfire planning and preparation.
Small team helps prepare for bushfire season
Bushfire preparedness is at the top of the Clean Force team’s list.
Clean Force employs 46 employees to maintain and remove potential fire hazards from more than 400 Telstra telephone exchanges and mobile base station sites across the state.
A team of five people in Bendigo – all former Radius employees – help monitor 70 sites across the central Victorian region.
Mentor and team leader Richard Morgan said fire risk is a big problem in many areas at this time of year.
“The fires can come close. Personally we haven’t lost any (sites or buildings to fire),” he said.
“CFA and police (radios) go through a lot of these buildings as well, if you lose that during a bushfire it can be devastating.”
Mr Morgan and his team were all employed by Radius Disability Services when it entered voluntary administration in 2016.
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“Clean Force took over (from Radius) and have been nothing but supportive,” Mr Morgan said.
“For another disability service, that understands the system, to take over is the biggest bonus.
“I had seven years with Radius and have now done a couple more with Clean Force.”
Michael Hartland, a former Radius employee, is now part of Clean Force.
“I’ve been doing this for about six years including Radius. Getting out and about is good and so is making a bit of money,” he said.
“It’s bloody hot work sometimes but I can put up with it if we’re stopping fires getting to these buildings.”
Mr Hartland is also a farmer in Neilborough East and has preprared his own property for the fire season.
“I’m set up with my own fire gear and water trailer,” he said. “Normally we would have had a burn off but we missed it this year because the fire restrictions came in too early.”
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