Early fire danger period

By Tania Martin
HILLS fire fighters are warning residents to be prepared for another disastrous fire season with the early onset of the fire danger period.
The CFA is again putting the fire restriction in place earlier than usual because of the recent dry conditions.
The fire danger period for the neighbouring municipalities of Knox and Yarra Ranges will start on Monday 12 November at 1am.
CFA Yarra area manager Graeme Armstrong said the early declaration of the fire danger period was a reflection of the ongoing drought conditions, recent warmer weather and significant lack of rainfall across the district.
Kalorama-Mt Dandenong CFA captain Alex Felich said this year could be another disastrous fire season and warns residents to be prepared.
Mr Felich said following the dry conditions this year and the well below average rainfalls, the scenario for the up coming season was looking severe.
“It’s now time to clean up your properties and plan whether to stay and fight or leave early in the event of a bushfire,” he said.
Mr Felich said the brigade would be sending out letters this week warning residents of the impending fire season and the risks.
Upwey CFA caption Peter Marke said if it doesn’t rain soon then hills people would be facing another worrying fire season.
Mr Marke said recent fires in the Dandenongs had shown that there was a very low level of moisture in the area, which increases the risk for bushfires.
He said residents should heed the public safety messages to clear their land of fuels and make a plan.
Mr Marke said it was important to now get rid of all surplus fuels lying around the house and to make alternative arrangements to open air burning.
He said it was vital that residents move all flammable materials away from the family home and make plans to stay and fight or leave early in the event of a fire.
Mr Armstrong said once the fire danger period is in force it’s illegal to burn-off for any purpose or to allow a fire to remain alight.
He said the penalties for illegal fire lighting during this period or on a total fire ban day may incur heavy fines or imprisonment.
Mr Armstrong said residents preparing for the bushfire season need to be aware that any burning off to reduce fuel around their property must be done before Monday 12 November.
He has also warned people that it was now too late to consider burning off large fuels such as windrows, logs and tree stumps as they may burn over a number of days and cause problems if hot weather arises.
Ray Fritz of the CFA said there were a number of alternatives that people can look at to the burning off of garden waste.
He said residents can either use a their local council’s green waste collection, hire a trailer and take the waste to the tip or make a garden waste storage area well away from their house.