Felled trees fire risk

By Tania Martin
A SASSAFRAS man who fears a pile of chopped down trees are a fire risk has taken his concerns to Premier Steve Bracks.
Jack Russell has been campaigning for Parks Victoria and the Country Fire Authority to do something about the pile for the past month.
He says the trees are a fire threat and should be removed.
The trees at the Sassafras Creek Nature Conservation Reserve on Mt Dandenong Tourist Road were chopped down in October last year.
Parks Victoria chopped down 60 pine trees because they were noxious weeds and were at risk of falling.
However, the pile of trees still remain at the site because Parks Victoria intends to hold a fuel reduction burn-off after the fire danger period has past.
But Mr Russell fears that the burn-off will be too late because the pile of trees could go up in flames at any time.
He also fears that the Sassafras Primary School is at risk of an ember attack if the pile does ignite.
School principal Alex MacDonald said if there was an ember attack the school could be at risk.
But Mr MacDonald is more concerned about Parks Victoria giving children and parents enough warning before they do the burn-off.
“We will need plenty of warning especially for children with asthma so they can be warned to stay home or be somewhere else on that day,” he said.
Despite Mr Russell’s concerns, Sassafras-Ferny Creek CFA Captain John Schauble said the piles on the ground pose no significant risk to the local community.
Matt Hoogland, Parks Victoria ranger, said he has had many discussions with the CFA and the Department of Sustainability about the issues.
Mr Hoogland said despite the CFA reassurances that the pile of trees is safe, Parks Victoria will be removing a quarter to a third of the pile.
But he said the remainder of the pile will be burnt off after the fire danger period has past.
Mr Russell has now written to Mr Bracks about his concerns in a hope that something will be done about the potential fire hazard.