Danger burn

By Tania Martin
MOUNT Evelyn’s Franc Smith has hit out at a decision to start burning off in the middle of the fire danger period.
The town’s environment, protection and progress association president slammed the decision as a ‘disaster waiting to happen’.
This comes as the State Government announced it would bring controlled autumn burns forward following cooler weather and heavy rainfall.
DSE spokeswoman Amy Dynes said burns would only be undertaken when conditions were suitable.
She said there limited conditions available to burn off including when there is the right fuel moisture, wind, temperature and relative humidity.
“Due to the recent rain and milder weather, we may find conditions are suitable sooner rather than later, so we need to take these opportunities,” Ms Dynes said.
But Mr Smith said in Mount Evelyn and other parts of the Dandenongs there had seen no real rain and it had not cooled down.
He said earlier this month on 11 February was a prime example with temperatures soaring to 33 degrees and a late afternoon thunderstorm delivering 15.4 mm rain.
“Such isolated events are part of our summer pattern. In fact thunderstorms are more common at this time of the year,” Mr Smith said.
He said there were similar weather patterns just days before Black Saturday.
Mr Smith said in the week that the hills were supposed to be having a ‘wet spell’ it did not receive the two days of rain forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
But Ms Dynes said decision was made to burn in a specific area based on conditions for that region.
“We will only burn when conditions are right at that specific location.
“We will work closely with the BOM to obtain site-specific forecasts for proposed burn sites,” she said.
Mr Smith said February was the height of the fire season and announcing an early burning off period was sending completely the wrong message to the community.
“There is no way they can tell what the weather is going to do,” he said.
Ms Dynes reminded residents that although conditions had been milder, Victoria was still in the fire season and communities needed to remain vigilant.
“However, we (DSE) will use every opportunity to prepare for the next bushfire season,” she said.
Mr Smith said in 19 April 2007 a ‘so-called cool burn’ led to a fire at the foot of Mount Dandenong that raged along the side of the mountain all night.
“Burning off in the Dandenongs at this time of the year just simply cannot be allowed to happen as recent history demonstrates the dangers,” he said.
The CFA also last week warned residents to remain vigilant for the rest of the fire season.
Yarra Region’s general manager Lex de Man said although recent rain had provided a reprieve from fires, the season was far from over.
“While your brigades will continue to do everything they can to protect the Dandenongs, they can’t do it alone. Residents need to work with us to prepare, to reduce their risk and make plans to ensure their survival.”