Fire up for the season

REAL-life examples and personal stories will help residents plan for the coming bushfire season at this year’s Living with Bushfire Community Conference in Lilydale on 7 and 8 October.
Industry experts – including Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley, fire researcher Justin Leonard, and indigenous fire land management specialist Victor Steffenson – will present at this third annual conference.
The conference will help residents get prepared by covering:
* New research on survival behaviours in bushfires;
* Building on personal resilience for bushfire preparedness;
* What fire agencies are doing for fire and land management;
* Networking with like-minded people;
* Scenarios to understand bushfire risk;
* What happens after the fire event.
Hear from fire ecologists and community emergency groups to gain valuable and practical knowledge about living with bushfire.
Yarra Ranges Council Deputy Mayor Andrew Witlox stressed the importance of this conference especially for residents living in bushfire-prone regions.
“Both days give residents the chance to gain insights, ask questions and build on their existing knowledge while networking with people living in similar areas,” he said.
“The reality is that the Australian landscape will experience bushfires, with us all sharing the responsibility for our community’s and our own safety.
“With registrations now open for the annual Living with Bushfire Community Conference, I encourage all residents to attend to get the latest data and research into bushfire risk and behavior.
“As we head into the warmer months, the conference is a timely reminder for us all to gain a greater understanding of bushfire in Victoria.”
Register online today or check out the program: www.boxhill.edu.au/bushfireconference2016/.