By Parker McKenzie
Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV) is running a community information session about the strengthening and expansion of strategic fuel breaks in the Dandenong Ranges.
The forum will be held online Wednesday 24 November at 6pm.
Senior Project Lead Strategic Fuel Breaks at FFMV Hayley Coviello said the network of strategic fuel breaks in the Upper Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges is being improved.
“I encourage anyone who is interested to come along to one of our upcoming online community forums,” she said.
“These forums are intended to provide you with an opportunity to learn about what a strategic fuel break is and where they are being improve.”
Fuel breaks create space between fuel sources for fires to reduce the intensity and speed a fire moves across a landscape and aid fire-fighters by providing access for vehicles and machinery.
As a last resort they can assist in reducing the intensity of fire directly threatening houses and other assets.
With significant work on the fuel break network about to begin, the event will provide information about the state-wide program as well as information on scheduled local fuel breaks over the next eight months.
The event will include presentations by members of the strategic fuel break team and will offer more information on types of breaks and who to contact for more information and engagement.
The presentation will be followed by a question and answers session.
“There will be opportunities to have your questions answered,” Mrs Coviello said.
“While strategic fuel breaks are not a silver bullet to stop all fires in the future, they are another tool in our kit to manage the impacts of bushfires, making it easier, safer and faster for our firefighters to suppress fires.”
The Victorian Government has invested $35 million to enhance the state’s strategic fuel break network. 542 kilometres have been upgraded already which has exceeded the 2020/21 season goal of 484km.
Another 905km of fuel breaks are planned for completion by June 2022.
