By Tyler Wright
Amid heavy rainfall and another La Niña weather pattern, it may seem an odd time to prepare for bushfire season; but Emerald CFA Fire Brigade is making sure it gets on top of educating the community about risks heading into summer.
On Thursday 24 November, the brigade will hold a summer preparedness session at Emerald Community House from 7pm to 8pm, where experts will be discuss the risk of bushfire in the local area and what residents can do to help protect themselves, their families and others in the community.
“There is an increased fuel load in the area and it’s a good idea for the residents to start addressing that now, even though it is still a bit wet they need to do what they can in these months before summer comes along next year,” Emerald CFA Fire Brigade Captain Klaus Brodeck said.
“[Residents] can look at their gardens and make sure they’ve got a clear space between houses, remove any of those branches, any debris on the ground, which really makes up those fine fuels and makes it easy for fire to spread,” Mr Brodeck said.
“What they can do within their limits in the green waste bins and other means without burning off at stage… that’s what you do initially until the weather does become more conducive to be able to burn off that fuel and prepare their house better for fire.”
Mr Brodeck also said he has noticed a pattern of new residents that have moved from city suburbs to the Dandenong Ranges who are not used to planning for bushfire risk, with the upcoming information session also focused on making these locals aware.
“There’s that level of apathy with the wet weather we’ve had the moment…whilst its wet now, it can very quickly dry out,” he said.
Complacency is something the CFA is trying to discourage, and is reminding Victorians to tidy up their properties to prepare for the increasing fire risk.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the CFA is preparing for this year’s fire season and is asking Victorians to do their part by preparing their properties and fire plans.
“There are so many simple actions Victorians can take and repeat to keep their property safe from bush or grassfires,” he said.
“Most of them are basic chores such as clearing your gutters, picking up loose leaves and twigs, pruning tree branches so they aren’t overhanging the roof or touching the walls of your property, or even just keeping your lawn under 10cm tall.
“We know most of the state has experienced normal to above normal rainfall, which will lead to increased vegetation growth, so it’s important to keep maintaining your property into summer.”
As of 1 September, the new fire danger rating system changed and is now nationally consistent across every state and territory, reducing the number of fire danger levels from six to four.
These levels are titled Moderate, High, Extreme and Catastrophic.
Victorians can learn more about these fire danger rating system changes on the CFA website, where they can also find more information about how to make a bushfire survival plan.
Property preparation tips include:
• Move your winter woodpile away from the house or sheds
• Prune tree branches so they are not overhanging the roof or touching walls
• Clear your gutters
• Keep grass shorter than 10 centimetres
• Remove leaves and twigs from around your property
• Prune back plants and garden beds near doors and windows
• Test any systems that are part of your fire plan such as sprinklers, pumps and generators
• Check that your home and contents insurance is current and includes a level of cover in line with increased building standards and regulations in bushfire risk areas
• If you are burning off to remove green waste, register your burn-off online at Fire Permits Victoria (https://www.firepermits.vic.gov.au/)
• Make sure your household has a Bushfire Survival Plan.
