By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
IN the wake of a concerning start to the fire season, the Incident Controller at this week’s local bushfires has issued a warning to property owners in Cardinia.
Operations Officer Greg Christison said that now was the time to carry out maintenance work to minimise the impact of fire.
“Whether you plan to be there or not, you want to give your home the best possible chance of making it through a fire,” he said.
Get rid of woodpiles, toys and wooden furniture from around verandahs or decks, keep your grass short and clear any dried leaves or vegetation from your yard and from your gutters.
“Start with the area 10 metres around your property – it is vital that this is kept as clear as possible of anything flammable.”
He added that residents should never expect that the CFA will be on hand to help protect their home during a bushfire.
“Don’t expect a fire truck to turn up at your place. Firefighters will be busy trying to protect the township if it is threatened or in danger.”
State-wide, the CFA is urging that staying back to protect property may be an unsuitable option for most residents.
“Unless you have done hours of preparation and research – and have a storage tank with 10,000 litres of water plus firefighting equipment – you should simply not be there during a fire,” Mr Christison said.
“Follow the daily fire danger rating forecast and use that to help you to decide when to leave early based on how dangerous fire conditions are.”
Fire plan templates are available at cfa.vic.gov.au/firereadykit
