Do you have a Bushfire Survival Plan?
As summer approaches, we are being constantly warned about a potentially very dangerous fire season in Victoria. The vast majority of the State has experienced record low rainfalls and water is becoming a very precious commodity.

It's now more important then ever to be prepared for the fire season.

From Ferntree Gully CFA.

All fire calls, 000

As summer approaches, we are being constantly warned about a potentially very dangerous fire season in Victoria. The vast majority of the State has experienced record low rainfalls and water is becoming a very precious commodity.

If you live in a bushy area around Ferntree Gully, or you are intending to go into country Victoria during the summer period, then there are some very important things that you need to know and understand.

Whether you are at home or on holidays, you need a BUSHFIRE SURVIVAL PLAN.

At home everyone should have begun to clean up fine fuels from around their properties. Mowing lawns and removing leaf debris is most important. Where leaf litter tends to accumulate around buildings is a likely place for burning embers to be trapped  thus setting fire to your property.

A decision needs to be made prior to the start of the fire season as to whether the occupants of a property are going to stay and actively defend their property or leave early on potentially bad fire days and stay with friends or relatives in a safe location. We also need to understand that if the plan is to leave early, then a sudden outbreak of fire may mean that it is not safe to leave and therefore sheltering from radiant heat in ones own home becomes the only reasonable action to take.

Our  BUSHFIRE SURVIVAL PLAN must be  understood and rehearsed by ALL members of a household.  It should be a written plan.

Some questions that need to be asked right now are-

Have you cleaned up your property for summer?

Have you and your family developed a bushfire survival plan?

Will you stay and actively defend your home during a bushfire?

Do you have a “defendable space” around your home from which you will be able to attack burning embers etc?

Are you physically and mentally prepared to stay and actively defend your home should you decide to do so?

Do you have suitable natural fiber clothing to wear in order to protect you from radiant heat? (How many times have we turned on the television and seen property owners or occupiers standing on a roof dressed only in thongs and shorts and squirting water from a garden hose at an on-coming bushfire?)

What are the consequences of trying to defend an unprepared property?

How can you easily modify your home so that it has a greater chance of surviving in a bushfire?

Have you considered how embers could enter your home and ignite it even although a fire front may be a long distance from you?

Is there an adequate water supply if mains water is no longer available and the electric power supply is cut?

What equipment should you have inside and outside of your home in preparedness for a bushfire? Do you have that gear on hand?

If you and your family decide to leave, then when should you leave? Where should you go?  What should you take? Who should you inform that you are leaving?

Have you contacted your children’s  school to discuss your fire plan with them? Do you understand the school policy when it comes to bushfire?

What are the consequences of a late or changed decision to stay or go?

What are the consequences of trying to return to your home during a bushfire?

What are the likely results of trying to drive through thick smoke during a fire?

What will you do with your pets regardless of your decision to stay or leave?

Do you understand the consequences of radiant heat and how you could protect yourself from radiant heat?

Where would you take shelter as a fire front passes if you decide to stay and defend?

Are you clear about the consequences of personal dehydration?

Are you aware that CFA run Fire Ready Victoria and Community Fireguard meetings to assist residents to make the above decisions? (Times and locations are available on line at cfa.vic.gov.au)

Are you aware that there is a Victorian Bushfire Information line which can give you up-to-date information during a fire?

(phone 1800 240 667)

The CFA has available a very informative and helpful book which addresses all of the above points in far greater detail. It is called “Living in the Bush”, and it is also available on CD. This book contains templates to enable you to develop your own personal BUSHFIRE SURVIVAL PLAN.

This book or CD, plus further information is available from:

Yarra Area CFA, Region

18-22 Lakeview Drive Lilydale 3140.Phone 87391300..

New members are always welcome to come and join the male and female firefighters at Ferntree Gully.  Training occurs on Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings.  The training regime is rigorous but very rewarding. For more details contact CFA on 1800 232636  or online at cfa.vic.gov.au

Fern Tree Gully Volunteer fire brigade.

 Serving the people of Fern Tree Gully for over 65 years.

Prepared by Brigade Member Graham Crichton