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News>An early reminder
| Media release: 12 August 2009 | |
Cardinia Shire council is reminding residents of the importance of keeping the area around their properties and residences free of fine fuels (long grass, fallen leaves, and dead branches etc).
February’s devastating bushfires are testament to the critical need to take steps – well before fire season – to lessen the risk of bushfire impacting on lives and homes.
Minimising fine fuels reduces the heat of a fire and its ability to spread across the ground and up into the tree tops.
Reducing fine fuels can also create a space in which to defend your home from ember attacks.
Ranges Ward Cr Ed Chatwin said as well as cleaning up around the home it was important to develop a personal survival plan which should include whether residents intend to stay with the property and actively defend it when a bushfire is threatening, or leave the area.
“If the choice is to leave early, people’s personal survival plans should include what will trigger a decision to leave, for example, Total Fire Ban days, where they will go after they have left their property and how they will get there.
“Whether you choose to stay or leave, you should clean up your property as this may assist your neighbours if they are defending their houses,” Cr Chatwin said.
Council has developed the Vegetation Management for Wildfire Preparation on Private Properties guidelines to help property owners manage vegetation fuel loads.
The guidelines are available at Council’s office in Henty Way, Pakenham.
Ranges Ward Cr Graeme Legge said fire safety is everybody’s ongoing responsibility.
“Neighbours should work together and not leave it to the last minute to make their properties safe,” Cr Legge said.
Bushfires can be survivable if the proper preparation is completed before Summer.
Residents can check out the Emergencies section of this website for more information on bushfire preparation, or call 1300 787 624.
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