Fire warning call

By Tania Martin
Jo Hirst and Melanie Gajdek will present their case to the Shire of Yarra Ranges at a meeting tonight (Tuesday).
The pair helped form the Dandenong Ranges Community Bushfire Group (DRCBG) following the February fires.
The Mail reported last month that the group had surveyed more than 800 people across the hills.
The number one concern highlighted was the introduction of an early warning system.
Ms Gajdek said it was now vital to gain support from local Members of Parliament and councillors to push for an EWS.
She said Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff had already shown support for such a system but that others were yet to be convinced.
Ms Gajdek said La Trobe MP Jason Wood had also written a letter of support.
Mr Wood has called on both the Prime Minister and Victorian Premier to take action.
He said there were more than 40,000 people living in the Dandenongs that could have faced another Marysville on that fateful day in February if the local firefighters had not been able to contain the Upper Ferntree Gully blaze.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato in her submission to the Royal Commission has called for the government to fully evaluate the current warning system and look at further warning devices for fire prone areas
Ms Gajdek said there were a number of factors to be considered for a EWS in the Dandenongs.
She it would need to send out SMS, phone and pager alerts, plus the use of pre-recorded messages for mobiles, phones and radios.
Ms Gajdek said an audible warning alert, electronic message boards, flashing lights, and multilingual voice messages also needed to be considered.
She said once the group obtained support they would be sending a letter to Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron calling for action.
Lyster Ward Cr Samantha Dunn is one of many still undecided on the need for an EWS.
Cr Dunn last week told the Mail she was hesitant to make a decision either way until the Royal Commission released its findings.
“The question in the back of my mind is how early is early?” she said.
“I am not sure there is an easy answer and we need more knowledge before we move forward.”
“I think I need to see what the Royal Commission says before I can consider forming an opinion.”
Cr Cliff said following the intensity of the February fires it was obvious that an EWS was needed.
He said the government needed to introduce something as soon as possible.
“There is always going to be people that will not go… the fires proved that people panic when they realise it’s not as gentle,” Cr Cliff said.
“The next best thing would be a warning to tell people to get to buggery out of there.”
Cr Cliff said once the Royal Commission findings were published they would leave little double of the need for an EWS.
“When we get the findings we will need to go for it, there will no longer be time to sit on the fence, we will need to get off our backsides and do something,” he said.