Code Red support grows

By Tania Martin
But some say it will create more confusion than helping residents in high-risk areas.
Under the new six-tiered national system, Victorians will receive advance warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology for each day and in each weather district in consultation with fire agencies.
The warning codes range from Code Red (catastrophic) to extreme and serve for high-risk days.
When these warning come through residents are advised to leave their homes as early as possible and get out of the region.
Very high, high and low-moderate ratings will mean residents need to enact their fire plan to either stay and fight or leave early.
Premier John Brumby said the new rating scale aimed to help individuals and communities understand fire risk in their area on any given day.
“Clear warnings and clear directions are the best possible protection for Victorians in the face of a fire threat,” he said.
DRCBG spokeswoman Melanie Gajdek said the new system would provide more information to the public on what to do on high fire risk days.
She said it gave residents options that should be followed.
“It’s more scalable in that it differentiates levels of severity instead of the one ‘total fire ban’ days of the past,” Ms Gajdek said.
Ms Gajdek believes the six options will assist residents and tourists in setting their own personal triggers for when they should leave or consider visiting on a safer day.
“Given the lack of information in the past this is an improvement,” she said.
Ms Gajdek said although code red (catastrophic) had alarmed many people, it was needed.
“Complacent behaviour does indeed contribute to the impacts of disasters, and this indeed will hopefully reduce these effects,” she said.
“DRCBG do not believe these are ‘alarmist’, they are more realistic given the climate and environment involved.”
Mr Brumby said conditions such as those on Black Saturday would attract the highest Fire Danger Rating – Code Red (Catastrophic).
“A Code Red (Catastrophic) day will also carry the warning that people may die or be injured; thousands of homes or businesses may be destroyed; and well prepared, well constructed homes may not be safe during a fire,” he said.
Under the new system, schools in high-risk areas like the Dandenongs will close on code red days.
Mount Evelyn Primary School principal Phil Comport said schools would be notified by noon the previous day in order to be able to let all parents know of the closure. He said this move would be a great improvement on last year.
“It was pretty last-minute last year and we didn’t have enough phone lines to call every parent but with this system we will send a letter home with every kid,” Mr Comport said.
Ms Gajdek said it was now more important than ever to have a plan. “It will be very easy to get to the 10th total fire ban day and after leaving early each time, become reluctant to do so again and again, but we must do what it takes to protect our lives and families at all costs.”