Summer of fear

By Tania Martin
AUTHORITIES fear Mount Evelyn is a disaster waiting to happen this fire season.
Local residents, police and councillors fear the town could be in the direct line of fire and that many residents are dangerously complacent.
Shire of Yarra Ranges Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan said this summer was a huge concern.
He said it was especially alarming that there was nowhere safe for people to go.
Cr Heenan said he would be recommending that residents leave early on code red days. He said it was concerning that local residents didn’t really seem to comprehend the danger facing the town this summer.
“There are no real safe places to go,” he said.
Cr Heenan said the area’s topography with its many ridgelines put the town in the line of fire.
He said there was also a lot of vegetation in those ridgeline areas.
“If we have a wind change on one of those days it could bring a front into Mount Evelyn and we are surrounded here by substantial vegetation,” he said.
“The wind will be a real catalyst for us.”
Cr Heenan said the only way to prevent a massive fire event like Marysville in the town was to get rid of all the vegetation.
“And I don’t think that sits well with anyone,” he said.
Cr Heenan said it was concerning that a lot of people still didn’t understand the dangers that this season posed.
“The shire has done a fantastic job with the fact sheets but I am looking forward to the CFA in Mount Evelyn conducting meetings,” he said.
“Education is always going to be the key component to saving lives.”
“I don’t think too many homes in Mount Evelyn are defendable and people need to make a really important judgement of responsibility,” Cr Heenan said.
Sergeant Craig Keithley of Mount Evelyn Police said the biggest problem in not only the town but the Dandenongs this summer would be the traffic gridlock.
“When there is a fire people come out in areas like Mount Evelyn to have a look and the second they do that there will be a major traffic jam, and fire trucks and police can’t get in or out,” he said.
But Sgt Keithley said the key was for people to listen to the CFA and leave early on code red fire danger days.
Mount Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association president Franc Smith said all it would take for the town to go up in flames this summer would be a strong nor-westerly wind change.
He said the biggest concern was that there was nowhere safe for people to go.
“Mount Evelyn could be disaster waiting to happen,” Mr Smith said.
“I am not trying to be a scaremonger but that’s how it is.”
The Mail was unable to contact the Mount Evelyn CFA before going to print.