Beating fire risk

By EMMA SUN
THE Mount Evelyn CFA has launched its Bushfire Awareness Campaign to raise awareness for fire safety in the coming summer months.
And the CFA, along with its partners from the police, neighbourhood watch and Melba, are encouraging residents to book a free property inspection to ensure their homes are bushfire safe.
Senior Constable Lisa Brooks from the Mount Evelyn Police Station said it was important for the community to be aware of the bushfire risk and to prepare their properties.
“The property inspection is a brilliant way because it’s focusing on individual properties,” she said.
“It’s not instigating law – it’s making you aware what you can do around your own property to keep yourself and your family safe so we’re 100 percent behind it.
“We had a wet winter over the last two years so bushfires are in the back of people’s minds, we need to keep bringing that forward and keep people aware of their own safety through the summer periods.”
Residents can sign up for the property inspection at the Mount Evelyn CFA Garage Sale on Saturday 13 October.
Showbags put together by volunteers from Melba Support Services containing information on bushfire safety will be available on the day.
There will also be a free raffle for a home fire kit.
The bushfire campaign will also include a series of weekly posters leading up to the day, and students from local senior schools will get the chance to create their own poster to be featured in the final week of the campaign.
Sen Const Brooks encouraged all residents to be there on the day and thanked the sponsors for their support.
“This is a fantastic way to get the community involved and we want to encourage people to get there – it’s a free service and I think it’s an invaluable service,” she said.
“We’d like to thank METIC, the Mount Evelyn Neighbourhood Watch, IGA, the Mount Evelyn Post Office and the Mount Evelyn and Districts Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank for their help.”