Refuge danger

By CASEY NEILL
A FERNY Creek Primary School fire refuge will put people in the path of a fire front, fears a hills CFA veteran.
But Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Brigade is supporting the site’s selection in a pilot refuge program for the coming fire season, which the State Government announced last week.
Olinda’s John Faull has been a volunteer fireman for more than 50 years and fought a blaze that burned over the school and flattened surrounding homes.
“I’ve seen more fire in the One Tree Hill area than I’ve ever seen anywhere else,” he said.
“I worry about the safety of the people who shelter there.
“People wouldn’t be safe. No way.
“They’re leading them into the fire front, not away from it. They want to bundle them all together.”
Mr Faull said he was appalled authorities hadn’t pursued the Olinda Recreation Reserve site, which the community had advocated for.
“That general area has never ever seen a wildfire,” he said.
Dandenong Ranges Community Bushfire Group’s (DRCBG) Mel Gajdek said “as a long-awaited first step in establishing refuges across the Dandenongs, the decision to use Ferny Creek PS as a refuge pilot is welcomed”.
“This site will, however, mainly benefit the community of the school and the immediate surrounds,” she said.
“We desperately look forward to the establishment of another more centralised refuge along the ridge top, in a less dangerous location.”
Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff was disappointed that Olinda was not selected for the pilot because he feared money to establish one in the town in the future might never eventuate.
“But we’re getting one. Be thankful folks,” he said.
However, he had concerns about accessing the Ferny Creek site, on School Road.
Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Brigade captain John Schauble said the school was in a safe location.
“There is no prospect of a major fire front passing through the school area because of its location and vegetation,” he said.
“I would have no issues with sheltering at the location during a bushfire.
He said the facility would not be the only refuge in the hills.
“In future there may well be refuges in other townships and locations across the ridge area and across the Ranges.”
He said his crew would play a key role in testing the new refuges policy alongside the State and local governments and CFA.
“The pilot is less about buildings and more about testing procedures and the human behavioural factors that will determine whether community shelter is right for a community like ours,” he said.
“It hinges on the community understanding that a community fire refuge is a last resort option, when all other plans have failed.
“On high-risk days, the safest option is to leave early and spend the day off the mountain.”
Bushfire Response Minister Peter Ryan said the school and two others in the trial, in East Warburton and Millgrove, had buildings constructed to standards set following the Black Saturday bushfires.
“Additional work to harden the structures will be undertaken to ensure each site meets stringent performance standards,” he said.
Mr Ryan said the pilot program would test structures, practices and procedures before the sites could be formally designated as refuges.
“Information from the pilot program will shape the future roll-out of community fire refuges to other high-risk communities across Victoria,” he said.