This year, we’ve already had a terrible reminder of the significant impact that bushfires can have on communities.
Fortunately, Yarra Ranges has stayed safe during the fires of December and January and fire safety is still on a lot of people’s minds in the community.
We’re in the middle of the CFA-declared Fire Danger Period – until 1 May, 2020. Burning off is prohibited in the open air in the Yarra Ranges without a specific permit during this time.
It’s also important that every household has a fire plan that is understood and up to date.
The plan should cover your triggers to leave, what you will take and how you will get there, what you might need to organise for pets or livestock and what you will do if there is a fire in the area and you can’t leave.
When it comes to fire danger, the safest option for everyone is leaving early – such as the night before an Extreme or Code Red forecast.
In the lead-up to the warmer months, we’ve been running our fuel reduction program in parks, reserves and roadsides, and will continue to do this through the high-risk period wherever possible.
This is alongside work done by other authorities in our municipality, including the Department of Transport (which manages roadside slashing on arterial roads and highways), Forest Fire Management (the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning) which runs planned burns on crown land and education programs conducted by the CFA.
Our teams are in close contact with all the emergency services throughout the year, and we’re the lead agency when it comes to relief and recovery coordination at the local level if the worst should happen.
Council’s responsibilities include providing resources to support emergency services, distributing information to the public, connecting with impacted communities to understand impacts and needs in the short and long term, setting up Emergency Relief Centres and rallying our own teams and those of local and state organisations to provide a range of support services – such as emergency accommodation, material aid, financial and legal assistance and rebuilding support.
We’re all hoping that won’t be necessary, but we all have a part to play in keeping the Yarra Ranges safe.
Visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/burningoff for more information about what you can and can’t do during the Fire Danger Period, and stay safe this summer.
