By Tyler Wright
Yarra Valley residents are being urged to prepare for the double threat of bushfires and flooding this spring and into summer.
VICSES, Forest Fire Management (FFM) Victoria, CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and Emergency Management Victoria representatives came together for an operational briefing on Thursday 6 October.
District 13 Assistant Chief Fire Officer David Rankin said with the increase of rainfall expectations heading into summer, and the third La Niña event in as many years, the CFA is expecting prolific grass growth across the state causing “some potential for significant fires during the season”.
“As we know; grass fires, when they are burning, can certainly move a lot faster than we can run,” Mr Rankin said.
“For those of you who come across a grass fire during the summer, make sure that you pick a safe location to be able to weather out that fire, you don’t have have to be in a remote or rural area – and try not to outrun it.
“To be prepared, you need to have your fire plan ready in place, you need to know what your family members are going to do, you need to leave early, and listen to all the advice that’s provided by the agencies, and hopefully it will be a safe fire season for us all.”
Forest Fire Management’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer in the Port Phillip region, Tamara Beckett, said Forest Fire Management will be working to remove a large proportion of fallen debris across the from the 2021 storm events in the Yarra Ranges in the lead up to summer.
The clean up will take place across three or four sites in the Dandenong Ranges, primary in Silvan, with planned burns having to be postponed due to wet weather.
“Many of those burns are planned, they’re prepared, they’re ready to go whenever the conditions are right. The reality is when it is very wet, it does narrow the amount of time that we have for burning, so it becomes even more important that we take advantage of the opportunity, whenever that may be.” Ms Beckett said.
“The messages for community members are the same – whether it’s preparing for fire or for flood, or for storms, or whatever other emergency – whether even if it’s an energy emergency; to prepare for what you’re going to do, think about it, plan for it.
“The agencies will be there, we will be responding as best we can, but we need to prioritise those that are most vulnerable…any body who can look after themselves – that really helps us out and allows us to prioritise who we need to support the most.”
Emergency Management Commissioner, Andrew Crisp, said at the media briefing there were currently 26 advice messages across the state; from the Murray River down to the coast.
“It’s not just about where you live – If you intend travelling and enjoy those holidays; get out enjoy this incredible state, but know where the emergency broadcaster is where you travel,” Mr Crisp said.
“Heed those warnings that are coming out, and leave.”
Mr Crisp said preparing at home is important, as seen with the significant storm event in June 2021.
“Honestly, at times there could be situations where we will not have enough emergency resources to support everyone that needs our help; we need to focus on on the more vulnerable.”
Mr Crisp said briefings with other agencies are “critical” in terms of preparedness.
“These ritual preparedness prepare sessions are a critical opportunity to get together face to face after Covid, but to listen to subject matter experts in relation to the specific assets themselves, and what we’re doing around relief and recovery into the future,” he said.
To learn more about incidents and warnings near you, and know how to best prepare in different events, visit the VicEmergency website.
