By Callum Ludwig
While drier weather may seem an eternity away as the third La Nina continues to wreak havoc, it’s vital to be bushfire ready come summer.
Wesburn-Millgrove CFA is hosting a Community Open Day to help ensure its communities are well-versed in fire safety and emergency planning.
Captain Sascha Grant said they want to give the community the opportunity to see what’s behind the big roller doors at the brigade.
“People can have a look around the station and also find out more about it as a fire refuge because if we have a big fire event that comes through the area, people might be trapped and having access to our station as a refuge may be one of the last resorts to stay safe,” he said.
“In an emergency, there’s going to be a reliance on our community members to activate the control panel if they need to take refuge in the station.”
The Community Open Day will be held on Sunday 30 October from 9am to 2pm, but residents are welcome anytime to get in touch to ask about their own personal fire plans.
Mr Grant said the station can hold roughly 380 people for two hours in the event of its use as a refuge.
“The expectation is that leading up to an event, we would like the residents to evacuate the area. But if they find themselves absolutely trapped, the firefighters aren’t going to be there and the station is going to be empty,” he said.
“There’s a control panel at the front door, they press the buzzer, and the state control centre will answer that call. If safe, they will encourage residents to leave or if it’s not, they’ll allow them into the station and guide them into the kitchen area where the control panel is and give them some guidance on activating it.”
Once the station has been activated by a community member, generators and air conditioning will kick into gear. Some filtration systems will close and smoke curtains will close in the engine bay to ensure smoke doesn’t get in.
Mr Grant said it is critically important the Wesburn and Millgrove communities understand what their actions need to be in a fire situation.
“There are 1500 plus people living in the McKenzie estate alone so the refuge is really a last resort and we can only fit 380 people in, and it won’t be a comfortable situation for everybody, it’s a big concrete building that will keep them safe,” he said.
“Everyone’s safety plan needs to have them evacuated if there is an event. Millgrove is one of the most at-risk communities in the state, not wanting to frighten anybody but the reality is we live in a very bushy area. If a fire breaks out in the Valley, it will travel through and take out these areas.”
The Millgrove Residents Action Group (MRAG) will also present a big map showing the
town and some of its vulnerabilities to natural disasters, and to talk about the development of a Community Resilience Plan which they are working on with the Minderoo Foundation.
As much as the Community Open Day will share vital information, there will also be an opportunity to have fun checking out the fire trucks and activities for kids to get involved in.
