By Callum Ludwig
An informative bushfire modelling event was held at the Yarra Junction Community Link on Wednesday 14 June to help residents understand how the area would be hit in the event of a major fire.
Attendees got to see what the latest in bushfire prediction software, Phoenix RapidFire, predicts for the Yarra Junction township.
Director of Communities at Yarra Ranges Council Jane Price said they were proud to host the Yarra Junction Bushfire Modelling Event on Wednesday night in collaboration with Forest Fire Management Victoria and CFA.
“The event utilised the latest in bushfire prediction software, outlining various scenarios of how Yarra Junction could be impacted in different bushfire scenarios,” she said.
“We’re hoping that the event was useful for community members and local first responders, in preparing for this year’s bushfire season and raising awareness of how bushfires can behave and move through the local area.”
Yarra Ranges Council took the opportunity to also let attendees hear about their proposed Bushfire Fuel Management Plan, with further engagement on this to be put out to the community in the coming months.
“Forest Fire Management Victoria utilises evidence and local knowledge to assist local communities to build their own fuel management plans and that is what this community event is about,” an FFMV spokesperson said.
“We will continue to work with local communities and experts to better understand where the most important assets are in bushfire regions to ensure they remain protected.”
Residents can visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/emergencies to learn more about what to do before, during and after an emergency occurs.
The oval of the Yarra Junction Recreation Reserve on Park Road (off Warburton Highway) in Yarra Junction is the designated Neighbourhood Safer Place and community fire refuge in the case of a bushfire emergency in Yarra Junction.
The Wesburn/Millgrove CFA station can also shelter roughly 380 people for two hours as a last resort.
