Fire agencies ready for the worst

By Dion Teasdale
THE Yarra Valley will receive a new 23,000litre fire fighting water tank and two new fire access tracks as part of the Shire of Yarra Ranges’ Operation Fire Safe campaign.
Shire chief executive officer Rob Hauser, Country Fire Authority area manager Trevor White and district police inspector Mick Beattie launched the campaign last week.
The campaign aims to help keep residents safe during the fire season. Key elements include identifying and reducing fire hazards and informing and educating the community on the risk of bush fires.
A new 23,000 litre water tank for fire fighting will be installed at Powelltown and new fire access tracks will be opened at Broadies Road, Coldstream and Graham Road, Warburton by the end of the year.
Other initiatives to be completed before the end of December include slashing more than 1000 kilometres of roadsides, inspecting 56,000 properties for fire hazards, and issuing upwards of 1800 cleanup notices to property owners.
In addition to these measures, the shire will maintain or upgrade 78 fire access tracks and maintain 35 water supply points and 44 water tanks for fire fighting.
Mr Hauser said parts of the shire were among the most fireprone regions in the world and many parts of the municipality were especially vulnerable to bush fires.
“Early predictions are for a particularly dry and hot summer and it is imperative that all agencies are fully prepared,” Mr Hauser said.
He said the shire, in partnership with the CFA, Victoria Police and other government agencies, was doing its bit to make sure that residents and visitors to the area were safe this summer.
Insp Beattie said the quality of emergency management between all agencies and the shire had improved in the last few years.
“Our management systems and operations are getting more robust and interconnected,” he said.
“However, our ability to achieve maximum positive impact during a wildfire emergency will partly be influenced by how the affected population responds under pressure.”
Mr White said the CFA was working closely with the shire, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Parks Victoria, and Victoria Police to prepare for the upcoming fire season.
Mr White said these agencies went to a lot of effort to ensure residents of the Yarra Valley were well informed about fire risks, but everyone should take action to make their properties safe.
Information on preparing a personal fire safety plan can be obtained from CFA Region 13 on 1800 240 667.
Information on Operation Fire Safe will be distributed to the community through the council’s community newsletter and through the local media.
A special fire awareness site will also be included on the council’s website (www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au).