Flee fires early plea

By Kath Gannaway
RESIDENTS in fire-prone communities should plan to leave under days identified as potentially catastrophic fire risk days.
Under announcements made over the weekend by Premier John Brum-by the emphasis in a raft of measures was the preservation of life over property.
Launching Fire Action Week Mr Brumby said with 16 days to the start of a fire season which was shaping up to be as bad or worse than the previous season, people needed to identify the risk, prepare a fire plan, clean up properties and get involved in local fire preparation activities.
Among the measures announced were the following:
• A six-tiered rating system to warn communities of the risk of unpredictable, uncontrollable and fast moving fires.
• A telephone-based warning system.
• A new household self-assessment tool to help residents assess the defensibility of their homes and prepare bushfire plans.
• New protocols for emergency warning signals.
• The completion by mid-November of Township Protection Plans in 52 towns identified as being at high risk this fire season, including the identification of Neighbourhood Safer Places in those towns where geographically possible.
• A behind-the-scenes website for standardised information.
• A $11.5 million campaign around the slogan ‘Prepare. Act. Survive’ which will run for six months and aim to educate and prompt long-term behavioural change.
• And, revision of roadblock protocols.
The omission of any Yarra Valley townships in the list of 52 towns identified as being at high risk this summer was met by disbelief by some residents, and for communities in the Upper Yarra and around Healesville the risk is seen as being both high and real.
For many the practical implications of ‘relocating’ are yet to be addressed.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges will have a pivotal role and is working through the processes involved in conjunction with CFA, police and other agencies.
Many of the policies announced on the weekend by the Premier will need to be factored in to the shire’s responses.
“The most important thing is a relief centre should be considered a place of last resort when relocating,” communications manager James Martin said.
“They are not the most comfortable locations and other options, away from fire-prone areas with family and friends, are in most cases a better alternative,” he said.
“We understand, too, that it is not easy for families to relocate and if it happens on several occasions it will be difficult for people.”
Mr Martin said the shire had pulled senior staff off their usual work to work on the coming fire season with one group working on the recovery from last February’s fires and the other working on making sure policies were in place for this season.
“February 7 rewrote the record books, so a lot of work is being undertaken,” he said. “We are working through what we need to put in place. We still have time to tighten up all these areas (new government regulations and protocols) and develop policies which we feel will suit a range of scenarios,” Mr Martin said.