By Michael Doran
Wandin CFA held a well-attended Open Day on Sunday 21 January and while there was a lot of fun for the kids, Brigade Captain Tim Michelson said there was also a timely fire safety message to get across.
“This is a very good time to reinforce the fire preparedness messages and you will see a lot of CFA advertising in January and the start of February. There will be a few more CFA ads and bushfire information sessions happening because our summer really starts now.”
The key message is to have a plan and to stick with it. “The best thing you can do for your family is to have a really solid plan that everyone follows before things turn bad.
“If you plan to leave on a really hot day then set a trigger point. It might be as simple as if its a severe fire danger day over 35 degrees we leave and irrespective of whatever happens that morning, we leave.
“Or you can stay if you have prepared your property, your equipment is tested and ready and you’re fit enough to do it, because people often underestimate just how hard it is physically to protect a property.
“Being prepared and getting the message out, that’s what is going to save lives. It’s not a firetruck because that firetruck can only go up one driveway at a time, so its getting the messages out for people to get their heads around.
“We want to stop anyone defending their house until the last minute and then jumping in their car and driving down the road because that’s when they are going to come unstuck. Black Saturday taught us that.”
“That’s why we say it’s black or white, stay or leave, but don’t be in an environment you are not prepared to be in.”
