By Callum Ludwig
The Warburton Emergency Planning Group (WEPG) are organising a drive with the bushfire resilience of local residents in mind.
WEPG are appealing for anyone who has a spare woollen blanket to donate it to their blanket drive, to ensure residents who can’t access a woollen blanket, which can help protect them in the event of a fire, can be distributed one.
WEPG Member Karen Duke said with the recent fires in the Yarra Ranges National Park and the extremely hot weather months, the drive comes as a timely reminder to be bushfire-ready.
“Having an emergency evacuation bushfire kit in your car or ready to go is essential, your kit should include some of the following such as food and adequate water, a first aid kit, medications, prescriptions and medical documents, wallet, passport, important documents, phone, laptop, chargers, clothing, toiletries, and woollen blanket,” she said.
“Unfortunately, in the current economic climate, not everyone can budget for a woollen blanket, so WEPG is aiming for residents to have a woollen blanket in their bushfire emergency kit. it could be the difference between life and death,”
“This is the first woollen blanket drive for WEPG that will hopefully build as more awareness is raised about the benefits of having this essential item, it is part of our goal to ensure that the community are safe and knows what to do during and after an emergency in our area.”
Drop-off points for blankets are:
Lilydale Community House – 7 Hardy Street Lilydale. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9am – 4pm
Upper Yarra Family Centre (Yarra Junction Community Link) – 2444 Warburton Highway, Yarra Junction. 9am – 5pm weekdays.
Redwood Community Centre – 3505 Warburton Highway, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10am – 2.30pm.
Ms Duke said living in one of the highest bushfire-prone areas in Australia, the community and visitors need to be prepared, and many would not think to have a woollen blanket included in their emergency kit.
“A 100 per cent woollen blanket is naturally fire resistant, non-conductive and has good resistance to abrasion, unlike other man-made fibres, wool will not melt, drip, or stick to the skin when in contact with flames,” she said.
“By keeping a woollen blanket in your car, it will act as a personal protection blanket in keeping you and others safe, in the event of a fire and you are stuck in the car, get down below window level and cover up with a woollen blanket as this will increase your chances of survival,”
“So, poke around in your cupboards and closets, if you have any 100 per cent pure woollen blankets in good condition, please consider donating them to our group to be passed out to others that might need them.”
Other important items to have in a bushfire kit include:
Overnight bag with a change of clothes and toiletries
Medicines and a first-aid kit
Important documents and items such as passports, wills, birth certificates, photos and jewellery
Mobile phone and charger
Adequate amount of water
Contact information for your doctor, local council and power company
Face masks
Hand sanitiser
Antibacterial wipes
Ms Duke said as a resident in Warburton, she would encourage the community, and particularly new residents in the area, to attend the CFA bushfire-ready information night.
“We all have our own trigger point when to leave, be safe, and stay alive, this should be in a bushfire plan discussed with others ensuring safety and survival, along with leaving early in the warmer months and high bushfire days,” she said.
“WEPG acknowledges that there may come a time when leaving may not be an option and this will be when the community will need support, it is essential to spread the awareness of having a bushfire plan and emergency kit ready to go.”
