WITH the CFA's Fire Danger Period already in place across the the Alpine Shire, local brigades are calling on residents to tend to their properties and refresh their fire-ready plans.
Myrtleford CFA captain, Gloria Pizzolitto urged residents to make an emergency plan now.
“The key is to get everything prepared early; your homes and yourselves,” she said.
“Monitor conditions and decide early if you plan to stay and defend, or leave early in the event of a nearby fire: don't leave it too late.”
Second Lieutenant and former captain of the Buffalo Creek fire brigade, Ron Janas, said it's important that everyone in the household knows the plan.
"There's no need to panic, just be prepared," he said.
"Revise your fire-plans now or make new ones, depending on your circumstances.
"Simple things like clearing your gutters and cutting back grass on your property can make a big difference.
"Go over your supplies and make sure you have new batteries in your torches and radios and new fuel in your generators; it won't do if your equipment doesn't work when you need it to."
Captain Pizzolitto summarised the following tips to prepare for the fire season:
To prepare your homes:
- Reduce vegetation around your property.
- If you are new to the area, or planting or redesigning your gardens, create defendable spaces.
- Remove flammable objects and materials from around the house and maintain trimmed trees.
- Ensure if emergency services need to get to your property that the property number is visible from both directions at both day and night-time.
- If fire trucks need to get into your property, ensure that you allow for a 4m high x 4m wide gate, as our trucks are big and need space to be able to easily enter and turn around should we require.
- Embers can lodge or enter your house anywhere to start a fire, so keep roofs and decks clear and close windows and doors when evacuating.
Have an emergency kit ready to go if you plan to leave early with basic essentials in case you are not able to return home:
- Overnight bag with change of clothes and toiletries.
- Medicines and first aid kit.
- Important information, such as passport, legal documents/wills, photos, jewellery, a small amount of cash for incidentals if ATM or card facilities are not available.
- Mobile phone and charger.
- Radio and batteries to listen to up-to-date information.
- An adequate amount of water.
- Wool blankets.
- Contact information for your doctor, council and power company.
- Food supplies and medications for pets also.
- Keep your car at least half-full of petrol in case of an evacuation.
For more information, visit the CFA website, or reach out to your local CFA members in person or on social media to see how you can volunteer.
More CFA volunteers sought
ANOTHER significant element to the success of the upcoming fire season is the dwindling number of CFA volunteers, which is being felt throughout the region.
"One of the issues that we're facing at the moment is, particularly in smaller brigades, our members are aging," first lieutenant of the Buffalo River CFA, Geoff Neck said.
"Trying to recruit younger members to keep our numbers viable is difficult."
Second lieutenant and former captain of the Buffalo Creek fire brigade, Ron Janas agreed, stating while a number of volunteers might respond to a fire, the group eventually needs to be substituted with replacement members.
"Surge capacity is on the decline," he said.
"We can distribute members to fight and monitor a fire, but after three hours, they will have become fatigued and need to be replaced."
Local CFA brigades hold monthly meetings and encourage anyone to attend; to find out more about the situation in their region and even to volunteer.
“It's not all about firefighting; there are support roles if being on the end of the hose isn't for you,” Captain Pizzolitto said.
"Training and personal protective clothing (PPC) are provided by each brigade."
"There's no real age-limit, only 18-year-olds plus," Captain Trevor McKibbin of the Buffalo River CFA said.
"All residents, especially new ones who have moved to the area are welcome at the meetings.
"Our brigade holds a meeting on the first Monday of the month, except in January.
"Before the meeting, there is a barbeque at 7pm, then the meeting starts at 7:30pm, reviewing the current situation in the area and what's coming up.