ARARAT - The Country Fire Authority is urging residents to become proactive in the lead up to the summer bushfire season.
Country Fire Authority operations manager for Region 16 John Athorn has implored residents to take on board lessons learnt from the last fire season by reducing fuel around their homes and properties.
The state's first Bushfire Action Week will take place between October 11-18 and will focus on making Victoria fire safe and fire ready.
Residents are encouraged to prepare their homes by cleaning up around the yard, mowing long grass, removing debris and cleaning out guttering.
''People need to act now. It's not a case of wait until it gets dry,'' Mr Athorn said.
According to Mr Athorn, residents should begin preparing for the fire season by becoming aware of the dangers present around the home.
''We've had a fair bit of rain recently, which is fantastic, but it will create a lot of growth in grasses and other fine fuels,'' he said.
''The dryness of fuels - leaves, bark, twigs and grasses - plays a large role in spreading fires.
''The weather bureau is predicting that from October through to the end of December and possibly into the new year, conditions are going to be extremely dry again.
''So, we've got a lot of fine fuel and we've got really dry conditions. People need to be aware that that's going to happen and take the actions now to clean up around their properties.''
Strong winds will also become an issue towards summer. If the strong winds seen over winter carry on through to warmer weather, Mr Athorn warns we could face the same conditions as last year.
''As winds get stronger, the speed, size, heat and spotting of a fire increase dramatically,'' he said.
''Ember attack is the main cause of house loss in bushfire. You may know there is a large fire in the distance, but you may not know about the new fires starting from embers landing near you. If they aren't put out they will destroy your home.''
Reducing fuel loads around your property will help to reduce the likelihood of embers setting fire to large areas of fuel.
For those planning burn-offs, the CFA recommends you 'learn before you burn'.
''If you need a permit, make sure you get one. If you're not used to doing burns like that, then find out how much effort it takes,'' Mr Athorn said.
Last year the Ararat CFA was forced to step in on a few occasions because people did not have the physical capacity to handle a burn that jumped over their control lines.
''My advice to anyone really is that if you are going to use fire to clean up then you need to learn the legal requirements and you need to know what you're doing,'' Mr Athorn said.
All of this information is readily available from the CFA and will be included in the Fire Ready Victoria meetings set to take place in the upcoming weeks.
Forward planning is a vital element of being bushfire ready, and each household should have its own bushfire strategy.
''Without doubt, the best strategy for surviving a bushfire is not to be there in the first place,'' Mr Athorn said.
One of the recommendations from the Bushfires Royal Commission states that leaving early is always the safest way to survive a bushfire, and that not all homes are defensible.
''If you decide you are going to stay and defend then you need to be right on top of your game - both mentally and physically,'' Mr Athorn said.
''It's hard yakka. You're stuck out there in smoke, heat - and if you've got any respiratory problems at all that smoke will knock you over very quickly. If you're not fit the heat, the smoke, the combination of the lot and the heightened adrenaline rush will cause your body a heap of fatigue.
''Don't go in there thinking you know it - if you're not sure, find out.''
The royal commission also recommended that households opting to defend have a back-up plan and be ready to relocate to a fire refuge if necessary.
Mr Athorn said the major message the CFA wanted to get across to residents in the region is that they should not be complacent.
''Really, be aware that it only takes one bad day and you can have a lot of damage,'' Mr Athorn said.
''You need to be prepared for that day and do the work now.''
Prepare. Act. Survive. embodies the CFA's advice to the community in the lead up to the summer bushfire season.
For more information on the strategy, or to order a copy of the Bushfire Survival Kit, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au or contact Ararat CFA headquarters on 5352 5516.
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