FIREFIGHTING crews have been busily preparing for the 2018-19 Fire Danger Period across the region.
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Forest Fire Management Victoria is rolling out bushfire combating aircraft throughout the Grampians region. There will be 12 firefighting aircraft based in region during the period.
The Grampians region extends from the South Australian border west of Edenhope to Bacchus Marsh, taking in the Wimmera and Midlands Fire Districts, and includes the townships of Kaniva, Dimboola, Horsham, Halls Gap, Ararat, Daylesford, and Ballarat.
FFMV Grampians Forest and Fire Operations regional manager Peter Kambouris said the dry conditions throughout the year would significantly contribute to bushfire season.
“We're getting ready for another busy bushfire season across the region and aircraft are an essential tool in supporting ground crews to put fires out or doing reconnaissance work to find out where fires are, their size and their spread,” he said.
“Our aircraft are a mix of firebombers and others that provide air supervision and intelligence- gathering roles. A medium-sized waterbombing helicopter is based between Birchip and Donald.”
Two fixed-wing firebombers will be based between Nhill and Casterton, four at Stawell, and a fixed wing air observer aircraft, also at Stawell.
“This fleet can be increased if needed, depending on the requirements, conditions and incidents. We operate firefighting aircraft as immediate response or pre-determined dispatch in locations across the state,” he said.
“Immediate response using aircraft in early stages of a fire is one of the most effective ways to help stop the spread of fire and help to keep communities safe.”
Fire restrictions are now in force in selected parts of the Wimmera and Southern Mallee regions.
Restrictions were placed on Hindmarsh North, Yarriambiack Central, Yarriambiack North, Buloke North and Buloke South as of October 15. Restrictions were placed on the remainder of Hindmarsh Shire Council and West Wimmera Shire Council North on October 22.
Country Fire Authority District 17 operations manager Craig Brittain encouraged people to contact the CFA if they were unsure about specifics of restrictions
“If you are in any doubt at all check. You can get in contact with CFA or your municipality or jump online. If they’re going to do a burn-off, for instance, they need to first of all apply for a permit and comply with the restrictions of the permit,” he said.
“That way the brigades know exactly what a fire is. Everything we’re trying to do is minismise the risk of bushfire to our communities, and to also minimise the time that our volunteers have to leave their jobs and families to respond to these fire.”
Once the Fire Danger Period comes into effect, the CFA and Victoria Police have a zero-tolerance approach to any fires that have started from negligent behaviour.
Victoria Police Grampians regional emergency management acting inspector Brendan Broadbent said fines would be issued to anyone caught doing the wrong thing.
“It’s about raising the expectations of the general community to look at people who are lighting fires with ignorance about the conditions and say that they won’t stand for it,” he said.
“We want to change the culture around the expectations of the community and indict to them that we’re going to enhance our operations for all fires. If the outcome is that they are deliberately lit or there have been breaches, then those people responsible will be charged.
“The actual strategy has been a collaboration with the CFA, but we have also been working with DELWP and other fire control agencies. We want to work with them to identify all fires.”