From the Werribee Fire Brigade
With the present hot spell we are really into the summer fire danger period at a local level.
Prior to the rain, a number of grass fires occurred in the Tarneit and Truganina areas over recent weeks, burning a large amount of grassland in rocky terrain.
These were quickly contained by local CFA (Country Fire Authority) and FRV (Fire Rescue Victoria) brigades with the assistance of helicopter water bombers.
This then is a timely reminder to keep a daily check on the weather, fire danger rating and continue to monitor the Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) web site throughout the day for local fire information.
With the recent heavy rains in the municipality the fire risk has been reduced only momentarily, the summer fire restrictions still remain in force until removed in March/April of this year.
In fact as grass regrowth from the rains cures the fire risk may increase.
Some timely reminders from Werribee Fire Brigade Lieutenant Jim Staggard relate to what you can and cannot do during the fire danger period:
During the Fire Danger Period (FDP): Can I light a fire in the open air to burn off grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation?
Answer – NO, unless:
• you have a written permit issued by a Fire Prevention Officer of a public authority, the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer or by the CFA District office you have a written permit issued by a Fire Prevention Officer of a public authority
• you have a written permit issued by a Fire Prevention Officer of a public authority if planning to burn on land under their jurisdiction
• you comply with the conditions of that permit
• A person is in attendance at all times while the fire is alight and has the capacity and means to extinguish the fire
• The fire is completely extinguished before the person leaves
Can I carry out activities including: welding, grinding, charring, soldering or gas cutting, relocating bees with a bee smoker, extracting honey using heat or flame, ail maintenance, heating bitumen?
Answer – NO, unless:
• a fire-resistant shield or guard is in place to stop sparks, hot metal or slag from the fire
• an area at least 1.5 metres from the operation is clear of flammable material or wet down sufficiently to prevent the spread of fire
• you have a hose connected to a reticulated water supply or water spray knapsack containing at least 9 litres of water
• all cut-offs and hot materials from the operation are placed in fire-proof containers
• a person is in attendance at all times while the fire is alight and has the capacity and means to extinguish the fire
• the fire is completely extinguished before the person leaves.
Lieutenant Staggard reminds drivers to remember to give way to emergency vehicles when they are displaying their red and blue lights and sounding a siren, drivers should slow down and pull over to the left to let the emergency vehicle through and take care at traffic lights and give way to emergency vehicles.
Lieutenant Staggard is also concerned that local brigades are attending a large number of vehicle accidents at the moment, far more than fire calls with the Werribee rescue unit attending multiple calls for traffic crashes on a number of days.
The accidents include collisions with other vehicles, stationary objects like trees and power poles and colliding with buildings with some resulting in very serious injuries requiring the attendance of the air ambulance.
So please take care on our roads.
