Wyndham residents are being urged to learn the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System in the lead up to bushfire season.
From September 1, the new national fire danger rating system uses four colour coded levels, moderate, high, extreme and catastrophic, to provide clear information for people to best protect themselves.
The Country Fire Authority’s assistant chief fire officer Tim Holland said the concept was first identified as a priority in 2012, and further determined necessary following the 2019-20 bushfires.
“What’s really important is that our communities and our residents, in Wyndham in particular, learn about [the new fire rating system] so they’re ready for it as we start coming to a warmer summer later this year,” Mr Holland said.
“It’s a learning time for all of us, we’ve got to do the understanding and learning now, not in the middle of summer when we start to see smoke in the area, it’ll be too late.”
Mr Holland said the last two fire seasons in Wyndham have been grassfire dominated, and fire services were expecting this year to be no different.
“The real focus for our residents on the grassland fringes is not to be afraid of fire, but to learn and understand what to do,” he said.
“A grass fire is very different to a bushfire, in terms of the radiant heat and the dangers and stuff that come with it.
“Once we start to see the grassland around our properties at home start to dry out, we ask people to start preparing the property, clear the vegetation area, and keep grass well mowed.”
Mr Holland said it was especially important for residents not to become complacent about fire safety, especially in the home.
“Home fire safety all the time is really important…because that runs all year round,” he said.
Details: emergency.vic.gov.au/respond
