CFA warns country Victorian property owners to be fire ready this summer

There’s a reason CFA has issued a warning for country Victorians to be prepared this fire season and lockdowns haven’t helped.

Property owners across regional Victoria are being warned to clean up their properties with fears some may be overgrown.

It comes as Melburnians are once again free to travel to the regions after the city’s sixth lockdown and fourth of the year ended last month.

While permits were granted to allow travel between metropolitan and regional areas, the CFA believe there is still plenty of work to be done.

This summer, fire activity is expected to be lower across the state but the risk of grass fires is expected to increase as vegetation dries out.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan warned property owners in some forested areas still had a lot of debris to clear following winter storms.

“Whether you live in the North West, where we can soon expect to start seeing fast-moving grass fires, or in the damper forested areas of East Gippsland, now is the time to start preparing yourself and your property for the fire season,” he said.

“Victoria is one of the world’s most bushfire-prone areas, and even a normal fire season presents a high risk to communities.”

The warnings have prompted councils including Macedon Ranges Shire Council, north of Melbourne, to start their slashing programs.

A council spokesperson said grass fires were the greatest risk to the region with almost 90 travel permits being granted.

“Council works with landowners through our private property inspection program to ensure that owners reduce the fuel load on their property and create defendable space around their home,” they said.

“The inspections are carried out by council’s municipal fire prevention officers who issue fire prevention notices to property owners, outlining the works that need to be undertaken.

“Our fire prevention program focuses on the slashing of roadsides to prevent a fire from starting from a car pulling over on the side of the road and the hot exhaust igniting the long grass. Our program concentrates on high use roads, bus routes and main roads that provide egress in an emergency.

“A large part of the shire was heavily impacted during the June storms and works are continuing to remove fallen trees and vegetation from roadsides, reserves and parks.”

Hepburn Shire chief executive Bradley Thomas said the local government was continuing to work ahead of summer.

“The overwhelming majority of landowners have demonstrated a commitment to maintaining their land in line with good summer preparation practices,” a Hepburn Shire council spokesperson said.

“Community information sessions and strategic communications will be released in the coming weeks to ensure the community is well prepared and informed about the seasonal risk.

“We continue to offer free green waste disposal at our transfer stations for the month of November and roadside slashing has commenced around the shire.”

[e-mail]