CFA to call fire danger period early in the Yarra Ranges
PREPARE now is the message from fire authorities as the CFA gets ready to call the Fire Danger Period early.
Outer East
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PREPARE now is the message from fire authorities as the CFA gets ready to call the Fire Danger Period early.
With a drier than expected winter, the official fire restrictions are expected to come into force in the Yarra Ranges in November, a month earlier than last year.
The community in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges are being urged to clean up their properties and get their bushfire plans in order before the Fire Danger Period is enacted for the summer season.
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District 13 acting operations manager Tim Holland said because of the warmer winter and below average rainfall, there was a lack of moisture in the soil.
“Even our forest areas and private land is relatively dry,” Mr Holland said.
“It only takes a couple of warmer days and the green grass will dry out.”
He said this could also mean an earlier start to the bushfire season.
“It could be a longer fire season and people need to have their plans and share those with family and friends so people know what they’re going to do,” Mr Holland said.
“Know when you’re going to stay and when you’re going to leave. If you see smoke, it’s often too late to leave.”
He said make preparations to prevent a fire starting or spreading on your property including grass slashing, getting rid of leaves and cleaning gutters.
Yarra Ranges Insp Peter Wheeler said police had been preparing for the upcoming fire season and would be running Operation Hussar.
Insp Wheeler said police would be patrols outer lying areas of the Yarra Ranges as a preventive measure but also as a quick response to anything that happens.
He said police would continue to attend any fire call-out during the Fire Danger Period and take action against illegal burning off.
Leader previously reported police cracked down on a number of people burning off illegally, with four sent to court.
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