Fire Danger Period starts December 16 for Yarra Ranges, Knox
People getting excited for Christmas are being reminded to also get ready for fire season. The CFA has just declared the start of the Fire Danger Period in Melbourne’s east, and there’s not long before it begins.
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As excitement for Christmas and summer holidays gets into full swing, the CFA is urging people to remember to find time to get their properties ready for fire season.
The advice comes as the starting date for the Fire Danger Period in Melbourne’s east has just been set — Monday, December 16 — meaning there’s less than two weeks to do any final burning off.
But anyone taking the chance to burn is warned to be extra vigilant following Melbourne’s particularly variable weather conditions in recent weeks.
CFA District 13 acting operations manager Tim Holland said while people were very busy at this time of year, they needed to make time to prepare for fire season.
Mr Holland said the Fire Danger Period was kicking off four weeks later than last year because grassland was still green from rainfall.
But he said cleaning up was as important as ever, with the area expected to dry out very quickly.
However, residents planning to burn off while it’s still legal are advised to keep a close watch on the weather conditions.
“Things can change very quickly,” Mr Holland said.
Monbulk CFA brigade captain Simon Schroder is also urging people to keep an eye on the weather forecast, particularly after his brigade was called to a large runaway burn off on Wednesday night.
“The conditions are one extreme to the next at the moment,” he said.
The small fire jumped a fence and ended up burning through six trees, 100sq m of scrub and needed 15,000 litres of water to be extinguished.
Mr Schroder said anyone burning off should follow the CFA guidelines, lighting the fire far enough away from vegetation and flammable items and having an adequate water supply nearby.
He said the fire should be completely put out before the site was left unattended.
People are also advised to register their burn offs by calling 1800 668 511.
But Mr Holland said getting ready for fire season involved much more than burning off, particularly with residents able to dispose of vegetation in their green waste bins.
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He said people should be clearing leaves and twigs from gutters, mowing and removing flammable materials from properties.
Mr Holland said residents should also ensure they had a bushfire plan in place for their family before Christmas, including circumstances like what teenagers home alone would do if a fire threat arose.
The Fire Danger Period starting December 16 covers all of Yarra Ranges, Knox, Manningham and Maroondah.
Anyone caught lighting a fire after it begins could face fines of more than $19,000.
More info on fire season and restrictions during the Fire Danger Period: cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/can