Make fire moves ‘in advance’

By Jim Mynard
PEOPLE living in bush fire prone areas need to decide in advance if they are going to stay in their home or leave, according to new fire survival techniques.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) and City of Casey have advised people that they should be planning now what they will do in the event of fire.
Statistically the area is due for another bad fire and firefighters say this year conditions for a fire are among the worst if not the worst.
Edrington Ward councillor Brian Hetherton said last week that firefighting techniques had changed since the Ash Wednesday wild fires devastated the district in 1983.
He said people must consider whether they should stay in their home or leave when the fire danger is apparent.
CFA says that residents should not rely on receiving an official warning that a fire is approaching and should make their own decision whether to leave or stay.
The CFA book Living in the Bush says there will not be a fire truck available to protect your property.
“If you want to stay and defend it you will need to prepare well in advance.
“If you plan to leave when a bushfire starts you need to do so before the fire threatens the road you will leave by.
“Once the fire is close there will be considerable smoke, poor visibility and road travel will be hazardous.
“Experience has shown that many residents receive little, if any, official warning of an approaching fire.”