Residents warned on

By Jim Mynard
FIRE access tracks in the City of Casey are for firefighting vehicles in an emergency, the council has warned.
Residents should not under any circumstances rely on being able to use the tracks on fire days, it says. And if they are to use the tracks, police will issue orders in conjunction with the CFA.
The Casey Municipal Fire Prevention Plan states that fire access tracks are considered essential for the access of firefighting appliances and are to be maintained by the council for that purpose.
Casey chief executive Mike Tyler said there had been confusion among residents over whether the track between Old Coach Road and Baker Road in Harkaway should be open to the public.
He said the council maintained this track and it was open during the summer period during the declared fire danger period to assist CFA operations.
Edrington Ward councillor Brian Hetherton said people should now be deciding whether they would leave or stay with their homes on acute fire days.
They needed to have a box ready to pack their special treasures if they were leaving and should be gone in good time if a fire was impending.
“The decision to fight or flee should be made now,” he said.
Dave Baker, CFA manager of community safety for the Western Port Area, said it was critical that fire tracks were accessible to fire crews.
“Our trucks, equipment and personnel need unhampered access to key areas and these tracks provide an alternative access for the CFA to fight fires,” he said.
The council and the CFA said in a joint statement that being prepared early was the key to surviving the bushfire season.
“Residents should prepare their properties and make a decision on high fire danger days to either leave early or stay and defend their property,” the statement said.
“Late evacuations are discouraged due to the high risk involved. Most deaths caused in bushfires are due to late evacuations.
“Residents making a decision to leave early should rely on the existing road network.
“During a fire emergency Victoria Police has emergency management control over all traffic movements.
“Police make decisions about road closures and this includes all roads in the local road network as well as fire access roads.”
Mr Baker said Victoria Police would make these decisions with advice from CFA.