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Fire Restrictions Now in Force No Fire The Country Fire Authority (CFA) will introduce fire restrictions in Bass Coast, from the 23 January 2012.CFA Group Officer for Bass Coast, Damien O’Connor said Fire Restrictions were also known as the Fire Danger Period. By Bass Coast - 20th January 2012 - Back to News "The CFA makes a series of calculations based on rainfall figures, grass growth and the dryness of the grass and bushes in the area, explained Mr O’Connor.
"This is all calculated into a score which then determines when to introduce Fire Restrictions.The Fire Danger Period means any fires in the open air are subject to legal restrictions which clearly outline what you can and cannot do in relation to fire.
Bass Coast Shire Council’s Municipal Fire Prevention Officer, James Bremner, said that lives and property are put at risk when people do not comply with fire restrictions and regulations.
"The CFA has a very helpful information sheet, Can I or Can’t I?, providing answers to commonly asked questions about lighting fires during the Fire Danger Period and on Total Fire Ban Days.
"Now would be a good time for people to have a look at their family’s bushfire survival plan, if they haven’t already, to see if any of their circumstances have changed," Mr Bremner said.
"Perhaps their children have changed schools or left home and they need to rethink their relocation plans and update critical contact phone numbers. It’s important to include all the members of the family in the review of the plan so they know what their role is and the plan can be implemented quickly and efficiently if necessary. I would even recommend that people pack a relocation kit and practise packing the car if their bushfire survival plan is to ‘leave early’.
"For people who have yet to develop a first plan, the Country Fire Authority has a brochure My Plan that provides an easy to understand guide to putting a personal plan together," Mr Bremner said.
"I really encourage people to decide now what they are going to do on high fire risk days. This is especially so if they live or holiday in one of Bass Coast’s high risk bushfire areas such as Grantville, Harmers Haven, Inverloch, Silverleaves or The Gurdies. Leaving early is the safest option. This is particularly so on Severe, Extreme and Code Red days under the recently introduced fire danger rating system," Mr Bremner stressed.
"The rating is your trigger to act, so make sure you know the fire danger rating in the weather forecast for the district where you live or may be travelling.
If you want further information on the Fire Danger Period and what you can and cannot do preparing a bushfire survival plan, call the CFA Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667 or visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au. Information is also available from Bass Coast Shire Council on 1300 BCOAST (226 278), or www.basscoast.vic.gov.au.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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