Advertisment

General News

14 August, 2023

Summer Series: Fire prevention should start now

There can be no room for complacency ahead of the fire season according to Carisbrook Fire Brigade Captain Ian Boucher, who ahead of a “perfect storm” of conditions predicted this summer, is urging residents to keep grass short, clear gutters...

By Riley Upton

Carisbrook Fire Brigade Captain Ian Boucher is urging residents to start their fire prevention work now, showing the type of leaf litter they should be clearing from their properties. Photo: 150823 12
Carisbrook Fire Brigade Captain Ian Boucher is urging residents to start their fire prevention work now, showing the type of leaf litter they should be clearing from their properties. Photo: 150823 12

There can be no room for complacency ahead of the fire season according to Carisbrook Fire Brigade Captain Ian Boucher, who ahead of a “perfect storm” of conditions predicted this summer, is urging residents to keep grass short, clear gutters and spouts and ensure access to water plugs and hydrants is clear.

Weather outlooks indicate we’re in for hotter temperatures throughout the season, which is looking likely to last longer than normal.

Captain Boucher said while temperatures are still relatively cool, rainfall and growth through winter has been strong and will cause a significant fire risk if not addressed now.

“Don’t be complacent just because the weather is cold at the moment — there are factors leading up to a perfect storm in summer,” he said.

“We’ve had wet weather and growth through winter and we’re expecting dry weather through summer with hotter temperatures than we’ve experienced for a number of years.

“All of that is going towards a summer we haven’t seen for quite a while.”

Captain Boucher, who’s been at the helm of the Carisbrook brigade for over three decades, said over the years the importance of residents undertaking fire mitigation works has grown.

“In the time I’ve been captain we’ve seen a lot of urban spread — areas that used to be forested have now opened up for residential areas and there are properties backing onto bushland and grassland that weren’t in those locations previously,” he said.

“Because of the growth we’ve seen through winter and how Carisbrook is growing bigger, it means the brigade has a much larger area to cover in the event of an emergency.

“The reality is we can’t be everywhere at once and that’s why it’s important to start your fire prevention work now.”

Areas residents should be looking to maintain in particular are keeping grass short, clearing guttering and spouts, moving stacked firewood away from the home and even ensuring access to water sources, particularly fire plugs, is clear.

“We had a lot of trouble last year in urban and outlying areas in finding fire plugs,” Captain Boucher said.

“If people have got fire plug markers or plugs themselves in their street and they know where they are, clear around them and make them more visible.

“If we need water, that’s where we’re going to go — if it’s near your property, it’s in your best interest to clear around it so we can access it.

“If we’re spending time searching for an access point that takes time away from us being able to fight a fire.”

The CFA website has extensive property management and fire mitigation advice and resources available at www.cfa.vic.gov. au/plan-prepare/how-to-prepare-your-property, with residents also encouraged to speak with brigade members if they have any questions.

Advertisment

Most Popular