Officers reduce fire risk across the Bellarine

THE City of Greater Geelong’s fire prevention team is inspecting potential fire risks on the Bellarine, as the region faces an above average fire season.

The Country Fire Authority declared the 2017-18 Fire Danger Period for the City earlier this month, and municipal fire prevention officers are currently identifying potential fire risks and, where risks are identified, issuing fire prevention notices to land owners.

Officers are authorised under the Country Fire Authority Act to issue fire prevention notices to reduce fire risk during the fire danger period, which normally runs between November and March.

“Now that the Fire Danger Period has been declared people need to be proactive and vigilant in clearing their properties for the summer fire season,” City director of city services Guy Wilson-Browne said.

“Land owners should clean their properties, ensuring grass is kept short, fallen branches and loose leaves are cleared and vegetation and litter is cleared away from houses and sheds.”

Mr Wilson-Browne said it was important to be prepared during the fire season.

“Information on why you should leave early, what you can and can’t do on fire risk days and what to expect during a bushfire can all be found on the CFA website.”

The officers will pay particular attention to rural areas, vacant suburban blocks and properties with excess grass, branches and other materials that pose a fire risk.

Last season, the city’s officers travelled almost 16,000km across the region conducting inspections and distributed 1,484 fire prevention notices, giving land owners 21 days to carry out the required maintenance on their property.

The Fire Danger Period is expected to run until May 1.