Are you #FireReady?

CFA members have responded to a number of grass and scrub fire incidents already this summer.

While temperatures have been quite mild, a number of warm days in a row have brought about curing of grasses, ensuring a windy day will quickly help a fire to spread, regardless of the temperature.

The latest update from the Bureau of Meteorology predicts a wetter than average period from February to April across much of the country.

February to April daytime temperatures are likely to be cooler than average for parts of western, northern and south-eastern Australia.

Here in the central, Surf Coast and Bellarine region, we continue to expect a mild summer, however that is no reason to be complacent – as we have already seen, fires will occur in many conditions, and the traditionally hot days of late January and early February are here, with this weekend’s forecast for a couple of days in the high 30s. While we are committed to keeping you safe this summer and across all seasons, there are a number of things you can do to ensure you are #FireReady too.

Here are our top tips for all people staying on the Bellarine Peninsula this summer.

1. If staying in a holiday house or at the caravan park, check to see where your exits are in the event of a fire.

2. Know what your fire plan is in the event of a bush or grass fire. This may mean leaving the area early, well before there are any signs of fire.

3. If you are on the road and hear the sirens of an emergency vehicle, ensure you safely pull over and allow it to pass.

4. When driving past any parked emergency vehicle on the side of the road with their flashing lights operating, you must safely slow down to 40kmh. Remember, this is our workplace and we need your help to do our job safely.

5. Understand the fire danger ratings. If it’s an extremely hot day or a total fire ban day, it means you cannot light any campfires or solid-fuel-based barbecues. Do not use any equipment that could cause sparks.

6. Download the VicEmergency app to your smart phone. This app provides the latest fire information and warnings. Set the app to notify you of incidents occurring in chosen areas and use it to stay up to date with local fire danger ratings and total fire bans.

Always remember to call 000 in the event of a fire or emergency situation. For more information, visit cfa.vic.gov.au.

Andrew Mahoney is the Chairperson of the Bellarine Group Community Safety Committee.