Lorne CFA empowering community to be prepared for fire season

THE Lorne Fire Brigade and CFA South West are inviting locals to discuss strategies for the upcoming fire season at a community workshop next weekend.

The November 18 event at Lorne Community House will educate locals on how they can keep themselves, their families and friends safe this summer.

Participants can expect to get a refresh on fire safety essentials, learn about fire behaviour relevant to their context and environment and gain an awareness of resources and tools available to help make a fire plan.

Lorne Fire Brigade community safety officer, Katie Walker said fires can happen at any time and urged locals to be prepared for anything.

“There is a lot of new community members in Lorne, so we hope to bring everyone up to speed.

“The last three years we haven’t had any fire dangers, but the next three will be different.

“We just want to make sure everyone is aware and have plans in action.”

Ms Walker said the event will be particularly “Lorne specific”, and detail some of the immediate threats to the area.

“Ideally, we want everyone to leave the day before, so it’s about having a plan to make sure that can happen.

“Road closures and tourists blocking the road are just some things that can inhibit the process and we will detail how to work around that.

“For a lot of people in our community, they’ve lived through the Black Saturday or the Wye River fires and are well aware of what a fire looks like.”

Paid CFA staff will also be roaming Mountjoy Parade in Lorne to share insights with the community and tourists.

For further information about how to prepare for fire danger, head to www.cfa.vic.gov.au