CFA’s Bushfire Community Survey, undertaken annually since 2009-10, showed that 52 per cent of this year’s respondents considered the risk moderate, minor or non-existent.
Worryingly, a third said they would only leave when a fire threatens their town or suburb rather than the morning of or night before a day of extreme fire danger.
CFA Acting Chief Officer Stephanie Rotarangi said Victorians who were underestimating the risk or who left it too late to leave were risking the safety of themselves and their families.
“It’s important to get your head around what the real risk is to you and your friends and family, how to minimise it and what to do when there is a bushfire emergency,” he said.
The most recent Seasonal Outlook shows that October rainfall was generally below to very much below average across Victoria. Eastern Victoria has now experienced two consecutive years of record low rainfall during autumn and winter, which means a build-up of fine fuels, fuel hazards and flammability in forests.
“If rainfall trends continue, this season will be in line with Victoria’s driest seasons increasing the risk of bushfire,” Acting Chief Officer Rotarangi said.
“It may not impact you or your family directly, but what if it does?
“People need a plan; exactly what are you going to do for you family, for your kids, your partner or parents, your loved ones, pets, other animals if a fire occurs and a fire truck may not be able to get there? Start having the conversations now.”
CFA works with its partner emergency services agencies and on the ground with residents through its community educators, Open Day activities and bushfire safety workshops to encourage Victorians to learn more about bushfire risk and what they need to do to plan and prepare for it.
“We are ready to do the best we can to keep you safe this bushfire season, but equally it’s about the community being ready.
“Members of the community who live and travel to high-risk bushfire areas along with visitors to Victoria need to inform themselves of how they will keep safe in a fire.
“We ask that they understand the risk to them, how the warnings system works and what they need to do on high-risk bushfire days in the areas they live and work in and travel to.
CFA’s Bushfire Community Survey showed that attending a CFA bushfire planning workshop was the CFA activity that most effectively resulted in participants gaining an improved understanding of bushfire risk, taking action to plan and prepare for bushfire, and to feel more confident to deal with bushfire. For more information, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/workshops
CFA brigades across the state are talking to their communities about the local fire risk, how to prepare, and what to do to stay safe over summer. Check what’s on in your area.
Visit cfa.vic.gov.au for more information about bushfire planning and preparation, and about leaving early.
Follow some simple planning and preparation tips to make sure you're ready for the upcoming bushfire season:
Prepare your property; it can minimise property damage even if you leave early
- Move furniture, woodpiles and mulch away from windows, decks and eaves
- Prune tree branches so they are not overhanging the roof or touching walls
- Keep grass shorter than 10cm. Regularly remove leaves and twigs
- Don’t have plants higher than 10cm in front of windows or glass doors
- Before you leave, make sure you remove all flammable items from around your home. Houses have been lost from things as simple as embers landing on a doormat
- Check that your home and contents insurance is current and includes a level of cover in line with current building standards and regulations.
Have a plan, make sure your family knows it, and stick to it
- Check the fire risk where you live.
- Download the VicEmergency app now so you know how it works well before you need to use it. For example, you can set up tailored watch zones for the area where you live, go on holiday or to monitor what is happening where friends and family are located.
- Decide which Fire Danger Rating is your trigger to leave; start checking Fire Danger Ratings daily
- Decide where you will go and what you’ll do with your pets
- Plan for all scenarios - what will you do if your car won’t start, the wind changes direction, roads are blocked, someone is hurt or people aren’t where you expect them to be?
- When planning with kids, make sure you know your local school policy for fire risk days. Some schools close on Code Red days, it’s important to know so you can plan for all situations.
- Create an emergency kit so you are ready to leave quickly and calmly
- Know how you will monitor for warnings and do this regularly on hot, windy days
- Defending your home requires at least two fit adults, at least 10,000 litres of water, protective clothing, and appropriate firefighting hoses and pumps. Most homes in high risk bushfire areas are not defendable on Code Red days. Defending your home is very risky - you could lose your life or be seriously injured
- Always use more than one source to monitor warnings; ABC local radio, Sky News TV, the VicEmergency App, emergency.vic.gov.au and VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.
- Get batteries for your radio, keep laptops and mobiles charged and consider getting power banks to extend their “life” in case of emergency.