The Mirror News

Fire danger period ends

Added 1 May 2018 | Added by: The Mirror | Last updated 1 May 2018 by Linda Giddy ⋅ Post a comment

The fire danger period (FDP) finished at Tuesday, May, 1, 1am in the following municipalities;

  • South Gippsland Shire Council
  • Bass Coast Shire Council
  • French Island
  • Cardinia Shire Council
  • Casey City Council
  • Frankston City Council
  • Greater Dandenong City Council (those portions not included in the Metropolitan Fire District)
  • Kingston City Council (those portions not included in the Metropolitan Fire District) 8
  • Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
  • Baw Baw Shire Council
  • Wellington Shire Council
  • Latrobe City Council

CFA ACO for South East, Trevor Owen, emphasised that although the FDP is coming to an end it is important to remain vigilant.

“We’ve had a long and exceptionally dry summer and although the weather is starting to cool down a little, people still need to careful.”

“Residents that wish to conduct burn-offs on their private properties need to follow some basic rules, register your burn-offs first and foremost, check weather conditions as well as monitor the wind, and follow local council laws and regulations.”

“Anyone living in or travelling through Gippsland needs to keep an eye on the weather and be aware of their surroundings. We’ve had a relatively quiet fire season this year, but there’s no need to be complacent.”

Mr Owen also emphasised the importance of communication.

“It is important that as well as registering your burn-offs with ESTA, you are alerting your neighbours that they may see smoke on the set dates.

“Every year our CFA crews are wasting resources responding to false alarms because people are not registering their burn-offs. If you register your burn off and somebody rings spotting smoke, the incident will be cross-checked with the burn-off register and prevent an angry CFA crew showing up on your door.

“There are few things that annoy CFA fireys more than being taken away from family, friends, work and potential emergencies over a false alarm caused by an un-registered burn-off.”

Landowners can register their burn-off with the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) by calling 1800 668 511 or emailing [email protected]

Mr Owen said that whether registering a burn-off by phone or email, people should be prepared to give some basic information including location, date, expected start and finish times, estimated size, and what they intended to burn.

“The burn off line is very easy to use – the operators are friendly, and prompt you by asking the key questions,” he said.

“When conducting burn-offs, remain alert and always have resources on hand to extinguish the fire.”

Keep your burn off safe and legal:

  • Check fire restrictions in your area and always register your burn
  • Check and monitor weather conditions – particularly wind
  • Warn your neighbours beforehand that there will be smoke in the air.
  • Stay in attendance the whole time your burn is going
  • Have sufficient equipment and water to stop the fire spreading.

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