FIRE SEASON ARRIVES (from September/October 2009 Issue)
It is only August and already we have had spells of hot weather and the brigade has attended 3 fires. All this is a timely reminder of the need to prepare for the height of the fire season.
The interim report from the Victorian Royal Commission has been released and while it criticised the implementation of the Stay or Go Policy it did not recommend its abolition. The NSW RFS is in the process of reviewing the recommendations however the Stay and Defend or Go Early policy will stay.
What is critical is that people realise how important it is to be decisive in applying this policy to their own situation. As has been mentioned several times in Chronicle articles and needs to be reinforced, is that the decision to go must be made once the weather forecast has been made. On days of extreme weather there is no doubt that the safest option is to be well away from the fire zone. Do not decide to leave when you see smoke or flames. This is too late and extremely dangerous.
Please also do not be overly reassured by recent clearing along roadside verges. This may be of some assistance if the RFS is fighting a small fire and decides to use the road as a fire barrier. The clearing that has been done will not make the road a safe place to be in a large fire. Being in a car when a fire is active is highly dangerous. Consider how many accidents occur on Tugalong Rd in relatively normal conditions. Imagine how many there will be with virtually no visibility, drivers full of adrenaline and possible panic, wildlife and stock fleeing the fire and with trees across the road.
The decision to stay and defend your property should not be made lightly. It takes a significant amount of preparation to ensure your property has the best possible chance of protection. It also takes physical fitness and knowledge. One of the recommendations from Victoria was that the authorities did not do enough to emphasise the dangers of extreme fire days and how hard it is defend a property during these days.
Please ask yourself if you are ready. If you are in doubt and wish assistance to gauge your readiness please ring Brett on 4878 9272 to have the RFS visit and offer advice.
In Victoria many communities were devastated by the fires. We do not want this to happen to Canyonleigh. The protection of a community does not rest though with the RFS or with individuals, it rests with the community. We need to build a culture of fire readiness, one where we encourage each other and it becomes the norm during winter to prepare. Fortunately we are already a very strong community, we have the Chronicle, the Community Hall, the Community Association, the General Store, Emergency Aid and many other groups and projects. Let us build on this community spirit and make our community a safer place.
To assist in this process the Brigade proposes to hold a community meeting on Saturday 26 September at the Community Hall commencing at 6.30pm where we will discuss fire plans, preparation and decision making. Book this date and try to attend if you can.
Please consider that the brigade with its 2 vehicles is simply not big enough to defend the whole community (300 odd dwellings) in the event of a fire. Even with the assistance of all of the Wingecarribee Shire brigades we will still not have enough trucks to be able to allocate a truck to each property. While you may not be aware of this, RFS policy is to triage properties and those that are not defendable will not have a truck allocated to them.
Other projects that the Brigade is commencing to assist in community preparation are detailed below.
EMERGENCY TANK PROJECT
One of the main limiting factors in fighting a bushfire is the availability of water.
To address this issue, our brigade has developed a project that will greatly assist fire crews access water: the installation of four 35,000 litre tanks strategically located on Tugalong Road (9 and 19km), Bangadilly Road and Hawks Hill Road. These sites were chosen using a number of parameters but if you think extra tanks are required and we raise enough money please feel free to contact us.
If a fire closes Tugalong Road, families and fire crews could be stranded without access to water. We believe that this project could potentially save property and lives in the event of a serious or quickly running fire.
Most importantly, we will need to raise some $40,000 to make this vital project a reality. Should you like to assist us in some way it would be most appreciated. We have developed a fully costed program for the project and will be seeking grants from governments, corporates and various trusts, but we still need your help to get the ball rolling.
To help, or to find out more, please call Brett Bannerman on 4878 9272.
ELDERLY/INFIRM/DISABLED RESIDENTS
If you are elderly, infirm or disabled, live in a bush fire prone area, and you are having trouble preparing your property for this bush fire season you may be eligible for a new RFS service.
The AIDER (Assist Inform, Disabled and Elderly Residents) programme does property preparation like gutter clearing, thinning/removing vegetation, trimming branches or slashing around your property. It also aims to assist vulnerable people in the community who have limited domestic support available from family relatives or friends.
AIDER service is free and is not means tested. It is expected that the programme will be in strong demand and not all requests for services will be able to be met across the State. Early indications are that the more requests from an area, the more efficiently the limited funding can be utilized. To maximise Canyonleigh’s chances of having a work crew attend our area we need to ensure all residents who may be eligible apply. If you would like to be considered for this program please contact Brett on 4878 9272.
WOMEN ONLY TRAINING PROGRAM
Recognising that women are often the custodians of a family’s safety and there is a good chance they will be home alone during a fire, the Canyonleigh RFS would like to hold a one day training session, which is limited to female participants. This will be held on Saturday October 24 commencing at 0830 at the Fire Shed.
Possible items on the agenda include pump usage, fire plans, household fire safety, and property preparation. The program is flexible and one of the things we would like to do is have you determine the content. To discuss what you would like to know and what should be included please contact Frances Crown on 4878 9272 or 0417 262 564, by Saturday September 26.
Please do not underestimate your importance in fire readiness. Women (at the risk of generalising) are often better at seeing the need and ensuring it happens. Please attend, gain the knowledge and then make it happen. Our safety is everyone’s responsibility.
STATIC WATER SUPPLY PROJECT
In addition to supplying tanks the Canyonleigh RFS would also like to map the available water (dams, tanks etc) in the area. Over the next few months, with your permission, we would like to visit your property and determine the availability of water. We will then mark this with a sign saying SWS. It is not compulsory to be part of this project but we do encourage your involvement.
WHAT CAN YOU DO
Please do not read this article and then forget it. Start work on preparing your property, gain advice by an individual visit, support our tank project and most importantly attend the meeting on 26 September at the Community Hall. If you have any ideas you would like raised at the meeting or would like to have an individual discussion please call Brett on 4878 9272.