Media release - Don't get caught out this summer

11 December 2007

DON’T GET CAUGHT OUT THIS SUMMER

A CFA survey conducted in high bushfire risk areas in metropolitan Melbourne has revealed some residents are not prepared enough for fire.

The survey of over 1,000 households identified many people have failed to plan for how they will deal with the bushfire threat. This is despite consistent warnings from fire agencies that outer metropolitan Melbourne could face fire this year.

CFA Chief Officer Russell Rees said the combination of ongoing dry conditions, limited rainfall and the growth of Melbourne suburbs bordering grass and parklands has heightened the risk.

“All Victorians need to have a bushfire plan. It is vital you know what to do because the risk is very real. It is not just the regional and provincial areas that need to be prepared – it is everyone.”

Despite CFA delivering hundreds of community meetings each summer – last year alone over 2,200 were presented - nearly a third of people in metropolitan Melbourne have never attended a bushfire information session.

The survey does reveal that many households are well informed and prepared to deal with a fire.

“People need to understand that a well prepared property can provide protection from a bushfire and that properly equipped residents can protect their property,” said Mr Rees.

Most concerning to fire authorities is that many people think they have a plan of what they will do if a bushfire occurs, but often the plan lacks important detail.

“A bushfire is a very confusing and scary event. Unless people have thought it through and worked out what they will do, they will be unprepared and will have to make last minute decisions. Your own life is at stake,” said Mr Rees.

Nearly 40 percent of people surveyed intend to take actions that are not recommended by fire authorities, planning to either wait and leave if they feel threatened or wait for emergency services to tell them what to do.

“Leaving when you feel threatened by the fire maybe too late,” said Mr Rees. “And people can’t rely on getting a warning about when to leave.”

CFA advises people to plan to either stay and defend a well prepared property if they are both physically and mentally able or to leave well before the fire threatens and it is still safe to travel.

Most deaths in bushfires occur when people make last minute decisions to leave and are caught by the bushfire while driving.

“There’s no excuse for being ill informed about what to do in a bushfire – go to the CFA website or ring the Victorian Bushfire Information Line and make a serious plan about what you will do this summer,” said Mr Rees.

Information about how to prepare and plan for a bushfire is available from the CFA website or the Victorian Bushfire Information Line 1800 240 667.


For more information, contact CFA Media (03) 5330 3124