Victorian Fire danger period and fire restrictions.

[idw]

Hi everyone, just a heads up to check out when the fire danger period and fire restrictions begin in your area or an area your traveling to this year. Remember fire danger periods depend on the SHIRE your in not the region. The local brigades always have trouble with campers 4wd's and fires, and I'd rather stay off the big red truck (as fun as 4x4ing in a 16tonne truck is) and in Blinky this year! Stay safe guys bush fires very easily cut off access in state parks, keep maps with you and an fm/am radio to listen to warnings and updates in case of the worsted. Anyone in other states should check out your relevant authorities as well.

Check out this publication for some info : https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/fm_files...nd_restrictions/cfa_can_I_cant_I_brochure.pdf

And this for current dates (can change at any time depending on weather forecast) https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/restrictions-during-the-fire-danger-period/

Other states should check out your local authority. Here's to an enjoyable summer. Stay safe guys!

 

[Ratbag]

Thanks for that timely warning and info, Id.

I would also remind everyone that our catalytic converters runs at very high temperatures, and we should all follow the advice/warning in the Owner's Manual not to park on dry long grass.

 

[mr turbo]

Yes, very good advice mate.
Especially when it comes to "Spinifex" too

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[El_Freddo]

Also don't go past the CFA phone app - on this app you can setup alerts for fires that have been reported in the given area.

I've got mine setup for here in Shepp and for around my pero's joint back near you idw.

Cheers

Bennie

 

[idw]

Yea i forgot about that bennie, good app (android and ios), never used it myself as I've got a blasted pager that never shuts up.

 

[Tannin]

Good advice above.

Sadly, I have to report that the communications record of at least some local councils is appalling. Not content with having made a huge balls-up of it last year, Hepburn Shire (Dalesford, Creswick, and Clunes) has made an even bigger mess of it this year. NO mention ANYWHERE on their website of when fire restrictions start, except for a PDF document which comes up prominently right near the top of a Google search - you have to use Gioogle 'cox the Shire's website navigation is completely useless - informing us that fire restrictions start on the 17th November. Yike! That means that it's already too late to prepare your property! Or does it? Actually, no. The stupid tools have left that document up, with no damn date on it to show what year it refers to not since last year, no, that would be too easy, since the year before last!

It gets worse: if you give up and ring them, they don't effing know when the fire restrictions start! If you go to the pox-ridden CFA website .... nothing. No information whatsoever, other than the non-information that they haven't started yet.

So the council calls the CFA for you and calls you back. Guess what? The CFA don't know either!

Short answer, there are no fire restrictions current for Hepburn Shire as of this week, and no bugger, up to and including the Council and the CFA, has got the faintest bloody clue what's going on.

It's just not good enough.

 

[mr turbo]

Unbelievable
Shame ! shame !! shame !!!

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[Beigewagon]

never used it myself as I've got a blasted pager that never shuts up.

IDW,

I know that feeling, we have two CFA pagers (one each), plus I have an SES pager too. If one is not screeching, then the others probably are.

Beigewagon.

 

[havachat]

Whilst I have have the CFA app on my phone, I work on the basis that like during Black Saturday fires the Internet and mobile coverage died. We relied on the national radio ABC for information. I also found the brushfire information line useless as the fires were moving so quickly they could not keep up.
I have spent the last month burning off and slashing. This weekend I need to service my fire pump.
I really are concerned that complacency has occurred over the last couple of years and the recent NSW fires should be a wake up call.

 

[Rally]

A mate of mine was working the NSW fires at their peak- he is in the RFS and it seems the RFS and Victorian CFA have massive admin rooster ups. The problems they had just getting food and water for the volunteers were incredible. Still, he was impressed with the work the Prime Minister did in fighting the fires- 2 12 or 14 hour shifts he did. Most of his brigade did not realise it was the PM until someone pointed it out- very low key! (The PM belongs to a northern Sydney brigade, which had gone to help up in the mountains). And his security detail had to stay back at the base because none of them were trained at fighting bushfires. Not that I could imagine anyone would be willing to risk the fires to get him- and he was dressed the same as all the other firefighters obviously.

Anyway, all the locals had organsied food and drinks for the RFS blokes, and very nice food it was too I am told. The RFS food was late, tasted foul and some even suffered food poisoning because it had been left out in the heat. Seems like the volunteers do an exceptional job- it is some of the paid professionals at HQ who are the weak link in both states.

 

[Tannin]

^ Mate, this s a friendly forum. You really, really shouldn't be saying stuff like that here.

 

[idw]

IDW,

I know that feeling, we have two CFA pagers (one each), plus I have an SES pager too. If one is not screeching, then the others probably are.

Beigewagon.

haha, the new ones have the most annoying feature, if im driving i'll hit the button to stop it ringing, then it'll go off every 5 minutes till i read the message! :lol:

And all I'm trying to say is take some more care traveling this time of year, fires can start anytime of the year in Australia, its just more likely in the warmer months.