By NICOLE WILLIAMS
THE region’s top firefighter believes grass interface areas are at huge risk this fire season.
District 8 Operations Manager Trevor Owen said people needed to start preparing for the fire season and dob in their neighbours if they don’t.
Mr Owen said interface areas, where grass meets residential areas, would be most at risk during the coming fire season.
“A fire that moves fast through grassland can run up against a timber fence, burn a garden and very easily break into houses,” he said.
“People should be out there over the coming weeks, slashing where they can or getting in contact with council.”
The weather has stimulated growth of grass, which would pose a significant risk it dries out.
“In our south metro region, the rainfall over the last 12 months has been above average whereas the rest of the state was below average,” he said.
“But that doesn’t reduce the risk, it can enhance the risk because it stimulates growth.
“With the pattern of wet weather and warm weather, once the grass dries out, it is a significant risk to us.”
Mr Owen said people should also be keeping an eye on neighbouring properties which could pose a threat.
“It’s not just you cleaning up your own property, you need to bring attention to your neighbours to do their bit.
“Now is the time to raise it because when it dries out, it will be a great risk,” he said.
“If they notice that other people are not doing the right thing, they should be raising that.
“If neighbouring properties are not taking it seriously, they should be dobbing them into the municipal fire prevention officer.”
Mr Owen said the fire prevention officer at a local council can issue a notice forcing landholders to clean up.
The silly season was often a distraction before the fire season but people needed to start preparing now, Mr Owen said.
“Their attention is elsewhere and in the background they’re going to see the weather change and it will become drier and hotter,” he said.
“Before they know it, they will turn around and it will be a code red day and they haven’t done any preparation.
“People need to be starting to take preventative measures now.”
City of Casey Manager Community Safety Caroline Bell said the council was currently working towards reducing fuel loads.
“Council is undertaking programmed mowing and slashing works across the municipality that will see two cuts of all rural road reserves in November – December and January – February, and fuel reduction works in bushland reserves that are in close proximity to residential areas,” Ms Bell said.
“During this time, undeveloped reserves are also cut every month.”
Ms Bell said the City of Casey advised residents to actively take precautions to reduce the risk of grassfire around their home or property including slashing grass around boundaries and dwellings as well as mowing, brush-cutting and strip grazing with livestock, if applicable.
