By BRIDGET COOK
WHILE Casey had no fires of significance in last week’s extreme heat, the CFA has warned residents to prepare for the coming months with predictions of increased fire threat.
District 8 operations manager Trevor Owen said due to the extreme heat, grass and bushland across the municipality was now tinder dry.
“In Casey, there’s a lot of grassland around residential and commercial infrastructure,” he said.
“If a fire happens to start now, it will take off very quickly.
“With grassland now so dry and hot weather still to come, we are now bracing for even worse fire conditions than last week.”
Mr Owen urged Casey residents to put a fire action plan in place now, if they haven’t done so already.
“If you haven’t cleaned up and cut grass, you need to by next Tuesday, particularly when temperatures are set to rise again,” he said.
“Also, if you don’t have a fire plan in place then I urge you to spend your long weekend doing so in preparation for what could come.”
There were no fires of real significance in Casey last week, but there were a few small grass fires and a large boat fire near the Warneet jetty on Friday afternoon sent smoke into the coastal villages.
Mr Owen said local CFA were still kept busy during the heatwave and applauded them for their efforts.
“They not only supported fire activity in this district, but a lot of crews supported with the fires in the Gippsland and Grampians region,” he said.
“We had a large contingent of crews away to help in those areas where there was imminent danger from fires.
“I commend all those who helped both locally and in other regions for their efforts last week.”
Mr Owen said the official Fire Danger Period will kick off in Casey on Monday.
Once the Fire Danger Period has been declared, fire restrictions come into force and a fire cannot be lit in open air unless you have a permit or comply with certain requirements.
A permit must be obtained to burn-off during the period and ESTA also has to be informed.
If you don’t obtain a permit, you could be breaking the law and may be prosecuted.
