Hundreds of volunteer-hosted CFA Get Fire Ready events across the state aim to encourage people to prepare for the coming fire season, while showcasing each community’s volunteers and resources.

CFA deputy chief officer Trevor Owen said while people knew what to do when threatened by bushfire, only about 13 per cent of annual bushfire survey respondents had written a formal plan.

“CFA has been running an annual bushfire survey for the past 16 years, since the Black Saturday fire, to determine what the public is thinking and what they will do in the event of a bushfire,” he said.

“The survey points out quite clearly to us that 88 per cent of the respondents agreed very strongly that they would leave early, as their safest option, but 81 per cent indicated they were unlikely to leave until they were actually threatened by fire. 

“We know on particularly extreme and catastrophic days, that fires move very quickly through the landscape and they are unpredictable, so we encourage people ahead of time, particularly on those extreme and catastrophic days, to leave early.”

Mr Owen said CFA’s Get Fire Ready events gave people the opportunity to engage with their local brigades and build a bushfire plan.

“They can also ask any questions of their brigades in regard to preparation for the bushfire season,” he said.

“They can ask what they need to do in the event of a bushfire, what the fire-danger ratings mean, what a total fire ban means, and if they want to, like we’re seeing at the moment really encouragingly, many people are also asking how they can join the CFA as well.”

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan encouraged people to attend Get Fire Ready events with the prediction of a warmer, drier spring.

“Get Fire Ready events are all about helping communities understand local fire risk, how they can prepare property and create a fire plan, and know where to access emergency information,” Mr Heffernan said.

“I know many communities are still reeling from last summer’s fires, but we are heading towards summer and it’s more important than ever to ensure communities are prepared.  

“At its heart Get Fire Ready is about meeting communities where they are at – the local shopping centre, local community events, community meetings. The message is the same, Get Fire Ready.”

Get Fire Ready events are scheduled across the state from October 1 to November 3 and are listed at www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about-us/cfa-events/whats-on.

Events include, but are not limited to: October 1, Kaniva session with VICSES, West Wimmera Shire Council and Emergency Management Team; October 2, Kadnook and Clear Lake sessions;  October 4, Horsham open day with information and volunteer meet-and-greet; October 8, Warracknabeal at Warracknabeal Show; October 10, Donald, session at 45 Hammill Street; Barkly and Frenchmans event at Barkly; October 15, Nhill, information at Nhill Show; October 16, planning for seniors at Edenhope with VICSES, West Wimmera Shire Council and Emergency Management Team; October 17, Dimboola, information at Dimboola Show; October 18, Sandsmere session; October 22, Edenhope session with VICSES, West Wimmera Shire Council and Emergency Management Team; October 23, Moyston open day with information on preparation and resources; October 24, Stawell, Captain Koala and display at agricultural show; October 25, Stuart Mill information session and volunteer meet-and-greet; and October 31, Balmoral session.

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