Summer is coming, are you fire ready?

With summer fast approaching, Maroondah residents are being urged to make plans to stay safe, whether during a heatwave or bushfire.

The CFA Fire Danger Period for the City of Maroondah has been declared for Monday 16 December 2019.

“Once the Fire Danger Period begins, fire restrictions come into force. This means you cannot light a fire, including solid and liquid fuel barbecues and ovens, in the open air unless you have a permit or comply with certain requirements,” said Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Mike Symon.

The warning comes after the CFA last week declared a day of Total Fire Ban for the entire state of Victoria.

A Total Fire Ban is declared by the CFA on days when fires are likely to spread rapidly and could be difficult to control.

Cr Symon said residents and communities who had not yet prepared a bushfire plan, needed to start preparing themselves for the fire season.

“Bushfire prevention should be at the forefront of residents’ minds in the lead-up to hotter weather. Now is the time for residents to safeguard their property and decide well in advance what they would do in the event a grass or bush fire breaks out,” he said.

“Maroondah is located on the urban fringe and has a relatively low bushfire risk, however shares its border with three high-risk areas. If you live, work or holiday close to bush, grassland, parks or paddocks you could be at risk of fire this summer. You need to understand your fire risk and how to prepare and what to do if a fire starts.

“Remember, you won’t always receive a warning or be told what to do if a fire breaks out. Don’t wait and see, it’s up to you to be well-prepared, know what to do and take action,” Cr Symon added.

In 2018-19, there were more than 7000 grass, shrub and bush fires in Victoria. There were 67 Total Fire Ban days, compared to 41 the previous year.

“But summer is not just about fires, it’s about heat, floods, storms and water safety,” Cr Symon said.

Safety tips Check that spouts, gutters and roofs are cleared of combustible material and that boundary fences are clear of long grass and rubbish. Keep storage of flammable liquids to a minimum. Clear vegetation around trees and clear beneath timber decks and pergolas. Make sure that all electrical appliances work properly, including smoke alarms and back-up batteries. Prepare a family action plan, including an evacuation plan and an alternative means of getting out of the family home. Keep a list of emergency service contact numbers in your phone or on-hand. Stay informed Vic Emergency includes a real-time Google Map display with emergency events. Vic Emergency app includes fire warnings, information on planned burns and other types of incidents. Vic Emergency Hotline: 1800 226 226. ABC local radio: 3LO 774 AM. Eastern FM radio 98.1 FM. Ausnet Power Outages tracker  Resources