Three years ago we were seeing the start of what was to become one of the largest bushfires in Victoria’s history. After more than three years of drought, fires broke out in East Gippsland on November 21 after a series of lightning strikes and swept across the state for almost two months. By the time they were contained, they had burnt more than 1.3 million hectares, destroyed hundreds of houses and claimed four lives.
This year we have seen nothing of the dry conditions that preceded the Black Summer bushfires, but CFA Western Port Group officer David Breadmore says this is no reason for complacency as we head into another bushfire season. “In November this year we were dealing with extraordinary weather events relating to rain and floods,” David says. “The most important message I have is that we can’t afford because of the recent rain events to be complacent about preparing for fire this summer.”
David has been a firefighter for 25 years. He’s led firefighting teams in the Black Saturday fires in 2009 and in Tasmania and Queensland during bushfires. “Firefighters are finely tuned to looking at our environment and what the risks are, but I don’t think you need to be a seasoned firefighter to see increased fuel growth as a result of the rain and what that means.”
As the weather warms, the increased growth dries out and becomes fuel for fire. “We need to adopt the same practices to prepare for fire season that we adopt every year,” David says. “Make sure gutters are clear; trim trees that may be touching buildings, structures, and fence lines; continue to manage fuel and remove pockets where it may have built up, because as it dries out the increased fuel load means if there’s a fire it will burn with more intensity. To be complacent and think it isn’t going to be our issue particularly this year is a big mistake.”
For more information about preparing for fire season, visit https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/how-to-prepare-your-property
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