Victorians are still at risk of scrub and grass fires, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) has warned, issuing a public reminder that February is a month that has seen some of the State’s worst ever fires.
Chief Officer at CFA, Steve Warrington said that February was a good time to revisit bushfire safety plans, especially if household circumstances had changed with the return of family members to work and school.
“There is still the risk of fast-running scrub and grass fires and we are not out of the danger zone just yet,” Mr Warrington said.
“This is still fire season and you still need to be prepared,” he said.
“Despite recent rains, significant fires remain active in the state with firefighters continuing to work on bringing them under control, and any new fires could still be problematic [in] many parts of Victoria.”
Mr Warrington said that following last year’s bushfire season, CFA’s annual Bushfire Community Survey showed that 52 per cent of respondents considered the risk of fire to be moderate, minor or non-existent.
He said one of last year’s highest-impact fires, the Bunyip State Park fire, didn’t start until 1 March and burned more than 15,000 hectares before it was contained two weeks later.
“It’s important to get your head around what the real risk is to you and your friends and family, how to minimise it and what to do when there is a bushfire emergency,” Mr Warrington said.
