Do you understand what the signs at the Gisborne roundabout and the fire station are telling you? What about the electronic signs on the freeway? Who looks after them? When are they adjusted?

The last two questions are that members of the Gisborne CFA Brigade adjust the signs each afternoon, usually around 5 pm. All members of the brigade receive a paged message each afternoon with the fire danger ratings for our area from district headquarters, along with fire weather forecasts. Delegated members are then given the responsibility of ensuring that the signs are adjusted to match. The electronic signs are centrally adjusted and not under the control of the brigade.

The Fire Danger Rating predicts how a fire would behave if one started, including how difficult it would be to put out. The higher the rating, the more dangerous the conditions. The rating is your trigger to act, so to stay safe you need to stay aware of the Fire Danger Rating in Gisborne. You can see the ratings any time at http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/total-fire-bans-and-ratings/