Grassfires can start anywhere and spread quickly.

Reduce your risk when it’s safe to do so. Slash, mow, graze and spray grass near your home and assets, and create fuel breaks. Take care when using chainsaws, lawnmowers, tractors, welders and other machinery on warm days – they can all start fires accidentally.

If you’re caught in a grassfire move to somewhere with minimal vegetation, such as a ploughed or well-grazed paddock. If you’re caught in a car, don’t get out and run. Tightly close windows and doors, cover up with woollen blankets, get down below window level, shut all vents, and turn the engine off. Check your Fire Danger Rating daily and check your Total Fire Ban status on warm days.

Understanding rural grassfire risk

• Grassfires can start and spread quickly and are extremely dangerous.
• Grassfires can travel up to 25 km per hour and pulse even faster over short distances.
• Grass is a fine fuel and burns faster than bush or forests.
• Grassfires tend to be less intense and produce fewer embers than bushfires, but still generate enormous amounts of radiant heat.
• The taller and drier the grass, the more intensely it will burn.
• The shorter the grass, the lower the flame height and the easier the fire will be to control.
• Short grass (under 10cm) is a much lower risk.
• Grassfires can start earlier in the day than bushfires, because grass dries out more quickly when temperatures are high.
• Living in a grassland area with dried-out brown or golden-coloured grass that is over 10cm high is a fire risk. There are some exceptions, such as Phalaris grass, which will burn even when green.

For more information on how to manage your risk and what to do if caught in a grassfire please see http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/grassfires-rural/

Speak to the CFA Tuesday 26th January at Gisborne Fire Station.

What: Fire Ready Safety Information Session

Where: Fire Station, 31 Robertson St, Gisborne (it’s the building with the big red trucks in it!)

When: 7:30pm to 8:30pm Tuesday 26th January 2016

You’ll get the latest information about how to prepare for fire season just around the next corner. Are you ready?

For more information call 1800 820 118, including if you need Auslan interpreting, are not fluent in english or need some assistance accessing the venue. The station is wheelchair friendly, with only small lips at each doorway. No steps or stairs.

TODAY 31st December 2015 IS A DAY OF TOTAL FIRE BAN

NO FIRE IS PERMITTED IN THE OPEN AIR

For advice, check the CFA Website.

CFA has declared Total Fire Bans across all of Central district, including Gisborne for Wednesday, 25 November.

High winds and heat will also push Fire Danger Ratings into Extreme and Severe levels across much of the state, with the Mallee, Northern Country, Wimmera and North Central forecast as Extreme, while South West, Central and North East districts will be Severe.

CFA Chief Officer Joe Buffone said strong and gusty northwesterly winds peaking at up to 100km/hr were forecast before a gusty change in the afternoon in the west and central areas.

“Tomorrow we are expecting strong winds before a change in the late afternoon and possible dry thunderstorms,” he said.

“Although it has been a mild start to the week, we are bracing for a dangerous fire day tomorrow in most of the state.”

Between 00:01AM and 11.59PM on Wednesday no fire can be lit in the open air or be allowed to remain alight in the open air.

Mr Buffone urged families and households in fire risk areas to make sure they had covered all the key decisions about what will they will do if they have to leave quickly.

Please begin to think carefully about your own fire plam. A good resource is http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/grassfires-near-cities-and-towns/  to find out more about managing the risk you face.

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// ]]>Total fire bans and fire danger ratings for Victoria – Country Fire Authority

In an early start to the fire season, Tuesday is predicted to be hot and dry, with an extreme fire danger predicted in the north central region. Gisborne is in the Central region, with a severe rating. Predictions and explanations of the ratings can be found at http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/total-fire-bans-and-ratings/.

Captain Sam of Gisborne CFA says “Never leave a burn-off unattended and check the weather forecast. You should never burn-off in hot, dry, or windy conditions. People need to do the right thing by checking conditions and registering their burn-offs with the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority by calling 1800 668 511”. If a total fire ban is put in place, no burning off in the open air will be permitted.

If you see smoke and are concerned, please call the Bush-fire Information Line on 1800 240 667. If you can see flames and wish to report a fire, please call 000 immediately.

Gisborne CFA is encouraging all residents to clean up and prepare their properties for fire season. With the dire season projected to be longer than before, it’s vital that this short window of opportunity is taken advantage of.

To assist property owners to do this, during the month of October burning off restrictions under Macedon Ranges Council’s Local Law will be lifted for those residents living on land less than 4,000 square metres (one acre).

Council’s Director Assets and Operations, Dale Thornton said that it’s important that everyone starts to prepare early as authorities are predicting a prolonged and dry fire season.

“You can significantly help to reduce the risk of fire to our community by cleaning up around your property and removing fine fuels such as long grass, weeds, twigs and leaves,” he said.

Residents must ensure that when burning off they do not create a nuisance for their neighbours and should continue to monitor any burn-off for at least seven days to ensure it is fully extinguished. Large loads of green waste (excluding noxious weeds) can also be taken and tipped for free at Council’s transfer stations.

“We are planning to initially focus on areas in the north and east of the shire that are known to dry out the quickest and we will monitor regrowth carefully over the fire season,” Mr Thornton said.

Council’s Fire Management Officer will also begin inspecting private properties for fire risk in mid-October, which is earlier than usual, and Fire Prevention Notices will be issued to those properties that pose a serious fire risk to their neighbourhood.

Burning off once the fire season is declared is not permitted without a permit.

Gisborne CFA also ask that when clearing, you consider ifd we will be able to come onto your property safely. Fire trucks are BIG – will we be able to come onto your property and turn around to leave again? Do you have overhanging trees over the drive that could present a hazard to us when considering if we can come onto your property?

For more information http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/ can help you, with resources available through the CFA to advise you.

Rob Mitchell MP recently visited the crew at Gisborne CFA to present a brand new Australian National Flag, as well as deliver some ‘Thank you Fireys’ balloons to promote National Red Balloon Day.

National Red Balloon Day is February 28. It is a day when the entire community joins together to honour and thank firefighters across the country.

To show your appreciation, simply tie a red balloon to your letterbox, fence, business window or a ribbon from your car on this day.