Government to better prepare Victoria against bushfires

Tuesday 22 February 2011

The Victorian Government is increasing fire fighting resources to better prepare the state against bushfires.

An additional 123 full time, permanent firefighters have been recruited to boost fuel reduction efforts.

The Government has increased the number of permanent fire-fighting staff throughout the state to ensure important work such as planned burning, slashing and maintenance of fuel breaks continues.  Many of these full-time positions have been allocated to seasonal firefighters who will now work permanently to increase fire mitigation efforts across the state.

Fire fighting crews from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and Parks Victoria have been making good use of the unseasonably cool weather to start fuel reduction burns and 45 kilometres of new fuelbreaks on public land throughout Melbourne's outer parklands.

Crews have been candling – the practise of burning bark on trees to reduce fire hazards ahead of planned burns – as well as slashing and working on fuelbreaks, to protect communities within greater Melbourne.

During bushfires, tree bark creates embers which can travel up to 20 kilometres from the main fire, which can start new fires.  The benefit of candling is twofold – it helps to protect fire-fighters when they carry out planned burning, and minimises the risk of embers in a bushfire.

DSE Chief Fire Officer Ewan Waller said planned burns in the Dandenongs could be seen from most of central and eastern Melbourne so it was likely people would see and even smell smoke when the burn was conducted.

Crews have been out burning across the state this past week, in areas including Mt Macedon, Deer Park and the Otways and we are planning to burn this week in Orbost, Bairnsdale and Swifts Creek Districts.