Warning signs

By Melissa Meehan and Mara Pattison-Sowden
AS the pointy end of the fire season approaches, local CFA captains have welcomed the launch of new fire warning signs.
Next week marks the second anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires and residents have been warned to stay alert despite recent wet weather.
Gembrook is one town that has already seen the fire danger signs installed and the town’s CFA captain couldn’t be happier.
Ross McKay welcomed the sign located outside the Puffing Billy Station and hoped it would inform residents of fire dangers on high risk days.
“It’s a good idea,” he said.
“Just another tool in the toolbox.”
He said it was the brigade’s responsibility to change the sign and members were more than happy to oblige.
Mr McKay also welcomed the launch of the signs during this irregularly wet fire season.
“I think it will get people used to seeing the signs,” he said.
“Hopefully it’ll give them time to get to know the system and they’ll be able to go down the street on bad days to get the information they need.”
Gembrook, as well as neighbouring towns Cockatoo and Upper Beaconsfield were named on a list of 52 most at risk towns.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Bushfire Response Peter Ryan said the ‘clock face’ signs had long been a feature in country areas and proven an effective tool for those who live in, work in or visit bushfire-prone communities.
“Last summer, the bushfire rating board did not display the local fire danger level but advised people to go elsewhere for more information, which is nonsense,” he said.
Mr Ryan said the new signs would be updated daily to show the relevant rating during the fire danger period and also indicate Total Fire Ban days.
“The fire danger rating is your trigger to act, and the safest option is to leave high-risk bushfire areas early on days of fire risk – the night before or early on Code Red days and early on extreme days,” he said.
In a statement the CFA said the locations of new signs had been determined by the Municipal Fire Prevention Committee, with discussions between the CFA, VicRoads and the municipality on the number of signs and suitability of location. VicRoads also assessed the locations to ensure they were suitable from a visibility and safety perspective on arterial roads.