Nar Nar Goon CFA volunteers are ready to go this fire season. From left, Adam Rollings, Adam Katschura, Liam Fahey, Colin Coppins, Wes Ritchie and Marc Jansen.
By Melissa Meehan
STAY safe this fire season – that’s the word from all emergency services in Cardinia.
Cardinia Shire Council Muncipal Emergency Response Officer Paul Dickson says the council has sent out more than 800 notices for residents to clean up their properties before the fire season begins.
He said the main goal for the council and emergency services was to make residents safe and the community could expect an announcement of safe places in the next two to three weeks.
“But what we want residents to keep in mind is that these safe places are the last resort,” he said.
“Safety can’t be guaranteed there, it could face an ember attack, and there will be no creature comforts – it needs to be the place people only go to when all else has failed.”
As well as the three areas highlighted as being most at risk, Mr Dickson said all services were also focusing on Maryknoll and Pakenham Upper as places of risk and were investigating introducing safe places to those areas.
“But the Westernport Region is a large area, with many places at risk,” he said.
“The safest place for people to be is somewhere else, but if people are going to stay they need to have a plan in place.”
His message was strong.
“Anyone who stays is risking death,” he said.
“The first thought should be to leave.”
