Elsie Lange
Summer is over and while fire restrictions have ended, the Romsey Country Fire Authority (CFA) has echoed statewide calls to be vigilant about containing private fires.
A statement from Victoria CFA on Wednesday, March 30, said property maintenance burn-offs can be a significant risk if not done safely.
Romsey CFA captain Nic Needham said in the last seven days, the brigade had responded to three fires that escaped as a result of landowners undertaking their own fuel reduction burning.
“These fires have escaped due to inadequate extinguishment or inadequate controls, to make sure the fire is safe,” Mr Needham said.
He said without substantial periods of rainfall, it only takes an increase in wind to allow the fires to spread.
“The majority of the community does a good job when it comes to monitoring their burns and registering them with a bushfire information line, but sometimes complacency can come into play,” Mr Needham said.
“This causes the fire reduction burns and burnoffs they are doing to escape.”
He said it was vital for residents to be mindful of conditions on their properties and surrounds to ensure fires don’t escape several days or weeks after the burn, because fire can stay burning for a substantial period of time.
“If something does happen, [people] should feel comfortable to call the fire brigade, because we come out and help them put them out,” Mr Needham said.
