As part of Fire Action Week – which runs from 11 to 18 October – Bayside City Council is encouraging residents to prepare for the coming summer fire season.

Mayor Cr James Long said Bayside shares Victoria’s concerns for the upcoming fire season and while Bayside does not have the same risks as rural areas, there were still important prevention actions to take.

“The devastating events of the Victorian bushfires in February this year made us all realise how important it is to be aware about the risks of fires,” Mayor Long said.

“We live in one of the most fire-prone states in the world, amid 13 years of drought, climate change and dry conditions. Although weather conditions on Black Saturday were unprecedented, it is likely we could see similar extreme conditions this coming fire season – which is less than two months away.

“Like other councils in Victoria, Bayside shares these concerns. We are lucky not have the same level risk of bushfires as communities in country parts of the State, but Bayside is home to 17kms of foreshore and seven natural bushland reserves – so fire prevention is still important.

“Fire Action Week is a time for residents to plan and prepare their homes to make them fire safe – particularly those with properties near parks, foreshore reserves or native bushland areas.

“It is important to clear anything that could fuel fire, like leaves, branches, long grass, stored newspapers, firewood or other material that may burn readily.

“As a community we all need to be aware of local fire restrictions and Total Fire Ban days and know what to do in the event of a fire,” Mayor Long said.

Bushfire safety is a partnership between individuals, Council, the emergency services, and the State. Bayside City Council is working in partnership with the State Government and the fire agencies to make our municipality fire ready.

As part of Fire Action Week, Council will be hosting a number of events, including community clearing days and community information meetings.

Council will hold a clean up day at the Beaumaris foreshore on Wednesday 14 October at 9am where students from St Leonard's College, as well as other members of the community will help remove green matter to ensure the foreshore remains fire safe this summer.

Also as part of for Fire Action Week, Bayside City Council is urging residents and businesses to:

• Identify work required around their properties and community areas
• Clear vegetation and potential fuel from around their property, and
• Attend a local fire safety community meeting.

Mayor Long said Fire Action Week would culminate in a “Prepare to be Fire Ready” day on Sunday 18 October.

“This will be one day in a series of ongoing actions where individuals, community groups, streets and neighbourhoods can come together and make sure that they have plans in place and have thought through what action to take if there is a fire in the area,” Mayor Long said.

Prepare to be Fire Ready Day will be for residents to get properties ready for the fire season, if they haven’t already done so, including:

• Cutting the grass and reducing ‘fine fuels’ – such as long, dry grass, fallen leaves and twigs
• Clearing leaves out of gutters, dead undergrowth and fallen branches, and wood piles away from home
• Placing weather stripping around the inside of doors and windows
• Closing underfloor spaces and sealing all gaps where embers could enter.

Mayor Long said that to help residents with fire preparations Bayside City Council would be:

• Providing information on how to get fire ready in partnership with the State and the fire agencies
• Undertaking property fire hazard inspections and issuing clean up notices
• Working with the socially vulnerable and special needs communities to help them.

For more information please contact Bayside City Council on 9599 4444.