By Dion Teasdale
YARRA Valley fire crews have been called to fight bushfires in neighbouring areas, sparking calls for residents to obey fire restrictions.
Badger Creek Country Fire Authority (CFA) captain Nick Rodway said a strike team from the Yarra Valley was sent to fight a bushfire near Tea Tree Road, Glenburn, on Sunday.
Mr Rodway said the strike team, comprising CFA members from Badger Creek, Healesville, Toolangi and Dixons Creek, worked through the evening to help contain the blaze.
The call to Glenburn served as a strong reminder for Yarra Valley residents to adhere to fire restrictions, Mr Rodway said.
“The weather is going to get nasty again by Wednesday this week and the fires burning now are a reminder to people to obey the fire restrictions,” he said.
Mr Rodway said he was concerned by the number of residents still burning off.
“We responded to three incidents of people burning off last Friday,” he said.
“Now is not the time for people to be burning off. People who continue to do so will be fined.
“If a fire escapes and ignites the bush, people will be liable.”
Region 13 community education coordinator Geoff Deacon said the fires burning across the state at the start of this week sent a message the community needed to heed.
“We need everybody in the community to play a part and be super careful at the moment, especially with the hot weather ahead at the end of this week,” he said.
“Residents need to be thinking about what they will be doing at the end of the week and make sure their fire plan is up to scratch.”
Mr Deacon said residents should make sure their properties were clean and clear of potential fire fuel such as long, dry grasses, tree branches, leaves and bark.
Fire call an early warning
Digital Editions
-
Corellas safely returns to the wild
After a week under the care of the veterinary teams at Healesville Sanctuary’s Australian Wildlife Health Centre, seven little corellas from Springvale have been returned…