By KATH GANNAWAY
BRIGADES across Yarra Ranges are in education mode.
Information nights aimed at keeping residents up to date with everything from fire danger ratings and fire restriction periods to keeping their properties and themselves prepared for the fire season (that’s not over yet), have been held over the past three months.
Some common themes cropped up when the Mail spoke with Upper Ferntree Gully CFA captain Peter Smith and Healesville captain Graeme Bates, and Gruyere captain Matt Sartori – but there were also some marked differences.
The role of education and getting out into the community is something that all brigades have been focusing on for a number of years, and with mixed results.
In the smaller Gruyere community, Matt Sartori said they have had a great response. They ran three information sessions in a row last week in different areas of their patch.
“It’s all part of that education and when they come to meetings they can get informed,” he said.
“We’re here to educate, not just to fight fires. If people need to know about something, we can educate them on that.”
There’s good evidence that the message delivered over the years has been taken up.
Mr Sartori said the brigade had not gone to one illegal burn all year.
“We ask them not to light fires, they don’t light fires,” he said.
He conceded also that Gruyere is not necessarily a yardstick because of the smaller number of houses and the brigade’s ability to speak directly with residents.
Graeme Bates said their meeting, on a Saturday morning, attracted less than 30 people – and they were probably the ones who were most prepared, and prepared to learn more about how to be better prepared.
“The people who should be coming, aren’t coming,” he said.
“People have got a bit lax and laid-back because of the cooler weather which has given a false sense of security.
“We’ve had people starting to light fires asking about whether they can light a fire when we’d usually never get a phone call at this time of year.
“Because we’ve had a few weeks of colder weather they are thinking maybe the fire restrictions have been lifted; and it’s not the case.”
On education, Mr Bates says it’s definitely a higher focus than ever before.
That means brigade volunteers are doing more of the heavy lifting when it comes to taking the message out to the masses.
“We find we have to go to the people, and not rely on the people to come to us,” he said.
Public displays such as at the Heritage Festival in November and the Black Saturday Remembrance Day Rally on the weekend are part of their plan to be anywhere they can meet the public.
Facebook is another way of getting the message out.
“As a brigade, we’re going out and chasing the residents,” he said, adding that they were actively targeting areas to do property service advice and inspections.
“We don’t want to fire-fight so we’re working harder on the prevention,” he said.
Peter Smith said the UFTG brigade has had a number of information sessions and he also speaks of a tendency for people to be blase about bushfire and says some of the questions, and the attitude of people is frustrating.
When it comes to delivering the message, he says it’s time to be blunt – by putting a bit sharper point on what is required of residents and their obligation to take responsibility.
“Sometimes you feel they want us to lead them, and it’s not going to happen,” he said.
“They ask when do we have to go, but we can’t tell people that, it’s a call they have to make.
“They say ‘you’re telling us to leave early – where are we going to go’.
It’s very frustrating when they say ‘can’t you come and tell us’.
He says it’s time for some straight talking.
“We’re all in the same boat. Wherever there’s a blade of grass, a tree, leaves or mulch, and we all have one of those things surrounding us, there’s the potential for them to burn.
“If you want to live up here, you have to make sure you are prepared to put in the work.”
With a 10-day hot spell about to descend on the Hills, and the Valley, all the brigades will be hoping that residents take the lead, stay informed, stay connected and have a genuine plan.
