By Mikayla van Loon
The early autumn bushfire which burned 40 hectares after rapidly doubling in size in Montrose is a stark reminder of the continued risk of fire in the first quarter of the year.
This fire risk is not meant to reduce over coming weeks either, with the CFA remaining vigilant as temperatures stay warm and ground cover dry.
“While conditions remain dry with little rain forecast in certain parts of the state over coming weeks, the fire risk will continue but our crews are ready and will adapt to changes as they develop through autumn,” a CFA spokesperson said.
“Areas with dry or cured vegetation can result in fast running fires under hot, dry and windy weather conditions, as we saw over the weekend in Montrose.”
Messages of preparedness and having a fire plan to draw upon in times of increased risk were highlighted in the days after the event, not only for Montrose but for everyone in the Yarra Ranges.
The Montrose bushfire also triggered a wake-up call of sorts across the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley.
Comparisons between the Dr Ken Leversha Reserve and Mount Evelyn’s Quinn Reserve, Owl Land Reserve and the Beryl Phillips Nature Reserve were noted by Mt Evelyn Fire Brigade.
“These reserves are dense, very high fuel loads after the storms of recent years, narrow roads, surrounded by residential properties, and poor mobile phone coverage on a good day,” a post on the brigade’s social media reads.
“We can’t rely on just one source of information, and one step further, we can’t rely on even getting this information. What if lines of communication completely drop like they did for days during the storms? Remember that? Our area had no mobile service once the back up power dropped for the phone towers immediately after the storms came through.
“You need to be able to make your own decisions without being reliant on getting any alerts, text messages or notifications from official sources.
“You need to make the call for your own family, because you will not get a knock on your door telling you that it’s time to leave.
“Use your senses. What can you see? What can you hear? What (can you) smell?
“If your fire plan is waiting until you receive an official notification to leave or to enact your fire plan, you need a new plan.”
This was reiterated by the CFA spokesperson, who said even in an urban setting, being prepared is the best way to stay safe.
“Fire preparation and safety is a shared responsibility. You cannot expect a fire truck at every property – you need to prepare your property for fire, even if you live in metropolitan Melbourne,” the CFA spokesperson said.
“Residents on the urban fringe are still located in a high-risk fire area and should understand their local risks, prepare their properties and plan ahead for what they will do in the event of a fire this autumn.
“It is important that people in bushfire prone areas have a bushfire plan, which includes how they will access emergency information. You should never rely on one source of information.”
The Mt Evelyn Fire Brigade’s post did acknowledge the sudden change in wind and conditions which came as a shock to everyone.
“We understand the events in Montrose were not anticipated but that shows the community the unpredictable nature of fire. All it takes is the slightest gust of wind to quickly change the dynamic of a fire. It went from being within a containment line, to doubling in size without a chance to prepare for it.
“We don’t have the luxury of a crystal ball to know when these changes will hit. This means no time for warnings, no time for door knocks, no time alerts and notifications.
“If you see something, you can’t wait for an official message to act, you must act for your safety and your family.”
The urban interface, while it didn’t change the CFA’s response and commitment to “protecting the lives and property of Victorians”, it did impact access to fire ground.
CFA District 13 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Dave Renkin said strike teams faced very difficult conditions on Saturday 15 March.
“The area was inaccessible for vehicles, so we heavily relied on aircraft support,” he said.
“There’s no doubt that without the extraordinary efforts of strike teams, the losses would have been far greater.
“I want to thank all emergency responders for their efforts.
“Their swift and coordinated actions were pivotal in limiting the extent of losses.”
Engaging residents both from Montrose and further afield in a Fire Safety Essentials meeting on Monday 24 March, the CFA spokesperson said it focused on fire preparedness and planning as a refresher for everyone on best practices in fire-prone areas.
The one-hour session run by the CFA was designed “to help community members better understand how they can best prepare and respond in the event of a fire”.
“Community members (learned) about local fire risk in the area, what to expect during a fire, understand what the Fire Danger Ratings are and how to act accordingly, where to access the best source of information to stay informed during emergencies and how to prepare before the fire season,” the spokesperson said.
The meeting was live streamed on the Montrose Fire Brigade Facebook page.
For more information on how to best prepare, head to cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare and download the VicEmergency app.
