.png "Dimboola resident Chan Uoy")
Dimboola resident Chan Uoy
As more Victorians trade city life for the peace and quiet of regional and rural areas, CFA is encouraging tree changers to take the time to learn about their local fire risks.
According to the Regional Movers Index, over 32 per cent more people are relocating from capital cities to regional areas than vice versa.
CFA District 17 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Chris Eagle said it's critical for new regional and rural residents to have a fire plan and the VicEmergency App.
"Moving to the country can bring a fresh start, but it also comes with a need to understand local risks, especially the threat of bushfire and what to do when one occurs," Chris said.
"Having a plan can make all the difference when time is tight, and conditions change quickly."
Dimboola resident Chan Uoy experienced this firsthand during the Little Desert Bushfire on 27 January, when he received an emergency warning.
Chan moved to the small town for a change after two decades running restaurants in Melbourne's inner west.
"The smell of the smoke and our first emergency warning text made it feel very real. I'd never experienced anything like it," Chan said.
"We thought, if a city like Los Angeles can burn, so can a small town like Dimboola.
"When we got the alert, we had to make a call — what's important? For us, it was the passport, laptop, and clothes for two days."
Chan added that it's not only vital to plan for your own household, but also important to remember those who might rely on you for help.
"Our neighbours are elderly. My partner's older brother and sister-in-law moved here too, and they don't drive. So, our first thought was, 'who can we help?' It was a wake-up call." he said.
"The building we'd spent years renovating could've gone up in smoke. But when it came down to it, we learned what really matters… and it's not the building."
Although Chan and his partner didn't have a formal fire plan at the time, they have since made changes to be better prepared, including getting familiar with local warnings and having an emergency kit ready to go.
"The most important thing is information and mental preparation. You've got to take it seriously. It's real. It can happen, and it did happen," Chan said.
CFA is encouraging residents new to regional or rural areas to:
- Learn if they live in a high fire-risk area.
- Download the VicEmergency app and set up watch zones.
- Create a Bushfire Survival Plan on CFA's website, even if they plan to leave early.
- Talk to neighbours and understand who may need assistance in an emergency.
