Greater Shepparton City Council is reminding residents to undertake their summer preparedness activities as soon as possible, if they have not done so already.
Daytime and night-time temperatures over the next three months are expected to be above average and this will be coupled with recent below average rainfall in lots of places. There is underlying dryness in the landscape and the forests are dry when compared with the previous two years.
The Fire Danger Period commenced on 11 November 2024. The hot weather we have experienced in spurts over recent weeks, along with drying out of grasses is a good sign to prepare you property.
If residents have not already done so, now is the time to get busy around homes and clean gutters; clear leaf litter and other fine fuels from around homes; remove flammable items such as paper, boxes and crates; and store fuel supplies and chemicals away from houses.
Preparing your property means you can reduce the chance of property loss during a fire, even if you plan to leave early.
Farmers also need to ensure their farming equipment is ready for the season ahead and complies with requirements (for example water extinguishers, exhaust systems that are free from mechanical defects).
If burning off, people should first check their Council's local law regarding when and where they can burn off. Pay attention to the weather conditions, particularly the wind strength, not only on the day of the burn, but for several days after.
Keep an eye out in case any burn-offs pop up days or weeks after burning off, particularly if burning stumps or large piles. Make sure you have enough water on hand to fully extinguish your burn-off. Last autumn we saw a large number of escaped burn-offs, which often were re-ignitions from a previous day.
Council's Municipal Fire Prevention Officer, Colin Kalms, said with the recent warm weather and rainfall the grass growth around the municipality will increase rapidly.
"Everyone needs to be aware of their responsibilities to maintain their properties, particularly those in areas where grass fires can quickly take hold. Keeping vegetation at an acceptable level will assist in reducing the risk to other home owners and residents," he said.
