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Frankston City is a predominantly residential area, with some rural residential, industrial, commercial and rural areas.
With Frankston being home to 55 natural reserves along with a number of sporting reserves and 11 kilometres of foreshore, and more than 400 neighbourhood and feature parks, fire prevention is a priority.
The following information is a guide to some of the steps you can take to prepare yourself, your family and your property.
Plan Early
Prepare Yourself and Your Family
Prepare Your Property
Reducing fuel loads
Vacant and Bush Blocks
Get Involved
Bushfire Preparedness Program
Plan Early
- Develop fire plans for your family, street/neighbourhood and your business
- Decide if you are going to stay to defend your property, or if you will leave 'high risk' areas on days of severe fire danger
- Know and understand the triggers for leaving before fire threatens, and plan where you will go
- Identify work required around your property
- Clear vegetation and potential fuel from around your property
- Attend a local fire safety community meeting and join a local CFA Community Fireguard group
Prepare Yourself and Your Family
Have a plan: Make sure everyone in your household knows what the plan is and each person's responsibilities. Stay alert forhigh risk days.All residents living in semi rural zones, or who feel their property might be at risk from a bushfire, should prepare a bush fire plan. The CFA's Web site - www.cfa.vic.gov.au - has all the information required to assist you.
An online household self-assessment tool will be launched on the CFA website during Fire Action Week (11-18 October).
Prepare Your Property
- Keep grass cut (no higher than 75mm) and remove fine fuels (leaf litter, twigs) from your property
- Clean gutters and move wood piles away from your home
- Ensure your hoses can reach all areas of your property
- Trim overhanging branches
- Plant trees and shrubs away from your home
- If you are considering removing vegetation consult with Council on tree and vegetation clearance.
- Participate in Bushfire Action Week (11-18 October) and Prepare to be Fire Ready Day (18 October)
- Frankston City residents can dispose of Green Waste FREE of charge on the weekend of 17-18 October
- Ensure your property is clearly numbered so emergency services can find it easily
- Install an alternative water system - like a water tank with a petrol pump
- Install a sprinkler system
- Organise shelter for animals
- If you have a home business, you should consider a business continuity plan
For further advice contact Council's Fire Prevention Officer on 1300 322 322.
Reducing fuel loads
Fine fuels (those less than a finger's width) contribute most to the heat and speed of a fire and include dry grass, leaves, twigs and loose bark but does not include larger logs or branches.Minimising fine fuels reduces the heat of a fire and its ability to spread across the ground and up into the tree-tops. Reducing fine fuels can also create a space in which to defend your home from embers.
Weeds often contribute to high fuel loads. Give priority to removing these.
Fine fuels may be reduced around the house by mowing, raking or slashing. Reduce accumulated debris such as loose flaky bark, dead branches, leaves or pine needles from within the branches of shrubs around your house. Be mindful not to damage the tree under the bark
Keeping plants moist reduces the chance of them burning. Plants can be kept moist using mulch, pebbles or rocks. If using mulch, keep it wetted down or covered with soil or sand during the fire season. Contain your mulch to small areas, concentrating on individual plants and their roots.
Vacant and Bush Blocks
Vacant and bush blocks must also be maintained:
- Cut grass (no higher than 75mm)
- Remove any rubbish
- Remove noxious weeds
- Ensure there is a clear fence line
Get Involved
The CFA conducts community information sessions for residents each year plus regular meetings with Community Fireguard Groups of local residents in a particular area.- Attend your local CFA Community meetings - contact your local brigade or visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au
- Join a Community Fireguard group in your neighbourhood - contact your local brigade
- Volunteer with the CFA - contact your local brigade
Bushfire Preparedness Program
The latest news from the Bushfire Preparedness Program is now published on CFA Connect - www.cfaconnect.net.au - including news on:- Household self-assessment tool
- Community sirens
- Stories on the latest training and volunteers involved in the program
| Keep Informed and Be Vigilant Visit the CFA website: www.cfa.vic.gov.au Call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line: 1800 240 667 Listen to 774ABC Radio |
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