know your bushfire risk

I recently attended my local CFA community meeting on bushfire awareness.

It was terrific to see a number of locals there, both newcomers to the area and people who've lived in the area a long time. It was heartening to learn that this session was one of the best attended.

A straw poll on the night revealed around half the attendees had a written bushfire plan and the CFA put forward a detailed case as to why every household should have a written bushfire plan.

It's important to be prepared, the CFA has a wealth of online information here, you can also click here to find a local CFA meeting in your area.

I was pleased to be able to launch the Shire's Are You Fire Ready? Family Bushfire Relocation Card as part of council's efforts to ensure community bushfire preparedness.

Here I am pictured with two of our Family Day Care providers, this useful guide will be distributed throughout shire services including Long Day Care and Family Day Care.

The z-card is credit card sized fold out information sheet and contains practical tips to make bushfire planning easier and has some great ideas for places to go when you need to relocate with your family.

It also includes a handy checklist for bushfire survival to jog your memory about the sorts of things you need to consider if you live in a high fire danger area.

Due to its design it fits easily into a purse of wallet and is there when you need it most.

If you'd like a card, they are available at all Shire Community Links, the local ones near Lyster Ward being Upwey and Monbulk, the cards are also available at our libraries.

If you'd like advice on retrofitting your home so it's better protected from bushfire the Building Commission has produced this handy guide.

If you'd like a free CFA site assessment so you're better prepared and understand your bushfire risk you can book online, call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667 or email Nic Rodway on n.rodway@cfa.vic.gov.au (for Eastern Metropolitan Region).

There's a whole lot of information out there, so don't delay, be prepared and know your bushfire risk.