Early blaze sparks local warning

Local firefighters are warning residents that abundant grass growth across the area could potentially become a fire risk as temperatures start to rise and strong spring winds come into play.

The warning follows an early spring bushfire near Seacombe, east of Sale.

That fire prompted Watch and Act warnings for several coastal communities on Sunday, September 20.

Wonthaggi Fire Brigade First Lieutenant Jamie Moresco said the Seacombe fire showed bushfires could occur well before summer.

“Seacombe was a good indicator, because now we’ve already had a bushfire in September,” he said.

Mr Moresco said conditions across the local region remained green after a wet winter, but the same rainfall had also produced plenty of grass.

And now that grass will dry.

“With the spring weather, winds and warmer conditions, that grass will start to cure, which will hamper fire suppression,” he said.

Mr Moresco said four to five weeks of temperatures in the mid-20s could change local conditions quite quickly.

“We’re pretty right because down this way we get a lot of coastal rain,” Mr Moresco said.

“But in saying that, it does dry out, but we don’t have that very high risk like East Gippsland’s got at the moment.”

Mr Moresco encouraged people working around dry vegetation to consider fire risks before using machinery.

Anyone using a chainsaw should make sure it has an efficient spark arrester in working order and avoid putting the hot machine down in dry grass.

“Just do a risk assessment of what you’re about to do and see if you can change to do that in a safe way,” he said.

Homes bordering bushland, wetland or grassland, like those in Simmons Court in Wonthaggi, should also take some preventative measures.

Residents should clean leaves and dry vegetation from gutters, move firewood and kindling away from buildings, and remove leaf litter gathered against the base of their homes.

Even stacked newspapers can become fuel.

“The more you can be prepared, the better off you are,” Mr Moresco said.

He urged residents to arrange help if they couldn’t safely climb a ladder to inspect or clean their gutters.

Wonthaggi brigade members have already begun preparing for the fast-approaching fire season through things like mock grass and scrub fire exercises and vehicle burn-over drills.

They’ve also been training for tree-hazard assessments.

“We train up every year to ensure that if we do get in that vulnerable situation, we’re skilled to identify how not to get into those situations,” Mr Moresco said.

The Wonthaggi brigade has about 60 firefighters on its books and is shifting its focus to retaining the members it currently has.

Mr Moresco said it’s a good problem to have. However, volunteers are still needed elsewhere.

Mr Moresco said the Bass and Coronet Bay brigades were “screaming for recruits”, with a recruitment drive currently underway along the Bass Highway.