Generator maintenance essential
With the increased chances of hotter than average weather and the government trialling incentives to reduce power consumption over the coming summer months, more and more rural residents are looking at alternative power supplies to run their power driven pumps with generators in case of power blackouts during bushfires.
Some are purchasing new generators or pulling out and dusting off their old generators.
CFA District 9 Acting Operations Manager Bill Alards is urging locals to carefully consider their water supply when planning for bushfires and not to rely solely on mains power during a major bushfire event.
If you rely on tank water driven by an electric pump as your primary water source, you will lose access to water if the electricity goes off in a fire; an electric pump powered by a generator or a plumbed-in petrol/diesel pump are significantly more reliable in a fire situation.
“A good supplier should be able to provide you with advice about what size pump you need,” Mr Alards said.
“This will depend on: the source of the water and how far away it is; the number of outlets you will be using at the same time, including any sprinkler outlets; the length and diameter of the hoses you are using with your pump; and, whether a diesel or petrol pump is a better option for you.
“You will also need to consider protecting your pump against radiant heat, because when it overheats or melts, the petrol inside can vaporise – causing the pump to stop working.
“Give your pump the best possible protection by either installing it inside a well-constructed shed, or constructing a shelter or alcove around it using non-flammable materials such as corrugated iron, brick or concrete.”
Older generators and pumps should be scheduled for a check-up before the fire season.
“We have just completed a check of our own generators, we recommend you do the same,” Mr Alards said.
“In addition, you should test all your equipment before each fire season to make sure it works the way you want it to.” Generator tips:
Clean up around your generator, remove any leaves or debris around the area
Make sure the shelter is sturdy and in good condition
Change the fuel in the pump (stale fuel could prevent it from working properly) Book in a mechanic to do a full check-up Make sure every adult in the house knows how to use the pump. Conduct a refresher session.
Go over your back-up plan for what to do if the pump breaks
Recognise that the safest option for surviving a bushfire is to leave early, so practice your bushfire plan and stay informed of conditions
Work out how you will stay informed: download the VicEmergency app, pre-populate your radio settings with your local emergency broadcasters (listed at emv.vic.gov.au), and save the VicEmergency hotline into your phone (1800 226 226). Don’t rely on just one source of information.