Deadline looms for property clean-ups

LANDOWNERS have 10 days to clean up their properties before fire restrictions begin early next month.

Fire restrictions will come into force across the City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe, Golden Plains Shire and Surf Coast on December 9.

CFA District 7 operations manager Mick McGuinness said while agencies were doing all they could to prepare for above normal bushfire activity the community must also play its part.

“We are seeing very dry soil in the Otways which means a dry bush area along the coast that will sustain significant fire,” Mr McGuinness said.

“While CFA and its partner agencies Parks Victoria, Forest Fire Management, and Emergency Management Victoria are doing everything we can to prepare for the bushfire season, we look to the community to use common sense and take responsibility for preventing fires.”

The Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Southern Australia has identified the possibility of normal bushfire activity with warmer days and nights ahead of severe fire danger days.

Mr McGuinness said a warm and dry outlook also carries some risk that ash forests in the central highlands and Otways may dry out faster and become more flammable than normal during summer.

“So far this year, out-ofcontrol burn-offs and unregistered burn-offs have already caused unnecessary call-outs for brigades,” Mr McGuinness said.

“You should not burn off when winds are high or high winds are forecast — not only on the day of your burn but for the days afterwards.”

Mr McGuinness said once the Fire Danger Period comes into effect, the CFA will have a zero-tolerance approach to fires caused by negligent behaviour and they will be investigated by police and the CFA.