Bushfire risk demonstration backfires

MELBOURNE: A country firefighter has been left redfaced after sparking a bushfire emergency during a safety demonstration in Victoria.

The Country Fire Authority member was at the Balmoral Recreation Reserve on Wednesday as temperatures soared to 36degC, when he took a cigarette lighter to long grass to demonstrate how quickly fuel can burn.

The demonstration backfired as the blaze quickly spread into an outofcontrol bushfire.

Residents of Balmoral were told it was too late to leave their homes, the local school was reportedly sent into lockdown and a safety meeting point was set up at the town’s bowls club.

‘‘You are in danger; act now to protect yourself. It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately,’’ the VicEmergency warning said.

More than a dozen firefighters and several aircraft were called in to contain the blaze.

‘‘I can say individuals are very embarrassed today,’’ CFA deputy chief Alen Slijepcevic told 3AW yesterday.

‘‘We do apologise to the Balmoral community for what happened.’’

Slijepcevic tried to put a positive spin on the incident, saying the community had learnt a lesson on the danger of grass fires.

‘‘I think that highlights how dry the Victorian grass and bush is despite the good rainfall we had over the last month.

‘‘It is very important for Victorian communities to be aware of the fire risk now,’’ he said.

There was no significant property damage and the fire was brought under control, but a full investigation is being conducted into the incident. — AAP