Montrose fire
Last week in Parliament I spoke about the Montrose fires, wholeheartedly thanking every CFA volunteer and agency firefighter from Forest Fire Management Victoria and Fire Rescue Victoria who worked tirelessly to contain and put out the fire which started in the afternoon of Saturday 15 March.
It became a confronting and terrifying experience for many people in the area, especially those who were directly affected and suffered property loss or damage and those who had to evacuate.
To those affected, my thoughts are with you.
Special thanks to the CFA Brigades
Over 200 firefighters, 50 vehicles, four helicopters, and eight bulldozers were deployed to combat the fire, which burned close to 40 hectares.
More than 45 CFA volunteer brigades assisted.
Save for their actions, it could have been much worse for many more.
In addition to Montrose Brigade, I’d like to make note of the brigades located across the District of Monbulk that assisted: Belgrave, Belgrave Heights and South, Clematis, Emerald, Ferntree Gully, Kalorama, Kallista-The Patch, Macclesfield, Olinda, Sassafras, Selby, Silvan, The Basin, Upper Ferntree Gully and Upwey.
Deepest thanks to each and every one of the volunteers who worked to keep our community safe.
Have Fire and Emergency Plans
Having a fire and emergency plan is crucial – for fire, storms and floods.
Knowing what your household will do in the event of an emergency helps reduce its impact and assist you in recovering more quickly.
If you don’t have one, or it’s been a while since you updated it, now is a good time to create or review your fire and emergency plans – templates are available at the following websites – fireplanner.vic.gov.au and ses.vic.gov.au/plan-and-stay-safe
If you need assistance, you can contact your local CFA brigade or SES Unit.
