Living safely with bushfire

Transcription

1 Living safely with bushfire Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Brigade

2 Living safely with bushfire Fire has shaped the history of the Dandenong Ranges since before European settlement. According to one interpretation, the name Dandenongs is a corruption of banyenong, in the local Kulin language meaning fire burned here in the past. While knowledge of the use of fire by the Aboriginal inhabitants is scant, it was used extensively as a tool by the early white settlers to clear the landscape and open up the hills to cultivation. Fire is a potent force a fine friend but an unforgiving enemy. Our community is periodically reminded of the power with which fire has shaped our district for generations. Major fires are a sharp and sometimes brutal reminder that we live in an environment over which we sometimes have little or no control. Text: John Schauble Design and production: Francis Bourke & Anna-Marie Shew Printed by Ferntree Print, 1238 Burwood Highway, Upper Ferntree Gully 3156 First published: 2000 This edition: 2007 The publication of this booklet was made possible through the NRMA Insurance communityhelp grants program.

3 The information in this publication is of a general nature. The Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Brigade (SFCFB) makes this publication available on the understanding that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use. No claim is made as to the accuracy or authenticity of the content of this publication. SFCFB does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or the use of such information or advice) which is provided in this publication or incorporated into it by reference. The Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Brigade, its officers and members specifically disclaim all and any liability for loss or damage of any nature whatsoever and however arising, whether due to inaccuracy, error or omission or any other cause. By using the information in this publication, each user waives and releases SFCFB, its officers and members from any and all claims relating to usage of the publication. Contents Living safely with bushfire Three factors that affect bushfire behaviour Bushfire behaviour in this area January 21, 1997 Ferny Creek Bushfire Alert System Significant bushfires in the area Getting ready is important for everyone When do bushfires occur? Recognising high risk days How do houses burn down? How do fires start? Getting ready Often the steps are simple What condition is your property in? What about water? What about equipment? What about burning off? Having a plan Stay or go? Preparation is so important! Is there a fire refuge? Staying with your home The preparation you will have done As a fire front approaches What s going on? Often the steps are simple Where s the fire? About your local fire brigade Community Fireguard More information

4 Living in Sassafras-Ferny Creek The Dandenong Ranges is a fire environment one of those places in the world where wildfire is a fact of life. In a global context, south-east Australia is considered one of the three most fire-prone areas on the globe (alongside the west coast of the United States and the French Riviera). Within south-eastern Australia, the Dandenongs have one of the most complex bushfire histories of any area. In turn, areas of Sassafras, Ferny Creek, Tremont and Sherbrooke are among the most fire-affected in the Dandenong Ranges. There has been extensive bushfire activity here since the 1850s. The worst decades were the 1890s, 1920s, 1930s and the 1960s. The worst fires to affect the immediate area took the form of wildfires in 1898, 1926, 1962, 1968 and As fire fighting equipment and techniques, prevention measures and warning procedures have improved, the frequency of major fires has diminished. Put simply, lots of little fires no longer become big fires as they did in the past. That is not to say that large bushfires will not occur again or that they can be readily stopped when they do break out. Once a bushfire builds momentum, there is often little that can be done by man alone to halt its path. This was certainly the experience of Ash Wednesday in 1983 and in the Alpine fires in 2003 and As major fires have become less frequent, our community s understanding of fire behaviour has also diminished. The changing nature of land use from agriculture and horticulture to dormitory suburb means that fewer people work in the area or are as closely attuned to the natural environment in which they live.

5 There are three key factors that affect bushfire behaviour: - fuel - weather - topography (especially slope and aspect) In the Dandenongs, all three of these factors combine in most years to create conditions that will support bushfires. In some years, the combination creates acutely dangerous conditions. The terrain and vegetation in this part of the Dandenongs make it susceptible to bushfire, particularly along the western face of the range from the direction of The Basin and from within the Dandenong Ranges National Park (Ferntree Gully and Doongalla sections). This part of the Dandenongs includes the peaks of Dunns Hill (561 metres) and One Tree Hill (502 metres) which rise steeply above the foothills of The Basin (200 metres) and Upper Ferntree Gully (150 metres). In summer, the natural features of the north-western face combined with the prevailing northerly weather particularly the wind produce a funnelling effect. If a fire starts on a severe fire danger day, the chances are that it will grow with immense speed and intensity. During the 1962 fires, vertical wind speeds produced by fires in this area were calculated to reach 330 kph. Slope is a critical factor in fire spread. Fires burn more quickly uphill. As a general rule, the speed with which a fire spreads doubles with every 10 per cent increase in slope. Conversely, fire usually slows as it burns downhill. So, homes with a northerly or north-westerly aspect, built on or at the top of a sloping terrain face a much higher risk than those to the south of the ridge scarp. Consider the steepness of some parts of the local area and it is easy to see why fire spreads so quickly. The local bush areas are predominantly Wet Sclerophyll (eg. mountain ash forest, Sherbrooke Forest) and Dry Sclerophyll (eg. mixed species forest, Western face of the range). This latter type is especially prone to fire, as these types of eucalyptus generate large volumes of litter and are themselves prone to fire. The understorey, too, includes a range of volatile vegetation types. The average annual rainfall on the ridge area is in excess of 1270 millimetres. In some seasons, rainfall drops below half this level (eg , ) and this has an impact on the moisture content of fuel on the forest floor and its flammability. Temperature range in mid-summer is 15 C to 40 C. In general terms, very hot days when the humidity is low and the wind speeds high will be high fire risk days. The human geography has simply added to the bushfire risk. The area could be described as a classic urban-rural interface risk a point at which the city meets the bush. There is moderate density housing in a bushland setting, surrounded by tracts of national park and Crown lands in steep terrain. Many of those who live here work away from the area, so their homes are often unattended at times of high bushfire danger. There is ample scientific research to demonstrate that houses that are attended when a bushfire passes have a much greater chance of survival. 4

6 Bushfire behaviour in this area Many people who come to live in the hills have a limited knowledge of bushfires, how to prepare for them or behave during such emergencies. People move into and out of the district without ever having developed a sense of the threat, let alone having experienced a bushfire. Another complicating factor in the event of a fire is the huge number of tourists visiting the Dandenongs, especially at weekends. There are other problems that may affect the ability of firefighters to do their job once a fire starts. Access, once off the main routes in both the residential and bush areas, is typically confined to unmade roads and tracks. In the areas forming part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, access is generally difficult and dangerous. The way in which bushfires behave in the Sassafras-Ferny Creek area is fairly predictable, mainly because there have been so many fires here in the past. Usually the fires follow the gullies up from the foothills below. Bushfires that begin in The Basin generally follow one of two patterns either straight up over One Tree Hill, burning through the park and into the Upwey area; or up into the back of Sassafras township and forking towards Olinda. Tuesday, 21 January 1997 The fires of January 1997 provided a classic example of how wildfire behaves in this part of the Dandenongs. The prevailing weather conditions were: high temperature, low humidity, strong and gusting northerly winds. The points of ignition were below the settled areas on the ridge (eg: in The Basin, Upper Ferntree Gully), so that the fires burned up steep slopes propelled by strong winds. As the fire advanced, the fuels ahead were pre-heated by the advancing flames. The fire spread with tremendous speed in the case of the One Tree Hill fire covering an estimated 700 metres in less than 10 minutes giving residents little warning or time to evacuate. The front of the fire advanced quickly. The factors that halted the fire were a combination of human intervention and a change in the weather. Usually, such fires are short-run events. Major outbreaks have burned uncontrolled for several days (1962) or more than 24 hours (1968), but as in 1997 they are usually contained within a matter of hours. The major difference between the 1997 fire and those in the area in the past was that, in addition to destroying bush and property, it also claimed lives.

7 Ferny Creek Bushfire Alert System The Ferny Creek Bushfire Alert System is a resident initiative designed to provide one quantity message: to tell as many residents of Ferny Creek as possible that there might be a problem to check out and to give that message quickly! There are three sirens strategically placed in the One Tree Hill area, which historically has been an area badly affected by bushfires. These sirens make a distinctive sound (different from the local brigade sirens). The sirens will sound during the summer fire danger period whenever a fire with the potential to have some impact on the area is reported to CFA. The sirens are NOT a warning to evacuate. The siren s message is received whether or not residents are near a phone and no matter who hears it, particularly on a high risk day, a siren will elicit a response, whether from kids, tourists, the infirm, those away from their telephone. The siren committee is comprised of local resident representatives, various individuals with particular expertise, representatives from CFA, Sassafras- Ferny Creek Fire Brigade, Victoria Police, Parks Victoria, Department of Justice and the Shire of Yarra Ranges. All have worked tirelessly to educate this community via meetings, newsletters, s, DVDs and videos, etc to ensure that any response is an appropriate one. Further information can be obtained from Anna-Marie Shew on Significant bushfires in the Ferny Creek & Sassafras area 1851 Whole area 1870 One Tree Hill 1880 The Basin 1896 One Tree Hill 1898 Whole area 1907 National Park, One Tree Hill 1913 Sherbrooke Forest 1914 One Tree Hill, Sassafras 1919 Sassafras 1920 Sassafras 1922 Mast Gully 1923 Sherbrooke, Sassafras 1926 Whole area 1928 Sassafras 1930 Ferny Creek 1932 Ferny Creek, Sassafras 1934 Ferny Creek, Sassafras 1936 One Tree Hill, Ferny Creek 1938 One Tree Hill 1939 The Basin, Sassafras 1944 National Park, One Tree Hill, Sassafras 1954 National Park 1959 National Park 1960 The Basin, Sassafras 1962 Whole area 1967 National Park, Sassafras 1968 National Park 1971 Sassafras 1974 National Park 1977 Sassafras 1980 National Park, Sassafras 1997 One Tree Hill, Ferny Creek, National Park 6

8 Getting ready is important for everyone When do bushfires occur? This varies from year to year. Bushfires have occurred in Sassafras-Ferny Creek as early as October and as late as April. Some years the fire risk is much greater than others, especially if there has been a prolonged dry period or drought preceding the summer. The effects of the El Niño phenomenon are still being studied, but there is evidence that years identified as El Niño years often bring with them acute fire danger. The most dangerous time in this area has usually been from late January to mid-february when the forest fuels have dried sufficiently to burn with some intensity. Normally each year fire restrictions are imposed under the Country Fire Authority Act. During the declared fire danger period it is illegal to burn off without a permit issued by the Shire. If you are uncertain whether the fire restrictions are in force, check with the local brigade or the Shire before commencing a burn off. There are many signs that a day will be one of high fire danger. Such days can occur from late spring right through until late autumn. The likelihood of such days increases after a prolonged dry period. One of the predicted impacts of climate change is that the number of fire danger days will almost certainly increase over the coming years. Recognising high risk days Any day when the temperature is predicted to be very high (over the mid-30s), with low humidity and strong northerly winds must be considered a high fire danger day. In typical conditions, the prevailing northerly winds are followed later in the day by a south-westerly change. If there is a fire, the strength of the change and the winds speed will determine whether a fire can be contained or simply alter direction on a new and wider front. When weather conditions are severe, the CFA will normally declare a Total Fire Ban for that day. Anyone lighting a fire in the open on a Total Fire Ban day faces a large fine, imprisonment or both. The declaration of a Total Fire Ban should act as a trigger for you to take some active steps. You need to make plans on these days which take the heightened fire risk into account. How do houses burn down? The two main ways in which houses catch fire during a bushfire in the local area are from direct flame contact and ember attack. Direct flame is an issue if your home is in a location where a bushfire can burn right into your property from adjoining public or private land. The more common way in which houses catch fire in a bushfire is from ember attack. This simply means the burning debris lifted up from a fire on hot air currents and dropped down on buildings and gardens, often some distance away. Homes located kilometres from a fire front are at risk from ember attack. Flying embers will also start spot fires well ahead of the main fire front. Every property in the local area is at risk from ember attack during a bushfire in the vicinity. For many residents, protecting their property from ember attack is simple and relatively safe. But it means staying with your home during a bushfire and that means being prepared.

9 How do fires start? Getting ready In the past many bushfires in the local area started as the result of burn-offs getting out of control. For decades this was the main cause of fires in the hills right up to the late 1960s. While burn-offs are still a source of some fires, since the 1970s the cause of most fires has been far more sinister. Every major fire in this area in the past four decades has been the result of arson. It is vital that residents remain vigilant against arson. Any suspicious behaviour should be reported immediately to the police. Fires have been started by lightning strike in the local area. In , separate storms led to lightning strikes at Olinda and One Tree Hill that triggered small fires. Historically, dry lightning storms are unusual in the local area, so perhaps this is a small indication of the impact of climate change. There is plenty you can do as an individual or collectively with your neighbours to minimise the risk of your home being destroyed in a bushfire. It doesn t matter how well-developed your street is or how far it is from bushland every home in this district is at risk. There are some streets in this area which are extremely difficult to protect in the event of a bushfire, particularly those abutting forest areas. In some locations, staying with your home may not be an option in the event of a bushfire. If you are unsure whether your home is in such a street or whether it would serve as a safe haven in a fire, seek further information from your local fire brigade or the CFA regional office. During a wildfire, the fire brigade might have all the fire trucks and aircraft and manpower it could wish for and it won t do much good unless the community has done its part too. Combatting bushfires begins long before they start and is not just the task of the fire brigade... it s everyone s job. As a resident, you can take all sorts of simple measures to improve the chances of your home surviving during a bushfire. It s too late to think about them when the fire has started. You have to think about them and act on them ahead of the fire season. 8

10 Often the steps are simple What condition is your property in? Clear away rubbish, leaves and brush from immediately around the house. Clean out gutters and spouting. Mow long grass and responsibly dispose of the slash. Move flammable items, such as garden furniture, away from the house. What about water? Securing a supply of water for fire fighting is a problem that affects us all. There is no guarantee that the mains supply will provide water or pressure during a bushfire. If possible have a separate water supply available a pool or tank will serve this purpose. In some locations, a relatively small quantity of water, such as a couple of 200 litre drums, will be enough. If you have substantial water like a tank or swimming pool supply, think about getting a small diesel or petrol-driven pump and some fire hose and fittings. You may want to consider having a sprinkler system installed on your property. What about equipment? Make sure you have equipment such as ladders, rakes, shovels, mops, hoses and buckets accessible and ready for use. Detailed advice about preparing your property against bushfire is available from the CFA. Contact your local brigade or CFA Yarra Area for more information. What about burning off? Some people use burning off as a method of reducing fuel and debris on their property. For most of the year, burning off is regulated by a local law of the Shire of Yarra Ranges, which restricts the days and times and amounts of burning that can occur. For details of these restrictions, contact the shire. Under the Country Fire Authority Act, a declared fire danger period usually comes into force in the summer months. During this declared period no burning off fires may be lit without a permit issued by the Shire. A burning off amnesty allows residents more liberal opportunities for burning between 1 October and the declaration of the fire danger period. On days of Total Fire Ban, no fires may be lit outdoors. Penalties including fines and prison terms apply. You must always exercise extreme care when burning off. Escaped burn offs are a common cause of bushfires. Having a plan Large bushfires are frightening events, but people can and do survive them. Those who die in bushfires normally have no plan for what to do when fire threatens. Most of them die outside their homes, on the road or in vehicles. A bushfire survival plan adds to your chance of surviving a fire. Remember in this area fires spread quickly; there will not be much time to make decisions. It is far better to be prepared in advance.

11 You must have a plan for your family in the event of the threat of fire and especially when a major fire breaks out. Coping with a big fire is much easier if you have planned in advance what you will do during such an emergency. Having a strategy to work to is much easier than trying to remember what is to be done when the emergency is at the front gate. Make a plan that suits your family and try to stick to it. Your plan may be as simple as leaving the area on days of high fire danger. Or it may be your plan to stay with your property a plan that will need more thought and preparation. It is important that your plan be realistic and flexible enough to cope with changing circumstances. Make sure everyone living at your home knows what they must do in the event of a fire danger day. Stay or go? The decision every family living in our community must make is to find an answer to the simple question: Stay or go? For some it is a simple choice, for others there are complex issues to resolve. But it is a choice that must be made and you need to make it well before the fire season. You will need to weigh up a number of factors location of the property, preparations done, availability of water and firefighting equipment, physical and mental preparedness to remain. Some homes in this area are located in streets where the risk of fire damage is extreme especially when they are on a north-facing slope abutting forest areas. They cannot be easily defended from wildfire and it may simply be unsafe to stay. If you are uncertain about the nature of the fire risk around your home, contact the fire brigade for more information. If your home is not in a position that can be readily defended from bushfire, it might be better for you to leave the area at least until the immediate danger has passed. Decide early whether you are going to stay with your home or leave. Plan where you are going to go. Tell someone else about your plan. You might decide on a day of high fire danger simply to leave the hills for the day and go somewhere there is no risk of bushfire to the beach, the city, a shopping centre, a friend s home in the suburbs. The elderly and those with young children should consider leaving on days of high fire danger. Late evacuation can prove fatal. Many people have died in bushfires because they tried to leave too late. The decision to stay or go is your decision. Neither the police nor the fire brigade will make it for you. There is plenty of information available to help you make a choice, but in the end it will be your choice. 10

12 Preparation is so important! Is there a fire refuge? Staying with your home Local government and the emergency authorities in this area have moved away from the idea of providing a public fire refuge. The reasons for this include: - lack of a building or location suitable for the purpose - travel to a fire refuge encourages late and potentially dangerous evacuation during a bushfire - problems and dangers associated with gathering large numbers of people in one place during a bushfire. A well-located and prepared home will act as an effective refuge during a bushfire. If the situation of your home is such that it cannot be defended or act as a refuge, then you need to consider leaving early, well ahead of any bushfire. Each of the local schools has a purpose-built fire refuge for the use of students and staff. Parents should become acquainted with their school s action plan during a bushfire. The school refuges are not open to the public. A bushfire is a frightening event for everyone concerned, be they residents or firefighters. The smoke, the heat, the noise, the uncertainty and the isolation all conspire to make it so. If you choose to stay with your home, you must be prepared both physically and mentally for what may occur. You may be completely alone as the fire front approaches and will need to rely on your own resources. You will need to have done adequate preparation around your home in the weeks and months beforehand. The preparations you will have done will include: - the removal of fire fuel around your house - the creation of a fire buffer such as lawn or well-maintained garden - the cleaning out of gutters and other areas where debris gathers. If you are going to stay with your home when a fire comes, - clear away any flammable outdoor furniture. Roll up blinds, take away umbrellas, put the doormat inside. - an adequate water supply, independent of the mains, is vital. In a major fire, the mains supply may fail or lose pressure. Tanks, swimming pools, ponds, storage drums and dams are examples of an independent supply. - you will need some basic fire fighting equipment, such as buckets. hoses, rakes, hoes and shovels and knapsack sprays. - wear suitable clothing such as full length trousers and shirts (overalls are a good option), work boots, broad brimmed hat and work gloves.

13 As a fire front approaches - if you have enough water, dampen down the outside of the house - patrol the perimeter of the house and put out any small fires started by flying debris - inside the house, have buckets of water ready to put out small fires. Keep windows and curtains closed and put wet towels at the base of doorways. - check inside the ceiling for small fires. If the main fire advances towards your property, you will need to retreat inside the house in order to avoid radiant heat. Radiant heat will kill you. Stay alert. Use your senses. Watch the weather, especially the wind direction. Look to see where the smoke is drifting to and see if you can ascertain the direction in which the fire is heading. Listen for fire sirens and trucks. - Have a battery-powered radio available because the mains power will probably fail. - Do not ring the local fire station when there is a bushfire in the local area. The station phone will be needed for operational purposes. - Only dial 000 if you are sure you can see a fire. Smoke alone is not always a good indicator. What s going on? Finding out what is going on during a bushfire emergency is always difficult. There are various tools at your disposal, but in this area getting good quality information quickly will always be a problem because of the speed with which fires spread here. One source of information will be media broadcasts. The ABC and the Victorian emergency services have entered into a formal agreement under which ABC local radio (in our case ABC AM 774) will broadcast timely emergency information as required, sourced from fire agencies and police as appropriate Community radio stations and commercial broadcasters are other sources of information. Be wary of information given by talk-back callers as this can be unreliable. The CFA and the Department of Sustainability and Environment both have websites with information about current fire events. These are very useful, especially in the early stages of fire development and provided you have access to the internet and power is still available! The Victorian Bushfire Information Line is another source of real time information about fires that are developing. 12

14 Often the steps are simple Where s the fire? About your local fire brigade During a large bushfire, you cannot expect a fire truck to turn up at your front door just when you need it. Units will be deployed trying to contain the main spread of the fire. Firefighting is a shared responsibility. There are two main agencies responsible for firefighting in the Dandenongs. In national park and Crown land areas, fire management is the responsibility of the Department of Sustainability and Environment. In privatelyowned and township areas, the Country Fire Authority is the principal agency. In reality, both agencies work closely together in the local area. CFA brigades will often supply much of the manpower and equipment needed to fight fires in DSE areas. Joint bushfire management teams set up to deal with large fires. There are several CFA brigades spread across the Dandenong Ranges and around their fringe. The CFA was established in 1944 for the more effective control of the prevention and suppression of fires in the country area of Victoria. A key feature of the organisation is that most of its functions are carried out by volunteers. The CFA is responsible for fire prevention and suppression across about two-thirds of the state, including many parts of outer-metropolitan Melbourne. There are more than 1200 CFA brigades state-wide and about 60,000 volunteer firefighters. The Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Brigade serves the townships of Sassafras, Ferny Creek, Tremont and parts of Sherbrooke. It is a wholly volunteer brigade. One of 15 volunteer brigades in the Dandenong Ranges Fire Brigades Group, the brigade was formed in 1942 as the local community responded to the need to protect life and property. Our area of operation extends over about 14 square kilometres and is bordered on all sides by the Dandenong Ranges National Park. Aside from bushland, there are about 1000 homes and a resident population of around There are also three schools, a pre-school, six public halls, plus numerous shops, restaurants, nurseries, guesthouses, public utilities, church, sporting and community groups. In addition to bushfires, the brigade attends structure and vehicle fires and a diverse range of other incidents. Motor vehicle accidents form a major part of the workload. Aside from fires and emergencies in the local area, the brigade often provides support to neighbouring brigades. It is also called on to render assistance in many other parts of Victoria and interstate.

15 Community Fireguard Members are alerted to fire calls by pagers and sirens triggered from a control centre which operates 24-hours a day. The brigade is led by a Captain, who is assisted by five Lieutenants. A variety of roles and responsibilities are fulfilled by a Brigade Management Team. About 35 volunteer firefighters (both men and women) and non-operational members make up the rest of the brigade. There is also a brigade auxiliary. Since 1971, Sassafras-Ferny Creek has operated a Junior Brigade, which offers training for young people aged between 11 and 16 years interested in the fire service. Any person over the age of 16 years may join the CFA. New members undergo a six-month period of recruit training and instruction before becoming operational firefighters. Our members represent a broad cross-section of the community in terms of age and occupation. About one-quarter of the brigade s firefighters are women. Roles other than active firefighting are also available within the brigade. A growing aspect of the brigade s operations is public education. We seek out and invite dialogue with other groups in the local community, such as schools and community groups. The Country Fire Authority has devised a program aimed at helping residents to play an active role in fire prevention and protection in the streets in which they live. Called Community Fireguard, the program assists locals to take responsibility for their own fire safety. Working in small groups, residents are encouraged to develop strategies to cope with their local fire threat. A number of residents within Sassafras and Ferny Creek have already formed Community Fireguard groups as part of taking responsibility for fire safety in our area. The program is co-ordinated by the CFA, which provides facilitators to assist groups in becoming established, and is strongly supported by the local brigade. For further details about starting or joining a Community Fireguard group in your area, contact CFA Regional Headquarters on More information Websites: ABC Local Radio AM 774 Victorian Bushfire Information Line: Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Brigade (answering service): CFA Yarra Area: CFA Headquarters: Proudly supported by 14

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