Above: Narre Warren Fire Brigade members, front, Phill Sandell and eight-year veteran Damien Baker are just two of the many local firefighters preparing to help out across Victoria.
By Callan Date
LOCAL fire brigades are on high alert themselves but are still preparing to lend a hand to their fellow firefighters in other parts of Victoria.
Narre Warren and Hallam Brigade units are implementing plans so local firefighters may be sent to the almost 50 major fires burning throughout Victoria.
Berwick Fire Brigade already has one member acting as a strike-team leader in the Gippsland area.
Chris Fletcher, Narre Warren Brigade administrative support officer, said there was even a possibility members might be asked to help out their interstate colleagues and travel to New South Wales.
He also expressed a wish for managers and bosses, who had CFA volunteers working for them, to be understanding when their employees were called out to help.
“We try to push the message to employers that the CFA is predominantly a volunteer-based organisation and the majority of firefighting done out in the country is by volunteers,” Mr Fletcher said.
He said the dry weather throughout this year had made this summer a really dangerous period for fires.
“Today (Tuesday) being a total fire ban day means basically it is a Code Red day for every brigade in the region. We are all on high alert and if there is any type of grass fire a minimum of three trucks will be sent out.
“Fires generally start a week before Christmas and then continue on into January and February but it is a major worry that we have had them start this early,” Mr Fletcher said.
Berwick Fire Brigade captain Alan Boyd said the brigade was on standby in case more assistance was needed in country Victoria.
“The CFA is gearing up for a potential campaign fire fight. By that I mean there is a fear that a number of the small fires may join together and the big fire may burn for several weeks,” Capt Boyd said.
This week’s fires have caused smoke and haze to drift across parts of Melbourne, including the Casey area, and caused heavy demand on the 000 emergency hot-line.
A statement of the CFA website asked people to refrain from calling 000 if they are reporting smoke alone.
“People should only call 000 today if they can see flame and accurately identify the location of the fire,” the statement said.
