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Prepare properties now: CFA’s spring bushfire advice

Daniel Moylan pictured outside Echuca CFA. Photo by Steve Huntley

Country Fire Authority volunteers are in full swing for spring, asking landowners and community members to get their properties ready for the coming fire season.

Part of an annual campaign by the CFA, spring clean-up reminds communities to take simple steps before summer that will help to ensure they are prepared for the threat of bushfires.

Echuca Fire Brigade captain Daniel Moylan said this time of year is crucial for property maintenance, especially for helping to defend rural properties if a fire does occur.

“It’s always good to prepare your properties, especially the ones that are just on the outskirts of town boundaries and more in that rural setting,” he said.

Mr Moylan said now is the time to start cleaning up around houses and perimeters, empty gutters, make a fire break if you have farmland, and keep grass and vegetation at a short, manageable level.

While an official update on the fire outlook for the area hasn’t been released, Mr Moylan said there are concerning signs of fuel loads around Echuca.

“I think we all can tell as we drive around the area there’s a lot of dry grass that’s come along with the dry weather,’’ he said.

“Unfortunately, for some of the farmers in the area, they’ve been not so good with crops, so there can be a lot of fuel load in that sense as well,” he said.

An update on the fire danger period is expected from the CFA in the coming weeks.

Mr Moylan said updates on fire safety and events in the region will be posted to Echuca CFA’s Facebook page which can be found at www.facebook.com/echucacfa

For detailed information on preparing your property, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/how-to-prepare-your-property