Bushfire Ready Neighbourhoods - Events Update
Bushfire Ready Neighbourhoods - Events Update
Update on Bushfire-Ready Neighbourhoods Events - 4 February 2016
Have you been checking the BRN section of the TFS website to find out what events are on in your area and thinking not much is happening. Where are they? What are they doing? Why are there not many events taking place? Good questions!
As you will be aware the Tasmania Fire Service has been dealing with and responding to upwards of 80 fires across our state. Some of these fires began January 13th as a result of lightning strikes. Many of the fires started in remote areas with steep and rugged terrain that has made getting access to them very difficult and in some cases not possible.
The Tasmania Fire Service establishes Regional Fire Operation Centres to focus on coordinating the resources required to manage bushfires. As a part of this management process one of the units is called the Public Information Unit. This unit is responsible for keeping you, the community, up to date about fire happenings in your region communicating through community alerts, media liaison and many other avenues www.fire.tas.gov.au
One of the roles in this unit is that of Community Liaison. Community Liaison involves staff actively connecting with communities to provide up to date information when a fire is close, primarily on the ground. Bushfire-Ready Neighbourhood staff, among other TFS staff, have been fulfilling this role state-wide in communities affected by the current fire situation. BRN has not disappeared and our activities will continue into the future – however at the moment our resources have been moved into supporting the local communities in responding to the varying challenges occurring.
We will keep you posted when things settle and business as usual takes over. Now is a great time to be doing your preparation activities around your homes, writing up your Bushfire Survival Plans and developing your leave early and stay and defend kits! Make sure you share it with your family and friends and learn to become aware of your surrounds – situational awareness can make all the difference to your safety. What is my situation and have I planned for it? You can access the Bushfire Survival Plan here on the website, download it and print it off for tips and considerations and to fill out.
Take care of each other, connect with you neighbours, develop situational awareness and remember to know your bushfire risk and make a plan!