Local crews assist bushfire efforts
A strike team from Bass Coast travelled to Longwood to assist with firefighting efforts in the area.
While Bass Coast was spared from the latest outbreak of bushfires across the state, a local crew travelled to Longwood to assist with firefighting efforts in the area.
Captain of the Phillip Island brigade Lino Drazzi said a strike team from Bass Coast travelled to Longwood on Saturday, January 10.
“This team consisted of Bass, San Remo, Wonthaggi, Dalyston Ultra Lights, Phillip Island Tanker-2 and Kernot-Grantville Big Fill,” Lino explained.
“To crew these vehicles, 16 members across our group have gone.”
The team included two members each from Bass, San Remo, Wonthaggi and Dalyston. Five members from Phillip Island and three from Kernot-Grantville made up the crew.
The crew will be rotated, to give firefighters a break from the demanding work.
A change over crew left on Monday, and is expected to return home on Wednesday night.
The crew that left on Saturday returned home on Monday evening.
Local fires
As well as supporting their CFA colleagues in other area, the Phillip Island brigade responded to a number of local incidents.
These included four smoke alarm calls (which were all false alarms), and two small grass and scrub fires.
There were also five open fires and a bonfire on the beach.
“These were all extinguished and the people involved were educated on lighting fires during the Fire Danger Period and Total Fire Ban days,” Lino said.
A Total Fire Ban means no fire can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12.01am to 11.59pm on the day of the Total Fire Ban.
Victorians can find out if they are in an area where a Total Fire Ban is in force by visiting the CFA website www.cfa.vic.gov.au, where it is usually published by 5pm the day before a Total Fire Ban.
For more information on what you can and can't do visit the CFA website: www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/fire-bans-ratings-and-restrictions/can-i-or-cant-i
