Mumballup farmers briefed after bushfire

A SUNDOWNER and information night at the Mumballup Volunteer Bushfire Brigade shed last Friday night aimed to ensure local landowners were prepared for future bushfires.

Brigade president and acting fire chief officer Garry Hatch chaired the meeting and said the recent bushfire that burnt 8000 hectares of land was the biggest in the brigade’s history.

About 100 people, including representatives from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the local brigade volunteers, attended the sundowner.

Mr Hatch said the aim was to ensure landowners were prepared for future bushfires.

He said city people new to the area were unaware of the risks associated with bushfires.

“All the recent fires started on farms where the people are new to the area,” he said.

Two of the recent bushfires were started accidentally by machinery operating on or near dry grass.

“We just want to raise awareness,” Mr Hatch said.

“Such as people calling triple-zero to get the emergency process started.

“In three of the last four fires, people called the brigade instead, I work and might not get the call so they should call triple-zero as a first point.”

Mr Hatch also wants people to start preparing for the bushfire season earlier.

“Some people were slashing in December when it’s hot,” he said.

“We want people to start their fire mitigation earlier.”

He said it was also important to have appropriate fire fighting gear, particu- larly when doing burn offs. “Take the recent fires, one farmer had no fire fighting gear, while another one had the gear but couldn’t use it.”

He said local farmers were very receptive to the information and he planned to have another information night later in the year.

The function also highlighted the roles and responsibilities of the local brigade, with farmers encouraged to get involved.

Mr Hatch said about a dozen new volunteers have since signed up to volunteer with the brigade.