A weather change was all that stopped the holocaust of December 30 last year from impacting many properties in Granite Rock and further to the north-west.
The fire from Sarsfield that tore through Palmers Road properties was stopped just a few hundred metres from Brett’s property.
The fuel load on that property had built up over many years, like it had on several other similar properties in the area.
Conscious of the potential threat posed by the fuel load on his property, Brett recently made enquiries knowing that CFA brigades had previously assisted with fuel reduction burns on private property.
He found that despite the willingness of the local volunteer brigades, they had to submit their plan for the burn to the CFA Vegetation Management Team, which could take 12 months or more before they could expect it to be processed.
Therefore there is no chance of obtaining an approval before this summer, which represents a fire threat.
Due to the COVID-19 situation, CFA management has now put a temporary stop on doing burns on private property or elsewhere. Interestingly, Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV) is thankfully continuing to undertake planned burns on public land.
Without the resources of a local CFA Brigade, and faced with a job beyond the reasonable control of one person, Brett talked with one of his neighbours, Graeme.
Graeme agreed to assist Brett by using his own fire fighting equipment.
Together they worked out a plan to tackle the task and to date have carefully and slowly, over two weekends, burnt the areas adjacent to buildings and other areas suitable for burning on that particular day. The total burn so far is about three acres.
Graeme said a southerly wind of even moderate strength on December 30 would have swept the fire back alongside the area burnt when the fire raced through Clifton Creek to Sarsfield earlier that day.
“An easterly wind of sufficient duration could have potentially impacted areas such as lower Mount Taylor/Wy Yung,” he said.
Graeme has found the exercise not only reduced the danger to Brett, but also provided some protection for Brett’s neighbours.
Brett said he felt it had strengthened the relationship between he and his neighbours.
“I’d really recommend if anyone is concerned about their property’s fuel load, and the inability of obtaining assistance from their local fire brigade, they might consider collaboration with their neighbours for their mutual benefit,” Brett said.
Graeme stresses there are very important considerations, including registering the details of the burn with the ‘Burn Off Notification Line’ on 1800 668 511.
Failure to do so could result in the embarrassment of someone calling 000 and the subsequent call out of fire brigades. “Most importantly, you must ensure the fire is kept small enough to be well controlled by
the resources available,” Graeme said. “You should have reliable fire fighting equipment that you are familiar with, and of course, a reliable and adequate source of
water.
“The latest weather report should be obtained, and the fire never left unattended.
“Wind is your biggest threat.
“Follow up checks should be made at intervals after the fire has been extinguished to ensure no re-ignition has occurred.
“These checks should continue for a couple of days.”

IMAGE:
Neighbours Brett and Graeme take a break while fuel reducing Brett’s property near Granite Rock.