CARDINIA Shire Council is backing Fire Action Week, with council officers working closely with the Country Fire Authority and other fire management agencies.

Mayor Bill Pearson said the council was backing this week’s event 100 per cent and has urged residents to do the same.

The aim of Fire Action Week, 11 to 18 October, is to ensure fire risks and hazards throughout the shire are reduced in time for the coming fire season.

Cr Pearson said reduction of fire hazards and bushfire survival plans were a shared responsibility of the community.

“We all experienced the horrors of Black Saturday and fear a repeat this coming fire season,” he said.

“I want to encourage everyone in the community to follow the CFA Plan, Act and Survive guidelines this week.

“Everyone in every family needs to understand and be familiar with their family’s bushfire survival plan.

“People are the most important assets in every community and there is no room for complacency or ‘what’s the hurry’ attitudes.”

Cr Pearson encouraged every resident and business operator to use the CFA Bushfire Survival Plan Guidelines and join or establish a Community Fire Guard group in their neighbourhood.

Information on doing this is available from the CFA website www.cfa.vic.gov.au

Cr Pearson also reminded residents that every vacant block in the shire would be inspected soon.

And that clean-ups would be ordered on blocks that pose fire hazards.

“Property owners who do not comply can find themselves with potentially huge bills for enforced clean-ups,” he said.

For more information about Plan Act Survive and bushfire survival planning visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au or www.cardinia.vic.gov.au

Information is also available at CFA headquarters and fire stations, council offices in Henty Way, Pakenham, police stations, libraries, communities centres and by telephoning 1300 787 624.

See the Gazette’s Fire Action Week feature, pages 29-32.