This isn't cool or funny, but it is important

Sorry to put a downer on you guys but as a fire fighter its something I’m pretty keen to spread the word on

If you’ve seen any of the long range weather forecasts this year is looking like being a worse than normal fire season, I know with Christmas only a few short weeks away clearing the gutters and making your home fire safe generally aren’t at the top of your priority list, but a few hours spent doing it now can prevent a world of hart ache later.

Preparing your home and property isn’t difficult it just takes some forethought, clean out your gutters, keep your laws short clear rubbish away form homes and out buildings, make sure LPG cylinders vent away from the structures, make sure you have torches battery powered radios etc, if you have fire fighting pumps for your property make sure they are in good working order and all your suction and delivery hoses are in a good state of repair (if the fires coming that’s not the time to find out your suction hose is blocked solid)

This link will give you pretty much every thing you need to know

http://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=751

I know it seems a bit silly but if you haven’t already, talk to the members of your house hold about what to do if you are at risk e.g.: there is a fire coming towards your home, what’s your plan of attack?

Do you stay or go?

Do you have your keep sakes ready to go? (This includes insurance policies baby, wedding etc photo’s (this is where Digital is great 1 DVD can store thousands of images)

If you live in a rural area, what are you going to do for water in this situation? What static water supplies are available to you?

Remember in times of fire hose pressure will be very limited as guys like me will be trying to fill our trucks

Are you on tank water? What alternatives to your electric water pump do you have? Power is likely to go out if there is a fire in your area.

I know this is a boring topic to some but please take some time to make your home as safe as possible.

Some food for thought, this photo was taken on a day where the fire danger indicator levels were low - moderat the temp was in the high 20's nothing particualy special


YEs the fire is that close to the home

Dont become a tear jerking story on today tonight, I dont care if many of you sitll live at home with mum & dad if your in a rural area or near bush and park lands, hell pretty much any where your home needs to be prepaired

Sorry if I boared you

mudflap wrote:Sorry if I boared you

I think you mean bored... BOARED is when there is a bush fire and the little buggers come running out and take your knees out

But in all seriousness, very good advice for people living in fire prone areas. i live at the foot of the Dandenong ranges and there was a few fires up that the last few years. luckily for me im not close enough to be affected. Very sad for the people that are.

If in doubt, ask you friendly neighbourhood fireman

Cheers

Mick

Iwas down the grampians a few years ago for a bit of fun I dont know the lay of the land down that way is that near you?

We had a truck load of fun and the locals looked after us like drunk grand mothers (although I got lumbered in the snoring dorm at the school I wonder why that could be LOL) the best night was our last night our replacment crews had turnd up and taken the dorsm so we bunked down in the basket ball corts near the pool and got on the cans