FIREFIGHTERS are urging Melton residents to keep on top of long grass despite the lifting of fire restrictions yesterday.
Melton station officer Jayson Hirt said that while there had only been a few fires over summer, there had been plenty of rain to promote grass growth.
“We have had a relatively quiet fire season with no significant bush or grass fires in the Melton area or neighbouring brigade areas,” he said.
“There has been a reduction in the number of fires as a result of fire escaping whilst residents are burning off, this is very pleasing. However we have still attended [incidents] where occupants have been burning during the fire danger period. This has been disappointing.”
Mr Hirt said the Melton brigade continued to attend a significant number of calls for house fires, car accidents, hazardous materials and other incidents.
With summer over, he urged residents to clean heater flues and service units in the lead-up to winter.
He said the end of daylight saving time on March 31 was also a good time for residents to change the batteries in their smoke alarms.
“If you do not have a working smoke alarm, you are putting your whole family at risk. We have seen the value of having a working smoke alarm, they do save lives.”
For more details about fire restrictions, visit cfa.vic.gov.au/restrictions or phone 1800240667.
