SIMON Corbell says that with bushfire season starting today Canberrans should consider how best to prepare for the months ahead.

He joined representatives of the ACT’s fire services at Wybalena Grove in Cook to officially launch bushfire season in the ACT.

“With the warmer weather returning, it is time for the community to have the risk of bushfire in their minds and to prepare themselves and their property,” Simon said.

“Once again, there will be occasions when hot and windy days over the summer period will heighten fire danger across the territory. The Bureau of Meteorology suggests a higher than average bushfire risk for southern Australia.”

In the lead up to summer, the ACT Emergency Services Agency will engage with residents to educate on how they can prepare, including:

• A residential face-to-face door knock initiative in Bushfire Prone Areas (BPA).
• Asking residents to view the ESA website (www.esa.act.gov.au) and assess their level of risk and identify if they live in a BPA.
• A new app currently being developed, ‘My Fire Plan’ to download a bushfire survival plan.
• Engagement at open days for the ACT Rural Fire Service and ACT Fire & Rescue Community Fire Units.

“One of the outcomes of the new Strategic Bushfire Management Plan launched last week was the need for residents to have more face-to-face engagement on how to be bushfire ready. A new campaign will encourage all residents to get their homes bushfire ready and register their involvement in the CBR Bushfire Ready weekend next month. Homes in Bushfire Prone Areas, which are clearly identified on the ESA website, specifically will be targeted.

“Our fire services are also ready for the bushfire season and today I have launched two new fire tankers for the Rural Fire Service, whose volunteer ranks currently stand at 512. In addition, Community Fire Units have now grown to more than 1,100 volunteers. With our fire services and the community working together, we can be bushfire ready.”

Unless conditions warrant an extension, the ACT bushfire season will conclude on 31 March, 2015.

[Photo via Twitter]