Hi all. Am back in Melbourne after months in FNQ and after a few weeks somewhere in Victoria's countryside, will return to this park in Melbourne's outer suburbs where I was last summer while the bushfires raged. Thought I'd ask what the policy is here, as it sits at the end of a large area of bush. Blank look! "Get out!" I asked if the boom gates would be in the raised position. Yes. Not that I'd stop if they weren't!! Hopefully I and the many others who stay here over the hoidays will not have to put the non plan to the test. There are no signs regarding this issue apart from assembly points, which would be useless in a fire situation. Will take it further and see what hapens. Cheers, Helen
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Helen, towing a Coromal Pioneeer Compac with an X-Trail
if you hear it or see it, just get out Helen, dont wait to be advised a lot of people died in the vic fires after being given the wrong advice, just get the hell away! worry about the advice afterwards!
Hi Helen. You've sure done a few miles. If the park doesn't have a bushfire plan they're very negligent. Their insurance company might be interested as well. While every individual is responsible for their own safety and well-being, I believe if you're a tenant of a van park they also have a responsibility to their customers to ensure your safety and security. Check with the local Council and fire services to determine what the expectations are. I'm surprised at their reaction to you question. As Dave so aptly put it - get out before it gets hot. Stay happy and well wherever you are. Cheers Chris
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
You have a mobile home i would not be waiting to be told to go ,Australia is a big place first sign of hot dry times move on , and stay safe if i know of any bad weather like cyclone i move i dont need to stay the excitement
I agree with Davo.............I was East of Melbourne before the Black Sat fires.....lovely country.......you can see why ppl died where they did.........the Adelaide Hills area...is bad this year....especially around Belair..Blackwood areas...I wouldnt even drive through that area ..let alone camp there........get out before the bad days
The Adelaide Hills are always ready to burn in summer. Other states and cities have their problems with fire prone areas too. I see today is another hotty for Adelaide, with a cool change on the way. Watch for the fire bugs. With a country so prone to bushfires there are always the fire bugs. They should be charged with murder and sentenced to life in prison, whether people die or not. Residential development has encroached on those areas all around the country. The residents don't take enough precautions to protect their property, and the "greenies" kick up a fuss if anyone tries to reduce the fuel at ground level, or remove high timber which threatens property below. This has set up a crazy roundabout. Then the property owners crack a sad when they lose everything. It's their choice to live in fire prone areas. They choose not to protect their property. No matter what the greenies pressure councils into protecting or forbidding, each owner should be allowed to protect their place. Bushfires are angry, vicious, horrendous things which can't be stopped when the conditions are dry, hot and windy.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
All good advice and yes, I would get out if the area is threatened. I'm no hero and I'm well insured. Here's hoping none of us have experience what so many did last year.
Helen
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Helen, towing a Coromal Pioneeer Compac with an X-Trail
Wouldn't matter what plans are in place at the first hint of smoke get out and don't look back.
After the recent Sh@# fight over stay or go in Vic I don't think anyone will ever put a universal evac plan in place for fear of having to accept liability the the actions of others.
It's the fight or flight in all of us that will determine our actions I personally respond well to the flight side of my personality
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Pets are welcome but children must be leashed at all times
The emergency services spend all their spare time setting up training for contingency plans for every conceivable emergency to strike the particular regions. No one can prepare for such horrendous disasters, but for all the sad, sad losses, some good will come of it. The emergency services regroup and recalculate and retrain in readiness for the next disaster. I've attended several as a "victim" in a enactment of a disaster at airports and on roads etc. They never stop learning, but they can't be prepared for everything. Like cyclones or typhoons, it's very hard to predict the ferocity of a natural disaster. Sometimes there are too many people making the decisions in these disasters. That too will probably be sorted out. WE live in hope, and everyone should be better off because of it.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
I've put 26 years in as a CFS member.....your home is a Van.........as others said.......get out on the warning day.......I heard ppl smelt smoke...then fire hit .....they had no warning...lot ppl died.......dont be added to the statistics.......
Total fire ban here in the Hunter area.Clown down the road from us decided to have a burn off yesterday.Ashes,smoke,wind blowing it all towards the thick bush that is around us.A slow learner,be the first to whinge when his property is endangered by fire.Fires at Raymond Terrace yesterday had six seperate starting points,the work of oxygen thieves once again.Thank goodness for the Firies and the volunteer people.Cheers.Ibbo.
Just travelled between Temora and Townsville and was astounded at the number of burnt areas all along the way.
Some probably lightning strikes but some I reckon were by those Oxygen Thieves that Martin mentioned.
It is so dry everywhere so the worst is probably yet to come.
Ma
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Guru & Ma Ulladulla NSW Happy day, safe travelling Ford Ranger towing 21ft Jurgen shower and toilet which was large enough to fit in a few extras (fridge, bed, stove...)
As I mentioned before.....I'm a volunteer FireFighter....last night I attended a meeting for ppl who live in fire danger areas...locally....8,000 invitations were sent out..80 turned up.......like 1%.......I think those 80 left .....better informed on what to do...on bad fire days....makes you wonder what the other 7,920 will do on a code Red day.......
New Fire Danger Ratings
Category Fire Danger Index
CATASTROPHIC (CODE RED) 100 +
EXTREME 75 - 99
SEVERE 50 - 74
VERY HIGH 25 - 49
HIGH 12 - 24
LOW - MODERATE 0 - 11
The new Catastrophic category refers to days when the Fire Danger Rating is in excess of 100, similar to those conditions experienced in Victoria. In these conditions, if a fire starts it is highly likely to be fast moving and uncontrollable. Even homes that are well prepared and built to the highest standards of bushfire prevention are likely to be lost and the safest option is to leave early.
The Fire Danger Ratings and the Fire Danger Index will be used in tandem by the Bureau of Meteorology to inform you about the predicted weather conditions.
Three levels of messaging have also been developed which will deliver clearer information to help you make informed decisions about what actions you need to take to survive a bushfire. They are:
Advice - no immediate threat but messages to keep people informed about low level incidents Watch and Act - people need to take action to protect themselves, their family and neighbours Emergency Warning - highest level of risk to life
What you need to do now It is important that you and your family understand these new arrangements so that you can make appropriate safety choices during days of high fire risk and during the event of a bushfire.
You also need to prepare or revise your Bushfire Survival Plan, making sure it reflects what you and your family will do for each of the different ratings and recommended actions i.e. Stay and Defend or Go Early.
