MASSIVE
NEWS DESK
CFA declares fire SUMMER SALE danger period Custom Made Window Coverings ORDER NOW & SAVE FOR NEW YEAR DELIVERY 20% OFF Venus Blockout Roller Blinds /ŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ƌŽƵŶĚ ďŽƩŽŵ ƌĂŝů͘ dĞĂƌĚƌŽƉ ƌĂŝů ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ Ăƚ ĞdžƚƌĂ ĐŽƐƚ
25% OFF
Vivid Shade Screen Roller Blinds
Fire scene: A fire alongside Bayview Rd, McCrae, in 2009 graphically illustrates the dangers during a long, hot summer. Picture: Yanni
Mike Hast mike@baysidenews.com.au THE Fire Danger Period started on Monday across Victoria’s southeast including the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston regions, and French Island in Western Port. The Country Fire Authority’s Trevor Owen said it would be introduced across all municipalities in the CFA’s South East Region because of current conditions. FDPs are based on local conditions and take into account fuel moisture, fuel loads, grassland curing, weather and rainfall. Mr Owen said vegetation was already very dry across the southeast and early indicators were pointing to “a long and challenging fire season ahead”. The declaration in the southeast follows the Bureau of Meteorology’s climate outlook that states it will be drier than normal in eastern Australia as well as in the north and centre. “The summer temperature outlooks indicate a warmer than normal season for both days and nights. Climate influences include El Nino-like conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean.” Meanwhile, weather authorities have stated that the first 10 months of 2014 have been the hottest since record-keeping began more than 130 years ago. Mr Owen said it was “not too late to clean up your property but the window for burning off has closed”. “Residents should take up green waste collection services offered by councils and shires when preparing their properties through clearing, mowing or slashing.” During the Fire Danger Period, all fires in the open air are banned without a written permit, along with most activities with the potential to generate sparks. Permits can be obtained from the CFA or Municipal Fire Prevention Officer at Mornington Peninsula Shire or Frankston Council. “The CFA will be taking a zero tolerance ap-
DURING the Fire Danger Period: A written permit is required to burn grass, undergrowth, weeds or other vegetation. A permit may be issued by the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer or CFA district office. Check with your municipality in the first instance. Lighting a fire in the open without a permit is an offence and can bring a penalty of more than $17,000 and/or 12 months’ jail. Barbecues and fires for cooking and warmth do not require a permit, but must be lit in properly constructed fireplaces. Use of incinerators, chainsaw, lawn mowers, welding and grinding equipment, and vehicles that come in contact with vegetation and machinery with an internal combustion or heat engine is permitted provided conditions are followed. Farmers can find legal guidelines and practical advice at cfa.vic.gov.au/farming – important especially for new farmers, bush block owners or hobby farmers. A Total Fire Ban declaration means no fires can be lit for the declared district for that day unless there is a specific exemption or special permit issued. This applies irrespective of the fire restriction status for a given municipality. Further details at cfa.vic.gov.au/can
STIHL GRASS TRIMMER FS 38 STIHL CHAINSAW SAW + FREE ESKY®
DUAL BLINDS - Solarscreen & Focus Fabric only Buy the Screen & Save 50% OFF the Blockout Blind /ŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ƌŽƵŶĚ ďŽƩŽŵ ƌĂŝů͘ dĞĂƌĚƌŽƉ ƌĂŝů ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ Ăƚ ĞdžƚƌĂ ĐŽƐƚ
FREE CURTAIN MAKING on Wilsons Broome fabric only.
&ƌĞĞ ŚĂŶĚĚƌĂǁŶ ĐƵƌƚĂŝŶ ƚƌĂĐŬƐ Žƌ ϱϬй Žī ĐŽƌĚ ĚƌĂǁŶ ƚƌĂĐŬƐ ǁŝƚŚ Ăůů ĐƵƌƚĂŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌƐ͘ ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ƚƌĂĐŬƐ ŽŶůLJ͘ ƵƌƚĂŝŶ ƚƌĂĐŬ ŽīĞƌ ĂǀĂŝůŝďůĞ ƚŽ Ăůů ĐƵƌƚĂŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌƐ WŝŶĐŚ WůĞĂƚ ĂŶĚ 'ĂƚŚĞƌĞĚ ŚĞĂĚŝŶŐƐ ŽŶůLJ͘
The restrictions
$199 $299
*
*
MS 170 - Powerful, lightweight tweight and easy sy to start
SELECTED ROMAN BLIND FABRICS Zuri & Latrobe by Wilsons only &ŝũŝĂŶ ĂŶĚ ƚŽů ƐƚLJůĞ ŽŶůLJ
30% OFF
®
INTRO ROLLER BLIND MOTORS in either Remote controlled or Wall switch styles. ZĞŵŽƚĞƐ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ƐŽůĚ ƐĞƉĂƌĂƚĞůLJ
20% OFF
Wand Control Vertical Blinds in Focus Blockout Fabric only
1165545-EG48-14
Ύ ŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ ƉƉůLJ ^ĞůĞĐƚĞĚ ĨĂďƌŝĐƐ ĂŶĚ ĮŶŝƐŚĞƐ ŽŶůLJ͘ ůů ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞƐ ĨŽƌ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞƐ ŽŶůLJ͘ ^ĞĞ ŝŶ ƐƚŽƌĞ ĨŽƌ ĨƵůů ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ͘
Quality & Service at the right price
Call for a FREE Measure & Quote
• Lightweight and powerful • Reliable and easy to start • Built better, built to last! Assembled, fuelled & ready to go!
STIHL BLOWER + FREE ESKY®
BG 56 - 230km/h of leaf and debris blowing power
30% OFF
ŽƌĚ ŽƉĞƌĂƚĞĚ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ Ăƚ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů ĐŽƐƚ
BETTER BE GOOD + FREE ESKY®
/ŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ƌŽƵŶĚ ďŽƩŽŵ ƌĂŝů͘ dĞĂƌĚƌŽƉ ƌĂŝů ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ Ăƚ ĞdžƚƌĂ ĐŽƐƚ
proach to any fires resulting from people flouting the laws,” Mr Owen said. “Expect that any fire you start to be fully investigated by police.” Jude Kennedy, the CFA’s manager of community safety in the southeast, said people should “use common sense and take responsibility for preventing fires”. “If you have a fire permit, make sure you read the conditions carefully. Failing to follow just one of those conditions can still leave you open to prosecution,” he said. Mr Kennedy said residents could find information about what is and isn’t permitted during the Fire Danger Period by visiting cfa.vic.gov.au or calling 1800 240 667.
$269
*
www.jaleighblinds.com.au 50 Hartnett Drive, Seaford (Opposite Vic Roads) 9782 4142
19 Treloar Lane, Pakenham Foords Mower Mart 47 Cameron Street CRANBOURNE 3977 Ph: 03 5995 1133
SALE ENDS 23RD DEC
(Opposite Pakenham Central) 5940 3866
* Promotional price & free esky on FS 38, MS 170 & BG 56 only valid 10/11/2014 - 31/12/2014 or while stocks last.
Frankston Times 8 December 2014
PAGE 5