60 SUNDAY JANUARY 7 2018 THEMERCURY.COM.AU

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FIRE AWARENESSA N A D V E R T I S I N G F E A T U R E

GROUNDWORK: A Tasmania Fire Service firefighter in action. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

THE Tasmania Fire Service is warning residents that summer is

the riskiest time of year for Australia’s most deadly natural disasters: bushfires.

TFS chief officer Chris Arnol said bushfires were and would continue to be part of the Tasmanian landscape.

“The TFS continues to encourage residents in bushfire-prone areas to prepare their properties for the summer, as intense bushfires can strike with little warning,” he said.

“It is very important that residents are not complacent.

“If you live in or near bushland, you, your family and your home are at risk.”

“The general rule of thumbis that if you are within 100m or 200m of one hectare of bushland, you are at risk of being impacted by bushfire.”

Mr Arnol said a home or property was more likely to survive a bushfire if it was prepared properly.

“The most important job isto create a defendable space,’’ he said.

“This means having an areaaround your home where you have modified the vegetation and removed the most flammable material to reduce the fire’s radiant heat intensity.

“If you do this, flames andradiant heat from an approaching bushfire will be reduced, so sparks and embers will have less fuel to ignite when they land, and any spot fires will be easier to put out.

“A well-prepared space makes it much easier to defend your home, and if you choose not to stay it will help firefighters protect your home, or may even protect your

home if firefighters cannot reach it.”

Mr Arnol said that as wellas preparing your property, it was essential for people living in or near bushland to have a Bushfire Survival Plan, which detailed exactly how to prepare and what action to take if threatened by bushfire.

“Writing and practising a bushfire survival plan will help you think through the actions logically, give you something to refer to, and can help control fear and anxiety if a bushfire breaks out nearby,” he said.

“The plan must take into consideration the ages and physical capabilities of everyone in your household, including children and the elderly.”

Mr Arnol said once a Bushfire Survival Plan was in place, it was important for people to know what action to

take when a bushfire approached.

“People should decide wellin advance of a bushfire whether they will leave or stay with their homes to defend them,” he said.

“There are two safe optionswhen threatened by bushfire: leaving early, well before the fire arrives, or staying and defending a well-prepared property.

“Leaving early is always thesafest option, as staying to defend property during a bushfire always carries some risk of injury or death.

“When the fire danger rating is ‘catastrophic’, you should not plan to defend your home under any circumstances.”

Mr Arnol said defending ahome was a reasonable choice if —● It is well prepared.● You are physically fit andemotionally prepared.● Fire conditions are less than“extreme’’.

“Most people who die in abushfire are caught by the fire in the open, either in their car or on foot,” Mr Arnol said.

“Others are killed or seriously injured because they crashed in poor visibility when they left too late. It is very important you do not flee a bushfire at the last minute.”

The TFS is also encouraging members of the community to identify a number of safe places to relocate to at very short notice

if they are caught unaware by a bushfire, or the plan to defend their home fails.

A nearby safer place couldbe a well-prepared neighbour’s home, a nearby ploughed paddock, a sports ground or a beach.

“You should only rely on these places as a last resort,” Mr Arnol said. “It is much better to plan to leave early.”

For further information and to download your Bushfire Survival Plan Booklet and view the Community Protection Plan for 100 locations statewide visit www.fire.tas.gov.au or free call 1800 000 699.

This is a fire safety message from Tasmania’s firefighters.

Be preparedand stay safe

Residents warned against complacency

By making some simple changes to your water consumption at home and work, you can help ensure everyone has access to water when it’s needed:

You can help Tasmania’s water supplies go the distance...

Water gardens early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and use mulch to limit evaporation

Building or renovating? Look for water efficient taps, shower heads and dual flush toilets

Keep showers short and sharp! Five minutes is all you need to get clean

Regularly check your taps. Replacing old washers can save up to five litres of water per hour

Wash vehicles on grassed areas, and use a bucket and sponge instead of the hose.

For more tips and information visit www.saveeachdrop.com.au

Tassie Ember Guard has been designed by Grating Tasmania, using a Queensland Company to Manufacture our top of the range,

BLUESCOPE Steel Colorbond - all Australian made TASSIE EMBER GUARD.

To comply to certain higher rated Bushfi re Zones the holes are to be no greater than that, a 2mm shaft can fi t through.

TASSIE EMBER GUARD meets all Ratings.TASSIE EMBER GUARD meets all Ratings.The biggest issue with the small holes is that the majority of water will pass right over the holes and not go into gutters.

TASSIE EMBER GUARD has a special designed inverted V above the Gutters to slow the water fl ow over the holes and allow valuable water to pass through the holes and fall into the guttering.

Please call 6272 2100 6272 2100 for more info or to place your order.Email: sales@gratingtasmania.com.auEmail: sales@gratingtasmania.com.au

Gutter GuardsGutter GuardsTassie Ember Guard is the simplest to install on the market as it has a Patented 3D pre profi led edge to suit Corrugated Roofi ng, and11 Various Roofi ng Tiles, plus - Pre Notched to suit Trimdeck and Spandeck Roofi ng profi les.

Tassie Ember Guard can be used on most Roof Types.

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Grating Tasmania also supplies valley protection, corrugated wall corner protection, and custom profiles.

There are many productsbeing introduced to the market advertised as having BAL 12.5, 19, 29, 40 and FZ (flame zone) Fire Zone ratings.

However, many of these products installed as ember protection have one major issue. That is that most of the water runs straight across the holes and on to the ground because the hole size doesn’t allow water to flow freely through the product.

Tassie Ember Guard gutter

MANUFACTURED tomeet the demand for aquality product that

looks good and is simple to install, Tassie Ember Guard is suitable and effective for a range of extreme bushfire conditions.

The gutter protection product is manufactured from BlueScope Colorbond steel and pre-moulded with a 3D edge to fit perfectly on to corrugated roofing and various roofing tiles.

Tassie Ember Guard gutterprotection can be effective during bushfires with Bushfire Attack Levels (BAL) ratings from 12.5, where there is a risk of fire from embers, through to the extreme bushfire conditions, including direct contact with flames.

The Tassie Ember Guardrange is available through Grating Tasmania, which also stocks pre-notched profiles to suit Trimdek and Spandek roofing.

The unique design of TassieEmber Guard gutter protection can be used under ridge capping, with one 3D edge designed to fit perfectly on to corrugated roofing and tightly under the ridge capping on the other edge.

This gives lasting fire protection and allows the correct ventilation into the roof cavity.

THEMERCURY.COM.AU SUNDAY JANUARY 7 2018 61

FIRE AWARENESSA N A D V E R T I S I N G F E A T U R E

protection’s unique ribbed design disrupts the water flow, allowing water to pass through the holes, in the process saving valuable water.

The product is easy to install with a very simple design, no ugly strips or clips, and a 25-year BlueScope Colorbond warranty.

1. KNOW your risk. Learn whether you live in a bushfire-prone area.2. UNDERSTAND your local environment and your options should a bushfire occur: To leave early, or to stay and defend your home.3. CHECK the TFS website (www.fire.tas.gov.au) regularly for the following:Advice on how to prepare for bushfires.Current and expected fire danger ratings. They indicate how bad fires will

be if they start, and guide what action you should take on fire danger days.Bushfire alerts and warnings, in case a fire breaks out near you.Where your local Nearby Safer Places are for shelter. These are listed in the Community Bushfire Protection Plan for your area.Information on Total Fire Bans and what you can and can’t do with fires when bans are in force.4. PREPARE a Bushfire Survival Plan.

Your plan should include everyone who lives with you or is relying on you to keep them safe, as well as any pets or livestock. 5. EVEN if it is not a day of Total Fire Ban, think of the weather conditions and use common sense when doing anything that could start a fire. 6. SOME bushfires are started by arsonists. If you see anything suspicious, immediately call the police (phonetriple zero, 000).

SIX STEPS FOR A SAFER SUMMER

ADVICE: Grating Tasmania consultant Karl Latham with the Tassie Ember Guard for guttering.Picture: ROGER LOVELL

Be on guard againstdangerous embers

Robert Higgins, General Manager

Owners and occupiers of land in the Tasman Municipality are reminded that with the fire season fast approaching it is now time to assess your property and clear any potential fire hazards.

Inspections of properties will be undertaken in coming weeks, and where considered necessary, Fire Abatement Notices will be issued for the clearing of fire hazards in accordance with the Local Government Act 1993. Failure to comply with a Fire Hazard Abatement Notice will result in Council undertaking the work at the owner’s expense.

Council seeks the cooperation of ratepayers in ensuring that their property does not constitute a fire risk during the common months. For further information or for reporting a potential fire hazard, please contact the Council on (03) 6250 9200 or email: tasman@tasman.tas.gov.au

FIRE HAZARD

Central Highlands Council

Owners and occupiers of land in the municipality

are advised that with the fire season fast

approaching it is now time to assess your

property and remove fire hazards. Over coming

weeks, abatement notices will, where considered

necessary, be issued for the appropriate clearing of

fire hazards.

Council seeks the co-operation of residents in

ensuring that their property does not constitute a

threat during the coming months.

For further information or for reporting of

a potential fire hazard, please contact the

Development & Environmental Services Office on

(03) 6259 5503.

Lyn Eyles

GENERAL MANAGER

FIRE HAZARD

We’re working to reduce the threat of bushfire around the state, by clearing vegetation growing too

close to TasNetworks-owned powerlines. Regardless of where you live, you can help by doing your

bit, too.

Don’t plant trees too close to powerlines. For more information visit tasnetworks.com.au or call us

on 1300 137 008.

When did we forget about electricity?

Owners and occupiers of properties with a growth of vegetation that constitutes a potential fire hazard are advised to remove the hazard as soon as possible.

Inspections of the properties will be undertaken and where it is considered necessary, fire abatement notices will be issued.

Council seeks the co-operation of residents in ensuring that their property does not constitute a threat during the coming months.

For further information please contact Council on 6256 4777.

Fire Safety is everyone’s responsibility.

DavID MetCalFGENERAL MANAGER

G L A M O R G A N S P R I N G B A Y

C O U N C I L

FIRE HAZARDS