Describing the CFA State Logistics Centre as a vital cog in CFA’s bushfire response, CFA Acting Chief Officer Garry Cook said it was ready for a new fire season after more than doubling its capacity from 3200m2 to 8000m2.
“During last year’s unprecedented bushfire season, the State Logistic Centre’s workload increased early with CFA’s deployment to interstate fires, and was then sustained throughout the prolonged fires across Victoria’s north east and East Gippsland,” Mr Cook said
St Joey’s gets top certification
Some 85 per cent of the equipment and resources used by CFA’s firefighters is supplied by the State Logistics Centre, which carries 1900 line items, with sufficient reserves of inventory to meet the demands of a major event through the use of technology and deliberate, planned high-inventory levels.
Between November 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020, it shipped out:
● More than 187,000 litres of water and 185,000 sachets of Hydrate powder;
● About 4400 items of Wildfire Personal Protective Clothing;
● Some 5700 pairs of wildfire gloves and 2000 pairs of boots;
● More than 1300 wildfire helmets, 6300 goggles and 40,000 litres of foam concentrate;
● Around 1700 hoses that would reach from Melbourne CBD to Wallan if rolled out in a single line, and
● Nearly 83,000 P2 firefighting masks with an additional small request for 450,000 community masks distributed on behalf of the Federal Government.
Christine walks for Parkinson’s
Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, it has also stocked and distributed more than half a million hygiene masks, 11,000 P2 masks, 124,000 pairs of disposable gloves, 4100 litres of hand sanitiser, and close to 12,000 coveralls, for CFA use only.
That is in addition to 100,000 masks and gloves combined, with close to 8000 litres of sanitiser managed and warehoused on behalf of Emergency Management Victoria.
“We’re stocked up and ready to go,” Mr Cook said.
“This is just one way that CFA is prepared for the bushfire season.
“We’re also conducting safety training and pre-season briefings to make sure we’re at the top of our game.”
Mr Cook said Fire Action Week was a time for Victorians to prepare and take stock of what they needed to do to stay safe this fire season.
Aldi Benalla switches to solar
“CFA and its partner agencies are prepared for the bushfire season – but we also rely on the community to do its part to stay safe,” he said.
“Victorians share the responsibility of bushfire safety and now is the time to prepare your properties and talk to your loved ones about how to stay safe this fire season.”
CFA offers the following checklist to ensure you, and your property are ready for Victoria's fire danger period
Prepare your property; it can minimise property damage even if you leave early
● Move furniture, woodpiles and mulch away from windows, decks and eaves;
● Prune tree branches so they are not overhanging the roof or touching walls;
● Keep grass shorter than 10cm. Regularly remove leaves and twigs;
● Don’t have plants higher than 10cm in front of windows or glass doors;
● Before you leave, make sure you remove all flammable items from around your home; Houses have been lost from things as simple as embers landing on a doormat; and
● Check that your home and contents insurance is current and includes a level of cover in line with current building standards and regulations.
● Visit this link for more information about bushfire planning and preparation, and about leaving early.
If you would like to send a letter to the editor on this, or any subject, click this link
