Two significant milestones were reached over the last two weeks. On the 19th February, after 90 days of sustained activity – the Tambo complex fire was declared contained. Just eight days later and following 98 days of active fire activity
- the Snowy complex fire was also declared contained on the 27th February.
Incredibly, this marks the first time during the current fire season that Victorian fire crews are not responding to broad acre out of control fires. Despite many hundreds of local personnel (including international and defence force
crews) remaining deployed managing contained fires and new starts, these events signal what is hopefully a permanent downward trend in the current fire season.
And while there is still much work ahead of us, I want to echo the many heartfelt well wishes that are coming from many grateful and humbled Victorians. The tireless and selfless efforts of so many of you and our fellow emergency service
partners over what has been such a prolonged period of high operational activity is most deserving of praise and thanks. Your commitment to your communities and public safety is exemplary.
As operational tempo begins to fall, our efforts and priority will continue to swing to recovery operations.
As I explain to others, this is one of the key areas that differentiate emergency management volunteers and is part of what makes you so special.
Not only are you amongst the first ones moving into communities during periods of response but long after the fire front has passed - you are also amongst the ones remaining in these communities to lead and support the sustained recovery
operations that are needed to help rebuild those very same communities impacted.
In this vein, there are two important initiatives I want to highlight this month. The first is the joint recovery task force that is being formed by VFBV District Councils 8 and 13 (see page 6 of this edition).
This initiative is being led by VFBV State Councillor Bill Watson AFSM and is modelled on the recovery taskforces we assembled following Black Saturday back in 2009.
The taskforce will be deploying over the coming months to undertake community- based recovery projects in areas recently affected by this season’s fires and will also target any CFA volunteers whose own properties have been impacted. The
task force will only deploy by invitation from a local community, brigade, resident or member and priority will be given to supporting local communities by ensuring any additional resourcing, tools or equipment required is drawn from local businesses, thereby boosting and supporting the local economy.
The activities undertaken will be unglamorous but of great import and benefit to local communities, members and residents.
It will involve tough and exhausting work, mostly conducted over weekends and the aim is for the taskforce to be as self-sufficient as possible with self-catering and camp style accommodation. Tasks chosen are aimed to cover cracks left by
insurance and government support and picking up those areas in between; it might be felling trees and cutting them up, general maintenance, fencing, clearing up and other jobs not covered by insurance. It’s about helping fellow community members, firefighters and others in their time of need and helping them move on.
Expressions of interest are being sought for experienced and endorsed chainsaw operators, drivers and safety officers, as well as labourers, able bodied helpers and personnel willing to assist. Members are encouraged to discuss their
involvement with their Captains and BMTs prior to committing and all personnel must be current CFA members.
CFA is supporting the taskforce and arrangements and I want to recognise and thank them for supporting this initiative. These kinds of initiatives are often a little outside the box and can sometimes challenge our process and systems and I
want to congratulate the local CFA management for enthusiastically getting behind it and supporting a fantastic community based and focussed initiative.
Bill is coordinating resources being drawn from District 8 and VFBV State Councillor Rod Stebbing is the lead for District 13.
If you’d like to help, please contact an executive member from either District Council 8 or 13 or visit the VFBV website for further details.
The second initiative I want to highlight is to remind members that we are ramping up our efforts to identify any CFA volunteers who have lost their homes, stock, fencing, outbuildings, machinery or anything else that will impact on that
members livelihood.
Connecting members up with grants and recovery services is a priority as well as topping up or providing additional grants to bridge any gaps from our welfare fund or our volunteer support and recovery trust. If you have been impacted, or
you know someone who has been, please get in touch with your local VFBV Support Officer or District Council as soon as possible so we can assist you immediately.
Experience tells us – many of those affected will not self report, so we need your help. This is one of the rare times I will ask members to put their selflessness to one side, and please reach out or encourage someone else to.
Disbursement of grants requires careful planning and management and we don’t want anyone to miss out simply because they were too proud to ask for help.
Please, if you were impacted or you know a fellow member who was – please contact VFBV Support Officer Michelle Ryan if you are from the North East Region, or VFBV Support Officer Colin Booth if you are from the South East Region.
We need an accurate register of impacted members so that the Trustees of our VFBV Volunteer Support and Recovery Trust (formerly known as the Black Saturday Trust) & our Welfare Fund can assess demand and make arrangements for
appropriate disbursement and fund raising.
The Trust alone has distributed more than $880,000 to CFA members and their families since Black Saturday and is just one way we can continue to support those members who have been directly impacted.
Stay safe, rest when you can and continue looking out for one another. You are all doing incredible work.
