Swanpool CFA from June 2023

13/11/2025

🔥 Did You Know … Who Does What When It Comes to Fire Prevention? 🔥

When it comes to preventing fires across Victoria, it’s not just one organisation doing the work — it’s a coordinated effort between Councils, CFA, DEECA (including Forest Fire Management Victoria – FFMV), EMV, and a range of other public authorities and land managers. Each has specific legal responsibilities depending on where the land is and who manages it. Here’s a quick breakdown of who does what 👇

🏛️ Councils:

Councils have a statutory responsibility for fire prevention and risk management on land and roads under their care.
✨ Each council must appoint a Municipal Fire Prevention Officer (MFPO) who can:
• Inspect properties for fire hazards.
• Issue Fire Prevention Notices requiring landowners or occupiers to remove risks.
• Organise works (at the owner’s expense) if the notice isn’t complied with.
🔥 Councils can issue permits to burn during the Fire Danger Period — but not on Total Fire Ban days.
🚓 Victoria Police can take enforcement action for illegal burning during restricted periods.

🚒 CFA:

CFA provides policy, planning, leadership, training, and best practice advice to support municipal fire prevention.
🌡️ Declares Fire Danger Periods for each municipality based on weather and vegetation conditions.
🚫 Can declare Total Fire Ban Days when fire risk warrants it.
🧾 Issues permits to burn under certain conditions and may also issue permits for specific purposes on Total Fire Ban days.
⚖️ Arbitrates appeals against Fire Prevention Notices issued by councils.
👥 CFA is also represented on Municipal Emergency Management Committees and sub-committees for fire management and prevention.

🌳 Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) – including Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV):

DEECA and FFMV are responsible for fire prevention and management in State forests, National Parks, and protected public lands.
🌲 Some adjoining private lands (within 1.5 km) are classed as fire protected areas, and the lighting of fires there during restricted periods is managed by DEECA.
🔥 The Prohibited Period for State forests and parks applies all year round — and DEECA (FFMV) is the only authority that can issue burning permits in these areas.
📜 DEECA/FFMV may also issue Total Fire Ban permits for fire protected areas when required.
👷‍♂️ FFMV crews also undertake planned burning, fuel reduction, and firebreak maintenance to reduce bushfire risk and protect communities and the environment.

🏢 Emergency Management Victoria (EMV / VicEmergency):

EMV leads the statewide coordination of emergency management — before, during and after emergencies.
🧭 Works with CFA, FFMV, FRV, VICSES, and other agencies to ensure a unified approach to bushfire preparedness, planning, and recovery.
📊 Oversees state-level emergency planning and ensures that Victoria’s emergency management arrangements are consistent, coordinated, and community-focused.
💬 EMV also supports the delivery of key public information and warnings during significant fire events.

⚡ Power Companies:

⚙️ Responsible for fire prevention and vegetation management around powerlines.
📄 Must prepare Bushfire Mitigation Plans and meet strict clearance distances as set out in the Electricity Safety Act and Regulations.
✅ These plans are overseen by Energy Safe Victoria to ensure compliance and safety.

🚆 Railways:

🚉 VicTrack, V/Line, and private rail operators share responsibility for maintaining railway corridors and managing fire risk.
🛠️ These organisations are defined as public authorities under the CFA Act and must take all practical steps to prevent and minimise the spread of fire along their lines and reserves.

💧 Water Corporations:

💦 Water Corporations (under the Water Act 1989) are also public authorities and are responsible for fire prevention and management on their land.
🌿 Many water catchment areas are located in National Parks or State forests, where DEECA and Parks Victoria lead fire prevention and suppression efforts through FFMV & Parks Vic crews and programs.

🛣️ Roads Authorities:

🛻 VicRoads and Regional Roads Victoria manage fire risk along freeways, highways, and major roads.
🚜 Councils are responsible for local and municipal roads.
🌲 DEECA/FFMV oversees roads within National Parks and State forests.
🛣️ Private roads are the responsibility of the owner.

🏡 Owners and Occupiers:

🧹 All property owners and occupiers must ensure their land is kept free from fire hazards that could endanger lives or property.
🚨 If a Fire Prevention Notice is ignored, councils may undertake the works, issue fines, or prosecute, with all costs billed to the landowner.

⚠️ You should be aware that in particular areas there may be variations to this general overview.
Always check with your local council or CFA District Office to confirm local arrangements.

👉 In short: Everyone has a role to play — from councils, CFA, DEECA (FFMV) and EMV to landowners, utilities, and public authorities. Working together helps reduce risk and keep our communities safer this fire season. 💪🔥

💬 A link to more information can be found in the comments.

06/11/2025

If we can't access your property or water, we can't help you.https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/access00:00 Introduction00:11 Visible Property Number00:22 Driveway c...

01/11/2025

Yes, this is scary. But it is important to see how bushfires can behave. Prepare your plan now (including when to leave, where you can go and how you can get there), and prepare your property. For advice, join the Bushfire Safety Essentials event tomorrow from 8.30am at the Lima South CFA station.

01/11/2025

31/10/2025

Do you live in the Swanpool- Lima South area? Don't miss this important event tomorrow over a free egg and bacon breakfast.

29/10/2025

🚁🔥 Did You Know … About Pre-Determined Dispatch (PDD) of Aircraft? 🔥🚁

During the fire season, every second counts — especially when it comes to aerial firefighting. That’s where Pre-Determined Dispatch (PDD) comes in, dispatching aircraft at the same time as ground crews.

📌 What is PDD?
PDD is a system that allows helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to be pre-assigned to locations based on forecast fire risk and conditions. On days of higher risk, the whole state is covered by PDD, ensuring aircraft are ready wherever they might be needed.

PDD enables the rapid deployment of aerial firefighting assets to high-risk areas on days of high fire danger. This means that on those days, aircraft are pre-assigned to specific response areas and are paged to incidents at the same time as fire trucks, enabling immediate initial attack on fires to help keep them small.

🚨 Where it came from:
PDD was developed under the Enhanced Aircraft Request and Dispatch System Project, initiated as part of the response to the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission (VBRC) Recommendation 20.
That recommendation called for “a system that enables the dispatch of aircraft to fires in high-risk areas without requiring a request from an Incident Controller or the State Duty Officer.”

⏱ How it works:
When weather and fire danger reach certain levels, aircraft are dispatched at the same time as fire trucks and ground crews — if available and not already committed to another fire. In some areas, they may even arrive before trucks, as access can be challenging in remote or rugged terrain.

🔗 Working with EMV & FFMV:
PDD operates in conjunction with EMV/VicEmergency, Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV) and other emergency partners, ensuring aircraft are strategically deployed where they’re needed most to support crews on the ground.

🚒 Why it matters:
🔥 Fires can spread rapidly — sometimes in minutes.
🚁 PDD ensures aircraft are already in position, ready to respond.
⏱️ It reduces response times, giving firefighters critical aerial support faster — helping keep fires small.

Next time you see a helicopter in the sky during fire season, remember — it might just be part of a carefully planned PDD mission, helping protect lives, property, and the environment.

📸 Image courtesy of FFMV. The photo shows the Super Puma helicopter — Helitak 349 (one of the night-capable aircraft) — drawing water from an FFMV “dip tank”.

29/10/2025

21/10/2025

With the high winds forecast for tomorrow, 22nd October 2025, Swanpool CFA urges everyone to ensure that any burn offs conducted on your property over the past few days, are fully extinguished, reducing the risk of reignition.
Stay informed about emergencies by installing the VicEmergency app on your Smart phone.

05/10/2025

Swanpool community - thank you for your support at today's Get Fire Ready Open Day. We are excited to welcome 3 new volunteers/members, and we are also grateful for receiving a donation. We also had fun showing kids our firetruck and, on a more serious note, discussing fire risks and evacuation plans with adults.
Over the coming weeks and months, we'll post practical information (on this page) to help you with your preparations and plans.
Here are some photos of your brigade at our Open Day.

04/10/2025

Ready to go! We're here ready to show you our fire truck and how it works. We'll explain the fire risks in the area and help you prepare your fire plan. We'd love to talk to you about volunteering with us, too. Sausage Sizzle starts at 12noon (We're here until 2pm).

03/10/2025

'We never thought we'd have a bushfire here'. That's what a resident of Corryong in NE Victoria told me in the aftermath of the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires that destroyed nearly 40 houses in and around the Corryong area. Having spent 4 years as a Bushfire Recovery Officer with Red Cross, I've heard this said all too often.

Seeing first hand the devastating effects of fires, floods, and storms is one reason for volunteering to work in my community as the Swanpool Fire Brigade Community Safety officer. I have seen time and time again that individuals and communities that are well prepared cope better during and after disasters (also documented in international research). Being well prepared may also mean leaving the area early and travelling to a place of safety.

So, as this fire season approaches, what are you doing to prepare yourself, your loved ones, your pets, stock, and property?
Your local brigade is here to help. Join our Get Fire Ready Open Day between 10am and 2pm on Sunday 5th October.

30/09/2025

https://www.facebook.com/100064809966193/posts/1243708087799512/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v