Wandin Fire Brigade

Fire control activities are now beginning to give way to rehabilitation and recovery efforts.

Expert BAER (Burned Area Emergency Response) Teams from the US have joined local specialists to develop recovery and rehabilitation strategies. This multi-agency team have been working to develop recommendations and strategies to stabilise and prevent further degradation of the natural and cultural resources in the fire affected areas.

Residents living near fire affected area are reminded that there may still be some smoke and intermittent fire activity behind control lines for several weeks.

Since Black Saturday (7 February) bushfires have burnt out 411,239 hectares of public and private land across Victoria. Over the past few weeks fire crews have built more than 1250 kilometres of control lines – roughly the distance from Melbourne to Port Macquarie – in the mammoth firefighting effort undertaken to contain the four main fires.

Road Information

Falling trees and tree limbs are an ongoing hazard in burnt-out areas and this danger could continue for several weeks to come. In some cases, road blocks remain in place to protect residents and visitors from potential injuries. Information on updated road closures is available via 13 11 70 or the VicRoads website www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

Shire of Yarra Ranges Recovery Response

The Yarra Glen Memorial Hall is operating as the region's key recovery centre. A major focus of the centre, which will operate Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm, will be on providing residents with a coordinated response to their ongoing needs for assistance and information. In the coming weeks and months the Shire will work to assist with the rebuilding and recovery process. For further details please visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au or phone 1300 368 333.

After the Fires

The Department of Human Services offer a range of support services including personal, emotional, psychological and financial help. For information go to www.dhs.vic.gov.au

CFA Community FireGuard

The Country Fire Authority's (CFA) Community Fireguard (CFG) is a bushfire safety program designed to reduce the loss of lives and homes in bushfires. The program assists community groups to develop bushfire survival strategies that suit their lifestyle, environment and values, encouraging residents to work together to improve bushfire safety. For further information contact the Country Fire Authority's Community Safety on 9262 8416 or by email cfg@cfa.vic.gov.au

Useful Information

For information on fires in Victoria and general fire safety advice, please contact the Victorian Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) on freecall 1800 240 667. Callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech / communication impairment may call textphone/ telewriter (TTY) on 1800 122 969.

Information is also available at www.dse.vic.gov.au/fires or www.cfa.vic.gov.au