EMERGENCY services responders have been thanked for their quick response to a blaze in Carrum Downs that forced residents from Darnley Drive and August Court on Saturday 6 January.
Police arrested a 15-year-old girl in relation to the fire that began in Blue Wren Rise at about 3pm as temperatures soared beyond 40 degrees Celsius on a total fire ban day (“Bush blaze scare”, The Times 8/1/18).
A community meeting was held at Frankston North Community Centre in the wake of the blaze on Wednesday evening (10 January).
Frankston mayor Cr Hampton thanked Country Fire Authority firefighters, council officers, Victoria Police officers, Red Cross responders, AWARE Wildlife Rescue volunteers and Victorian Council of Churches Emergency Ministry volunteers after Wednesday’s meeting.
“The meeting highlighted to residents that during an emergency, VicEmergency is responsible for providing the most up-to-date information from the relevant response agency, including safe evacuation locations,” Cr Hampton said in a statement.
“I encourage everyone to download the VicEmergency app for smartphone or tablet, and set up watch-zones to receive warnings in the event of a nearby emergency.
“For your own safety, you should prepare a home emergency plan and seek out information on high-risk emergency days. Emergencies can start quickly and can become a threat within minutes so do not rely on an official warning to leave.”
A Darnley Drive house was badly damaged by the fire. No-one was injured and firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control by about 9pm on the Saturday evening.
The 15-year-old girl charged by police with intentionally causing a bushfire was bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date.