Rural Fire Service firefighters from four brigades devoted their time to helping residents formulate survival plans during a bushfire awareness community workshop yesterday.
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Paterson, Vacy, Martins Creek and Gresford brigades gave residents a one-hour presentation on the importance of bushfire preparation and education at the Paterson headquarters.
A demonstration of various pumps and the correct way to use a fire blanket followed, which gave residents a first-hand glimpse of the ways they can protect themselves.
Lower Hunter Zone community safety officer Bert Pipan said an alarming
number of residents were not prepared for a bushfire.
He said the unusually wet seasons in previous years had down-played the importance of preparation and this needed to be rectified, particularly given the number of the bushfires that occurred during the past couple of months.
“We want the community to understand the importance of being prepared so they can help themselves and it makes it easier for volunteers to protect their home should the threat of fire arise,” Mr Pipan said.
Residents had the opportunity to formulate their bushfire survival plan with the help of an RFS volunteer.
“We find the one-on-one system works well and it helps residents to understand what is involved in the plan,” he said.
“We had a community workshop at Vacy last year and it was very successful; it’s something we’ve done in other parts of the Lower Hunter as well.”
Any group that would like to book a presentation or individual who needs help with their own survival plan should phone Mr Pipan on 4980 7300.