NSPs will be areas designated as a further option for shelter from bushfire, particularly during fast moving fires and for people who have not been able to effectively carry out their bushfire survival plan. They are a place of last resort and a place of relative safety that may increase a persons chance of survival, but still entail some risk. They cannot be considered, nor should they be described as ‘safe’.
They may be ovals or a designated open space or some buildings.
There is lot of hard work going on to ensure CFA can provide NSP guidelines that are validated and supported by fire agencies and council. It’s expected these will be available in the next two weeks.
After the guidelines are finalised, CFA’s role will be to assess potential neighbourhood safer places against the guidelines and recommend through municipal committees (such as MFPPC and MEMPC) to council that they be designated and signposted as neighbourhood safer places.
In the meantime, if staff or volunteers are approached by members of the community, they can inform them that potential neighbourhood safer places will be assessed before the fire season and any that are identified will be communicated to the community.
The Bushfire Preparedness Program will endeavour to keep staff, volunteers and the community informed as the project moves forward.
CFA continues to support the use of existing CFA sirens to alert brigade members to respond to the fire station
For more information or updates on the Bushfire Preparedness Program, click here.
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