Helping the grass to grow

The area burnt is part of a Nationally Protected High Conservation Wildflower Grassland, with a number of native grasses, such as Kangaroo Grass, growing in pockets along the roadside.

Also, as part of the Municipal Fire Prevention Plan, this area served as an excellent firebreak for the locality, making the area to burn an easy choice.

With Lieutenant Hogg fromToolern Vale giving the SMEACS briefing to the crews, the burn began with a small area set alight to gauge the effectiveness of it. Wind was of a concern early on with the constant changing of wind direction, so a “wetty” was of great help protecting the wheat crops on the other side of the fence.

The burn also gave the opportunity for newer members to see the difference in smoke and heat generated by the different grasses. It was a long afternoon with over 5km of burning completed, with more planned in the future.

Appliances in attendance were;

Toolern Vale – Tanker 1, Slip-On.

Melton – Tanker, Pumper-Tanker.

Pictures by Blair Dellemijn – CFA Strategic Communications.