While the reporter in most cases is reporting the emergency with good intent, these people who make false fire reports without firstly making sure whether the fire is out of control or unattended should think twice even before thinking about reporting it to emergency services.

Especially when there are no fire restrictions

Call takers should also make sure from the caller they are reporting a genuine emergency (fire) to avoid unnecessary responses by CFA volunteer firefighters.

I hear on my scanner every day of CFA fire brigades responding to fire reports only to find out when they arrive that it is a landowner burning off and the fire is under control and hasn’t been reported to the VicFire dispatcher through the CFA burnoff notification number.

It would be fitting if media stressed the fact that when burning off before the fire restrictions come into force that it is a courtesy to report the intended burn off to the CFA burnoff notification number 1800 668 511.

CFA and state government could do more to advertise this burden on our volunteer firefighters and local governments should send out the CFA burnoff notification number in large bold red type on their annual rate notices, newsletters and Facebook pages.

— LEN TREZISE,

Myrtleford