by Commissioner Craig Lapsley, Emergency Management Victoria

The last few months have already seen a range of emergencies impact Victorian communities including a recycling plant fire, avalanches, shark sightings and landslips. Although it is still spring, we have already seen unseasonably warm temperatures across parts of eastern Australia and temperature records have been broken. Friday 22 September was Australia’s warmest September day on record and Mildura set a Victorian record reaching 37.7°C. Rainfall for the month was below average for northern and far eastern Victoria while unseasonably warm weather has seen dry conditions across the state, coming on the back of a warm winter.

FIVE CAREER FIREFIGHTERS ATTACHED TO SUNBURY FIRE BRIGADE have been awarded the Chief Officer’s Commendation in recognition of their outstanding operational efforts at a house fire in September 2016.

Recognised with the commendations were Senior Station Officer Dean Opie, Qualified Fire Fighter Steve Giles, Leading Fire Fighter Joff Van Ek, Fire Fighter Sean Doherty and Fire Fighter Paul Purcell. In his

CFA is committed to putting safety first and in line with the Chief Officer’s Expectations asks staff and volunteers to not only speak up but also foster an environment that encourages everyone to speak up.