VFBV

CFA and VFBV have agreed to review CFA’s Vegetation Management Program, which employs 13 Vegetation Management Officers to assist brigades with burn planning and approvals.

Regional Victoria’s main TV Networks have supported this year’s VFBV Volunteer Led Summer Campaign with unprecedented levels of donated spots of our TV Commercial appearing across all networks. The commercial, produced by the CFA volunteers’ representative organisation Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV), was shot at Wildwood near Sunbury in December and is one of four versions featuring local CFA volunteers from different parts of the state.

In addition to the paid spots that were purchased for January's Schedule, the Networks have generously donated free airtime well in excess of our paid spots. Our Network Partners; Prime 7, Southern Cross 10, & WIN have doubled, and in some case tripled our media buy at no extra charge. This is a ringing endorsement of the message Volunteers are giving to the public this season and demonstrates the high level of support Volunteers have in their communities.

This years campaign slogan is…"Fire Safety Starts with You". Its intent is to remind Victorians that fire safety is a shared responsibility between fire-fighters and their communities, and that whilst fire agencies have been busy preparing for this summer, they need the public to do their own planning and preparation also.

VFBV Executive Officer Adam Barnett, a CFA volunteer himself, said having a local CFA Captain deliver the safety message draws on the volunteer fire fighters’ unique standing as professionally trained, experienced emergency personnel who are drawn from the same community that they protect, and has significant resonance across Victorian communities.

“The volunteers’ TV commercial is a reminder to the public that while CFA volunteers prepare and train for fire all year round, the community has an important role to play too.”

“This isn’t government telling you what to do, this is a plea directly from the state's tens of thousands of volunteers asking you to help them keep your families safe this season.”

“There is no better perspective on how important it is for every Victorian to plan for their family's and their own safety this fire season.”

“While many may think the fire season is nearly over, February has historically only marked the half way point of the season – and there is still a long way to go. Volunteers are calling on the Victorian public to remain vigilant and not fall into a false sense of security” he said.

As with last year, the campaign is designed to add to public recognition of volunteers' contribution and professionalism to the safety of all Victorians, while using the high respect the community places on Volunteers to continue to educate the community on how best to keep itself safe.

You can view online versions of the commercials on our You Tube Channel; http://www.youtube.com/user/vfbvtv