An initiative of the State Government, Bushfire Action Week is a comprehensive effort from the government to help get Victorians fire ready in time for summer.

The priorities of the week include the implementation of the new six-tiered fire danger rating system with the new level of `code red' (catastrophic), the launch of the telephony-based warning system to alert all Australians in an emegency, new household self-assessment tools for residents to rate the defendability of their homes, and the completion by mid-November of the Township Protection Plans in the 52 towns identified as being high risk - one of which is Loch Sport.

Locally, it is hoped the outcome of Bushfire Action Week will be that residents in Gippsland will have considered their bushfire risk and have adequately prepared their properties.

CFA community safety presenter John Henshaw explained the purpose of Bushfire Action Week and the subsequent information sessions will help locals make the right decisions when faced with fire.

"The CFA wants to put people in the position to make good decisions during fire season this year,'' Mr Henshaw said.

"We want to give people the skills to be able assess whether there are risks present at their property or workplaces, and give them the information they need to enable them to prepare for a fire attack.''

During the fire season, CFA Gippsland has organised a range of meetings to be held in the upcoming weeks including 110 Fire Ready Victoria meetings and 22 new Community Fireguard groups, which can all be found at the new CFA Community Meetings Online website www.communityprograms.cfa.vic.gov .au or through the CFA website www.cfa.vic.gov.au and clicking on the community meetings link.

For more, read Friday's Gippsland Times.