Prmeier Ted Baillieu's message at the launch of Fire Action Week.

TRANSCRIPT:

Fire Action Week has been particularly selected as this week for good reason and on advice.

And indeed, Fire Action Week is just another step towards raising awareness and guarding against complacency.

Our emergency service team leaders have important messages for all Victorians.

It may be raining now, but we do know a number of things: we know Victoria burns, we know there will be a fire, we know that fires in Victoria kill people. Victoria is a high-risk fire danger zone.

And this year, in particular, Victoria will be at risk of grass fires especially, and we do want to focus on that.

And it will be increasingly important to ensure that all Victorians in fire-prone areas – whether they live there, have property there or whether they are travellers – have the right information, and information is a key.

And, the most important piece of information, for people to have, is that the safest thing they can do is to leave early.

Be well informed, get your plans in place. But, when push comes to shove, leave early is the safest option.

No one's safety is guaranteed, so be well prepared, but recognise that if you're taking a last resort option you're taking a high risk option.

If you haven't got a fire plan now, that helps you work through these questions, you are putting your family at risk, you're putting your children at risk, you're putting yourself at risk, you're putting at risk, the people who would otherwise wish to assist you.

It is essential that people have a plan. It's essential that people understand the information and it's essential that people understand the three key components of this. Leaving early is the safest option.

Being well prepared with a plan is essential. And understanding that the last resort is a very high risk strategy.

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