BEV to be a shopper stopper in Rundle Mall

31/10/2012

The Country Fire Service (CFS) will be making its presence felt in the city today with its Bushfire Education Vehicle also known as "BEV" to be parked under the Gawler Place canopy in Rundle Mall for Bushfire Action Week.

CFS Manager of Community Education and Public Warnings Fiona Dunstan, said BEV makes an indelible impression wherever it travels around South Australia and is an ideal resource to engage with the general public and generate interest about bushfire safety.

"BEV is a show stopper wherever it goes and we're confident it will arouse the curiosity of shoppers and visitors in Rundle Mall today," Ms Dunstan said.

"We're hoping people will stop and chat to our friendly staff about bushfire safety and prevention to also answer questions about any aspect of CFS business in our efforts to reduce complacency when it comes to bushfire safety."

Ms Dunstan said with the introduction of the Fire Danger Ratings after the 2009 Victorian Bushfires, people's perception about the threat of bushfires may have changed.

"People's triggers for taking action has now shifted to when the Fire Danger Rating is – Catastrophic – the highest rating but bushfires can and do occur on other days so it's important that people develop a sense of how to respond and understand their options," she said.

"One easy way for people to do this is to check the daily Fire Danger Rating, either via the CFS website or Smartphone CFS FireApp.

The use of the Fire Danger Ratings is the most effective trigger to help people activate a Bushfire Survival Plan during the Fire Danger Season.

For more detailed information about Fire Danger Ratings visit the CFS website at www.cfs.sa.gov.au and click on the drop-down tab on the Home page titled "Community Information" followed by "Education", "News" and the "Change of Fire Danger Ratings" tab.