Horse owners urged to activate fire plans in readiness for tomorrow's EXTREME fire danger rating

The ACT Government urges horse owners to be ready to implement their Bushfire Survival Plan tomorrow, Saturday 12 January, 2013, during the EXTREME weather conditions.

In the first instance you should keep your horse/s where it is and follow your paddock bushfire survival plan, or float it out to a pre-arranged safer place.

If you do not have a safe option for your horse/s, Exhibition Park in Mitchell will be open from 9am until 7pm tomorrow to receive horses and owners.

Please do not put yourself in harms way. Do not make an evacuation decision at the last moment.

If you go to EPIC you must be completely self sufficient. You must take water and feed buckets, enough feed for 24 hours and any medication they need.

Horses taken to EPIC must NOT be left unattended.

The ACT Emergency Services Agency encourages horse owners to keep informed throughout the day and monitor the situation for any changes, if a fire starts.

You can do this through local ACT media outlets, the ESA website esa.act.gov.au, the ESA Twitter and Facebook accounts or by calling Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.