Bush Fire Control

BUSH FIRES ACT 1954 FIREBREAKS ORDER (SECTION 33)

Fire rating

To report a bushfire or any other emergency please call 000.

To see reported fires or to keep updatd on an emergency visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au.

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Applies to all Owners and Occupiers of Land in the Shire of Carnamah

PURSUANT to the powers contained in Section 33 of the above Act, you are hereby required on or before the 01 October each year to plough, scarify, cultivate or otherwise clear and thereafter maintain free from all flammable material until 31 March, firebreaks in accordance with the following:

RURAL LAND

Owners and Occupiers of lands, other than within a townsite, shall clear of all flammable materials firebreaks of at least three (3) metres width as close as practicably possible inside and along the whole of the external boundary of their properties.

TOWNSITE LAND

Owners and Occupiers within a townsite shall:
a. Clear of all flammable material the whole of the area where:
     i. The area of land is 3000m² or less; or
     ii.The land is used for storage of flammable liquids, or
     iii.There is a hotel situated thereon.

b. If the area of land exceeds 3000m² :
i. Clear of all flammable material firebreaks at least three (3) metres wide immediately inside all external boundaries of the land, or
ii. Have the grass mown to a height of not more than 7.5cm over the whole of the land, except where the land is used for the storage of flammable liquids.

HOMESTEADS, BUILDING, HAYSTACKS, STACKS OF FODDER, BULK FUEL, DRUMS AND LIQUID PETROLEUM

Owners and Occupiers of land shall:

During the period from 1 October to the 31 March inclusive, have firebreaks at least three (3) metres wide in such positions as are necessary to completely surround the perimeter of any homestead, building, fuel installation (including drums), haystack (where such haystack is situated within 200 metres of any homestead, building, fuel installation) or group of such structures or installation.

HARVESTING

A fully operational mobile fire fighting unit complete with a container with at least 400 litres minimum capacity of water is to be readily available to any paddock being harvested.

GENERAL INFORMATION

If for any reason it is considered impractical to comply with any provision of this notice, a written application for a variation may be made to Shire Council and must reach the CEO by the 1 October. Any such application must bear the signature of the Fire Control Officer of the area signifying his agreement to the variation.

If permission for variation is not granted, the terms of this notice must be complied with, or as the Council directs.

REGISTRATION

It is in the interest of all residents to be registered members of the Bush Fire Brigade covering the area in which they own land. Membership of a Brigade is the safest way to ensure cover under the Shire’s Fire Insurance policy which covers personal injury and damage to equipment resulting from fighting bush fires under the direction of a Fire Control Officer.

FLAMMABLE MATERIAL

This is defined for the purpose of this order to include bush (as defined in the Bush Fire Act), boxes, cartons, paper and like flammable materials, rubbish and also combustible matter, but does not include green standing trees or growing bushes or plants in gardens or lawns.

The penalty for failing to comply with this notice is a fine of $250 by infringement notice or not more than $5000 if prosecuted, and a person in default is also liable, whether prosecuted or not, to pay the cost of performing the work directed in this notice if it is not carried out by the owner or occupier by the date required by this notice.

Harvesting is not permitted during Christmas, Boxing or New Years Days.

RESTRICTED & PROHIBITED BURNING TIMES

Please be advised that the prohibited and restricted burning times are as follows:

PROHIBITED (NO BURNING ALLOWED)

1 November to 28 February

(Section 17 of the Bush Fires Act 1954)

The lighting of fires is prohibited during certain times of the year in most Local Government districts throughout the State. This is known as the Prohibited Burning Times. The dates for the Prohibited Burning Times are declared by the Minister and published in the Government Gazette. These dates are fixed until further variation by the Minister, DFES or Local Government.

There are certain exceptions to the lighting of fires during Prohibited Burning Times, however as a rule it can generally be said that no fires should be lit during this time.

RESTRICTED (Permit Required)

1 March to 31 March and 19 September to 31 October

PERMITS MUST BE OBTAINED DURING RESTRICTED BURNING TIMES

(Section 18 of the Bush Fires Act 1954)

(Regulations 15, 15A, 15B and 15C of the Bush Fires Regulations 1954)

Restrictions apply to the lighting of fires and to burning carried out during the period declared as the Restricted Burning Times within most areas of the State. Those times are declared by DFES and, generally speaking, are related to periods immediately prior to, and following, the Prohibited Burning Times.

Fires can be lit during this time, however a Permit to Burn is required to be obtained from a Local Government-appointed Permit Issuing Officer.

Fire Control Officers

Chief Bush Fire Control Officer
Wayne Barry

Deputy Chief Bush Fire Control Officer
Brendon Haeusler (East)

Deputy Chief Bush Fire Control Officer
Vacant (West)

Carnamah Town Captain
John Morgan

Eneabba Town Captain
Bill Bavoillot

Permit Issuing Officers
Wayne Barry
Robert Paull
Ian Walsh

Total Fire Ban

(Section 22A of the Bush Fires Act 1954)

(Regulation 24A of the Bush Fires Regulations 1954)

Where very dangerous fire weather conditions exist or where extensive fires are burning, the Minister may declare a Total Fire Ban for a defined area. When such a declaration has been made, no person may light a fire. DFES may appoint a person to take charge of fire fighting operations in the area affected. When a total fire ban is declared:

Information is made available on the DFES website and Info Line (1300 657 209).
Information is broadcast on ABC Local Radio and other media outlets.
Information is shown on Local Government roadside fire danger signs.

HARVEST AND OFF ROAD ACTIVITY BAN INFORMATION

The Shire of Carnamah’s Fire control Officers have the following powers under the BUSH FIRES REGULATIONS 1954 .

REGULATION 24C – NOTICE TO BAN THE USE OF ENGINES, VEHICLES, PLANT OR MACHINERY LIKELY TO CAUSE A BUSH FIRE WHEN A TOTAL FIRE BAN IS DECLARED

REGULATION 38A – NOTICE TO BAN THE USE OF ENGINES, VEHICLES, PLANT OR MACHINERY LIKELY TO CAUSE A BUSH FIRE DURING THE RESTRICTED AND PROHIBITED BURNING TIMES

Harvest and Off Road Activity Bans are declared by a Fire Control Officer and in consultation with the Shire. They can be declared when fire weather conditions are most likely to threaten lives and property or when a fire is already underway and firefighting resources are committed. Special conditions and exemptions may apply depending on the type and reason for the ban.

Please note that Brand Mudge Road is the reference we use for the east and west sector of the Harvest and Off-Road Activity Bans.

For information relating to Total Fire Bans visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/hazard-information/bushfire/total-fire-ban

To be notified of a ban please contact the Shire to be added to the text message group.

Permitted Areas of Work During all Bans

Use or operation of any vehicle on gazetted roads, lanes, driveways, yards, or other areas that provide access to, or a parking facility at, any residential, farming or business premises, if the area has been sufficiently cleared of inflammable material to prevent the escape of fire.

Definitions:

Off-Road:Includes areas such as paddocks, bushland, uncleared land and land with stubble or long grass.

Off-Road Activity:Includes the use of anything activated by an internal combustion engine used off-road. e.g. Motor bikes, quad bikes, excavators, chain saws, ride on mowers and generators.

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Exemptions:

The following exemptions apply during all bans.

Essential Services

Off-Road activity, for urgent work, carried out by an essential service can continue, but only when the prescribed conditions in Division 9 of the Bush Fires Regulation 1954 are complied with. Urgent works, in relation to the provision of an essential service, means repairs or maintenance necessary for the continued provision, or restoration, of the service. Essential service: water supply, sewerage or drainage services, electricity, or gas services; telecommunications services; public transport services and rubbish collection or disposal services.

Health and Safety

Off-Road Activity is permitted for the use or operation of a vehicle for the prevention of an immediate and serious risk to the health or safety of a person or livestock, and only if all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent the activity from creating a bush fire danger.

Harvest Bans are also placed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Request permit to set fire to bush locations

Please note permits may take up to 5 working days to process