Prevention
Prevention
Managing Your Property
Why Do We Need Firebreaks
Restricted Burning Period
Roadside Burning
For All Life Threatening Emergencies
Dial 000
PREVENTION activities eliminate or reduce the probability of occurrence of a specific hazard.
Prevention activities also reduce the degree of damage likely to be incurred.
FIRE BREAK REQUIREMENTS
The Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire requires all land owners to install firebreaks or reduce the
fuel load around all properties and dwellings by the 30th November and to maintain it until the
31st May annually.
 Click here to see Council's fire break order (pdf 307kb)
Example of properly constructed firebreak - Your property Your responsibility!
Managing Your Property
Council strongly encourages all residents and ratepayers to undertake fire, storm and flood
activities to prepare yourself and families to deal with and recover from emergencies. The
principles of prevention work apply all year round and you should be maintaining your property
in an "Emergency Ready" condition at all times.
In relation to Fire Prevention
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You need to: - Have a 20 metre low fuel around all buildings, haystacks and fuel storage areas where the height of the grass is not to exceed 25mm.
- There must also be an access track to all buildings not less than 4 metres wide and a fire break not less than 3 metres wide around all buildings, out buildings etc.
Click here to see Council's fire guidelines |
The hardest aspect of fire prevention is explaining to your family and children
why you didn't undertake any!
Actions speak loader than words and actions save lives!
Why Do We Need Firebreaks?
Firebreaks serve three main purposes: - Stop low intensity fires from spreading
- Allow entry for firefighting vehicles
- To provide a firebreak from which back burning can take place to control a fire.
It is essential that they are maintained to the specified requirements throughout the bush fire season for your safety and the safety of the volunteer fire fighters protecting your community.
For a full copy of the firebreak order, Click here.
IF IT IS IMPRACTICAL TO CONSTRUCT A FIREBREAK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL OR OTHER REASONS, PLEASE NOTIFY THE SHIRE COUNCIL BEFORE 15th OCTOBER EACH YEAR TO OBTAIN AN ALTERNATIVE TO FIREBREAK REQUEST FORM.
Have I complied with the Shire's Fire Break Order?
The firebreak order that is sent out in September/October each year contains information on the minimum requirements that will allow firefighters to effectively fight a fire on your property. It is essential that it is followed for the safety of residents and volunteer firefighters alike.
Click here to see Council's fire break order (pdf 296kb)
Restricted Burning Period
Permits are required between the period of 1st October to the 30th November and 1st April to
31st May.
Burning permits can be obtained from your local Fire Control Officer. Please remember the
Fire Control Officers are volunteers - you may have to leave a message and they will get
back to you.
Please plan ahead - do not ring a Fire Control Officer on the day you want to burn and expect
a permit, as it will not be granted. You must give three days notice to your neighbours and the
Fire Control Officers need to be contacted well in advance of that.
Click here to find contact details of your nearest Fire Control Officer (pdf 232kb)
Prohibited Burning Period
A Total Fire Ban applies between 1st December to 31st March. This includes camp fires.
THESE DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Please check with the Shire before your light your fire to ensure there has been no change.
Please ensure you have notified your neighbours with three (3) days notice before lighting
your fire.
Roadside Burning
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No roadside burning is allowed by any persons within the Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire at any time of the year without permission from the Council.
Council's Operations team will assess the request to burn, and work with you to achieve the desired outcomes. In some cases volunteer brigades will assist with the road-side management programs.
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Burning on Public Holidays
No Burning is permitted on a Public Holiday.
What about Burning Garden Refuse?
Please Note: on any day where the Fire Danger Rating is Very High or Extreme (during the
restricted burning times), NO garden refuse, wood, solid fuel barbecues or Webbers are
permitted to be used under any circumstance.
Permits are automatically cancelled on these days. Due to unseasonable weather conditions
these days maybe extended or shortened.
You must check the local newspaper for details or call Council on 95261111 for further
information.
The Fire Danger Rating can be found by calling the weather information line 1196, or Click
here to see the weather site.
What should I do before I start a burn? You need to determine if you will need a permit or it
is less than a cubic metre in size. Garden refuse can only be burnt between 6pm (1800hrs)
and 11pm (2300hrs) at night and must be totally extinguished before you leave it.
Click here to see a guide on how to determine size. Click here to see the guide to prepare the site before you burn.
How much can I burn at any time? You are not permitted to burn any more than one cubic metre (a wheel barrow load) at any one time. Click here to see a guide on how to determine size. Click here to see the guide to prepare the site before you burn.
Other Fire Prevention Measures
How to do hazard reduction?
Reduction of fuel does not have to be as drastic as removing all vegetation. Environmentally, this would be disastrous and often trees and plants may provide you with some bushfire protection from strong winds, intense heat and flying embers.
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Methods of hazard reduction: - hand clearing,
- mechanical clearing,
- chemical spraying (should be undertaken June-September),
- hazard reduction burning,
- removing all firewood, timber and fuels (eg petrol) that are near you house,
- clearing your gutters out regularly,
- removing branches that are overhanging buildings,
- raking up leaves and other debris regularly.
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It is worthwhile taking the following things into consideration to help protect your property from
fires: - Do I have a 20 metre circle around my house clear of flammable materials?
- It is recommended that a low fuel area of 20 metres completely around your house is
maintained throughout the summer months. - Livestock grazing around the house and buildings will help to protect your property.
- This is essential if the property does not have anyone living there during the summer period,
to give it the best chance of survival in the event of a bush fire.
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