Bushfires Bushfire Prevention and RegulationsBushfire is a constant threat to the Kimberley region. Fires have ravaged the region too often and as a consequence impact on the sustainability of flora and fauna, the safety and livelihood of residents and visitors. If you see a fire please dial 000. It is the householder’s responsibility to ensure that their properties are free of flammable materials. Burning off, either on the ground or in an incinerator can only be done with Council approval. Incinerators must have Council approval before installation. They must be the down-draught type that is used without causing nuisance of discharging annoying quantities of smoke. NOTE an open drum is not an incinerator. Unless burnt in an incinerator approved by the Environmental Health Officer, the burning of rubbish (garden refuse only) is not permitted on a residential block. In heavy industrial and light industrial areas garden refuse may be burnt on the ground only with a permit from the Council, unless it is between the hours of 6pm to 12pm then a permit is not required. The fire must be extinguished by application of water or earth before the user leaves it. On days of ‘Very High’ or ‘Extreme’ fire danger, the garden refuse may be burnt in an approved incinerator only. There are two Bush Fire Brigades in the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley. These are located at Fitzroy Crossing and Hamlet Grove (Derby). If you would like to become a member of one of the Bush Fire Brigades, you can contact the Shire Development Services on (08) 9191 0999 for more information. Fire Weather Forecast System Bush Fire Weather Warnings, issued by the Bureau of Meteorology to the Australian Standard Bush Fire Weather Forecasts. This Fire Index is expressed as a fire danger classification. The British Standard Colours and Identification Numbers for Fire Danger Index Display are as follows: MODERATE ARCTIC BLUE (BS No. 112) HIGH CANARY YELLOW (BS No. 309) VERY HIGH TRAFFIC YELLOW (BS No. 368) EXTREME RAIL RED (BS No. 593)
On a day when the fire danger forecast issued by the Bureau of Meteorology is very high or extreme, certain legal restraints on the use of fire automation come into force. These restraints, referring to fire lit in open air; include a ban on burning off even though a fire permit may have been issued. Very High and Extreme Fire conditions – A total fire ban is in affect. Fire Break Notice – Bush Fires Act 1954
PURSUANT to the powers contained in Section 33 of the Bush Fires Act 1954, all owners or occupiers of land within the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley are hereby required, on or before 30th June and thereafter up to and including 31st December to have fire breaks or fire control measures installed in accordance with the following: - Rural lands being all land outside townsites and not being land held under pastoral lease, fire breaks are required to be:
- A bare mineral earth fire break not less than four metres wide of a trafficable condition inside, along and within three metres of the external boundaries of the land, free of all overhanging vegetation to a height of four metres.
OR
- A low fuel break of not less than four metres wide of a trafficable condition with vegetation not exceeding seventy five millimetres in height inside, along and within three metres of the external boundaries of the land, free of all overhanging vegetation to a height of four metres.
AND
- A bare mineral earth fire break of not less than four metres wide of a trafficable condition and within three metres of the perimeter of all buildings and/or haystacks or groups of buildings, free of all overhanging vegetation to a height of four metres.
OR
- A low fuel break of not less than ten metres wide with vegetation not exceeding seventy five millimetres in height completely surrounding and within three meters of the perimeter of all buildings and/or haystacks or groups of buildings.
For the purposes of this requirement live standing trees and non-flammable, maintained lawns and gardens are deemed to comply.
- Pastoral lands being all land outside townsites held under pastoral lease, low fuel breaks are required to be not less than twenty five metres wide, totally surrounding and within three metres of the perimeter of all buildings and/or haystacks or groups of buildings.
- Townsite Lands:
- Where the area of the land is 2023 square metres or less, all inflammable material from the whole of the land is required to be removed, with any stubble left not exceeding seventy five millimetres in height.
- Where the area of the land is greater than 2023 square metres a bare mineral earth fire break of not less than three metres in width of a trafficable condition, inside, along and within two metres of the external boundaries of the land, free of all overhanging vegetation to a height of four metres,
OR
- A low fuel break of not less than three metres wide of a trafficable condition with vegetation not exceeding seventy five millimetres in height inside, along and within three metres of the external boundaries of the land, free of all overhanging vegetation to a height of four metres.
AND
- A bare mineral earth fire break of not less than three metres wide of a trafficable condition and within three metres of the perimeter of all buildings and/or haystacks or groups of buildings, free of all overhanging vegetation to a height of four metres.
OR
- A low fuel break of not less than ten metres wide with vegetation not exceeding seventy five millimetres in height completely surrounding and within three metres of the perimeter of all buildings and/or haystacks or groups of buildings.
For the purposes of this requirement live standing trees and non-flammable, maintained lawns and gardens are deemed to comply.
OR
- All inflammable material from the whole of the land is required to be removed, with any stubble left not exceeding seventy five millimetres in height.
- Rubbish Sites being all rubbish sites for pastoral stations, townsite and community use. Fire breaks are required to be of bare mineral earth in a trafficable condition not less than four metres wide and within five metres of the perimeter of the rubbish sites.
- Fuel dumps and depots – remove all inflammable material where fuel drum ramps or dumps are located, and where fuel drums, whether containing fuel or not are stored to a distance of at least ten metres outside the perimeter of any drum, ramp or stack of drums.
- The acts referred to in sections 1 to 5 hereof must be performed to the satisfaction of a duly authorised Fire Control Officer of the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley.
- If it is considered impracticable for any reason to clear firebreaks or to remove inflammable material from the land as required by this notice, you may apply to this Council or it’s duly authorised Officer no later than 30th May for permission to provide fire breaks in alternative positions or to take alternative action to abate fire hazards on the land. If permission is not given in writing you must comply with this notice.
- The penalty for failing to comply with this notice is a fine of up to $5000.00 or a prescribed modified penalty of $250.00 on service of an infringement notice, and an owner or occupier is also liable, whether prosecuted or not, to pay the cost to Council of its employees or contractors performing the work.
Councils Authorised Officer has legal right of entry to any property with any machinery or personnel deemed necessary in order to complete the work, under section 33(4)(b) of the Bush Fires Act 1954.
If you have any queries about bushfire prevention and firebreaks contact the Senior Ranger on 0428 922 417 or snrranger@sdwk.wa.gov.au. |
