Darnum fire heaps finally burnt out
While most were enjoying a day off for the Melbourne Cup public holiday, local CFA volunteers were hard at work undertaking a major burn off at Darnum.
Darnum/Ellinbank CFA captain John Cann said the burn had been two years in the making, with previous attempts blocked by council restrictions pertaining to burning in the open air.
Tankers and volunteers from Darnum/Ellinbank, Hallora, Yarragon and Warragul brigades joined the major effort to burn large piles of vegetation and timber on a property on Darnum-Allambee Rd, at times battling driving rain.
“We’ve been trying to do this burn for two years but couldn’t due to a council by-law on urban restrictions,” Mr Cann said.
“We didn’t want these heaps here in February when it is hot and dry.
“And council saw sense, so they granted the permit.”
Local laws set down in June 2016 had placed restrictions on burning in the open air in residential, low density residential and rural zones.
Under local laws, a person may light a fire in the open air in a low-density residential zone if no more than five cubic metres of vegetation is burnt at any one time and it is not within 20 metres of a neighbouring dwelling.
Fires lit in the open air in a rural zone must not be within 100 metres of a neighbouring dwelling.
Open fires must not be lit in residential zones but does not apply to barbecues, pizza ovens or other constructed appliance while it is being used for cooking food; or fire in a chimenea or fire pit while being used for heating.