Time to prepare for fire season
The next few weeks are a perfect time to clean up longer grass and weeds around your property, to prepare for the upcoming fire season.
The Rural Fire Service (RFS) is urging local residents to take this time to plan and undertake vegetation control, before the weather heats up and the risk of home and bush fires dramatically increases.
The statutory Bush Fire Danger Period runs from October 1 to March 31 each year, however, it may vary due to local conditions.
If you are planning to light any fire in the open during this time, you will need a fire permit.
Leading into and following the Bush Fire Danger Period, it is not necessary to obtain a fire permit to carry out a bush fire hazard reduction burn or excess vegetation reduction burn on your property, rural or residential.
It is however law that you must notify the authorities of any plans to light anything larger than a cooking fire, to ensure all goes to plan with your burn-off. This must be done at least 24 hours in advance.
Other things to remember are:
• Notify your local RFS of the date and time of
your planned burn at least 24 hours before
you light up;
• Let your neighbours know the date and time at least 24 hours ahead of your planned burn;
• Ensure there is a clearance of all combustible materials of at least two metres all around the proposed fire site to prevent flames from spreading;
• Make sure your fire does not contain toxic materials, such as rubber tyres, plastics, paint, etc;
• Have on hand appropriate resources to prevent the spread of fire and to completely douse the flames at the end of the burn. A garden hose, water cart/tanker, fire extinguisher or other agent to put the flames out. It is also essential to have a responsible person supervise the fire at all times, not only if there is the risk of it extending beyond the proposed burn area, and you must not cause an air pollution problem by producing excessive amounts of smoke.
Following the planned burn, it is essential to regularly check the burn area to make sure the fire has been completely extinguished and there is no likelihood of it reigniting and causing damage to the surrounding area.
To register your burn, go to https://www. rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/BFDP/ burn-notifications or call 1800 668 511.