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| Photo By Michelle Hulands, Ultima |
The objective of Council’s Fire Prevention activities is to create a safer community.
To achieve this objective Council has a Municipal Fire Prevention Plan that identifies potential threats within the municipality and identifies means to protect life and minimise property loss.
The Municipal Fire Prevention Plan is a strategic document that outlines the vision for Council. It describes the risk environments that the community recognise as the most important, and identifies broad approaches to tackle risks. An accompanying detailed document outlines the action plans for each approach, so that specific programs are identified within a set time.
These objectives are:
i) The establishment of refuges – particularly the family home.
ii) Isolation of known hazards, that is, sources of fire.
iii) Safe roads and used rail reserves.
iv) Protection of small townships, essential public utilities and significant community assets, and recognition of potential consequential effects of fire.
Fire Danger Period
The Fire Danger Period is the period when extreme fire caution is required because of the low moisture level of fuel and the hot weather conditions.
It is declared by the CFA as soon as conditions warrant it and remains in place until 30th April unless determined otherwise.
During the Fire Danger Period permits are required from the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer for anyone lighting open air fires.
Traditionally, permits to burn are not considered during the months of December and January each year, with applications received during this period often refused.
Application for permit to burn
During the Fire Danger Period, Council requires all persons who are intending to conduct an open air burn to apply to Council for a permit to burn using the ‘Permit to Burn Application Form’.
Applicants are advised that applications may take up to 5 working days to process, and it is therefore important to plan these activities in advance. Permits will often provided a period of several days during which the burn may be undertaken providing the conditions on the permit are met.
Fire Prevention Notices
Prior to the Fire Danger Period each year Council officers conduct inspections of all residential properties within the municipality for the identification and assessment of potential fire hazards. These inspections usually occur in October each year.
Where fire hazards are identified, a Fire Prevention Notice is issued. Fire Prevention Notices request residents to take steps to reduce fire hazards. Notices are only issues when they are deemed as necessary to protect life and property from the threat of fire. A notice can only be issued when other members of the community i.e. neighbours, are put at risk by the fire hazard.
Compliance with a Fire Prevention Notice
Subject to sections 41B and 41C, of the Country Fire Authority Act 1958, under section 41D of the Act a person on whom a fire prevention notice has been served must comply with the notice.
Objection to Fire Prevention Notice
A person on whom a fire prevention notice has been served may lodge an objection with the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer within 7 days of the service of the notice stating the grounds of objection.
Failure to Comply with a Fire Prevention Notice
Where a person has not complied with the required treatment identified in a Fire Prevention Notice, the Fire Prevention Officer can organise the appropriate treatment for the property (at the property owner's cost) and may also issue an infringement notice.
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