Shire of Mundaring Fire and Burning Information Booklet

SHIRE OF MUNDARING
FIRE AND
BURNING
PERMITS TO
BURN ARE
REQUIRED
1 OCTOBER - 30 NOVEMBER
(INCLUSIVE) -
1 APRIL TO 31 MAY (INCLUSIVE)
CAUTION: ABOVE DATES SUBJECT TO
SEASONAL CHANGES
TO REPORT ALL FIRES
RING
000
INFORMATION BOOK
2012-2013

At a glance – Burning Periods
Message from the CEO
The aim of this document is to help you
prepare your property to a standard which
will help assist with protecting you and
your neighbours from damaging bush fires.
Preparing for fire is the responsibility of
every resident, and if each member of the
community maintains a proper level of
preparedness, the threat of bush fire will be
greatly minimized.
Many members of the community make
themselves available to respond to threats
through their membership of Volunteer
Fire Brigades and the State Emergency
Service. Shire of Mundaring supports these
organisations.
Shire of Mundaring is pleased to be able to
provide you with this booklet containing
important fire information in a format that
is easy to read and can be placed on your
fridge - a format requested by residents in
our 2011 Community Perception Survey .
Your feedback on the information in this
document is welcome - contact
Community Safety on 9290 6666.
Jonathan Throssell
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
BURNING PERIOD
DATES 2012/2013
These dates may vary due to seasonal conditions
RESTRICTED BURNING PERIOD 1
1 October to 30 November (inclusive)
Permits to burn are required for all
burning during this period.
Note that small amounts of garden refuse
may be burnt without a permit after 6pm, see
conditions.
PROHIBITED BURNING PERIOD
1 December to 31 March (inclusive)
All burning, including garden refuse is
prohibited during this period.
RESTRICTED BURNING PERIOD 2
1 April to 31 May (inclusive)
Permits to burn are required for all
burning during this period.
Note that small amounts of garden refuse
may be burnt without a permit after 6pm, see
conditions.
IMPORTANT NOTES
Climate or weather conditions
may cause these periods to
be varied. Period variations
will be advertised in local
papers and also on the Shire of
Mundaring website.
Permits to burn may ONLY
be obtained from your
local Volunteer Fire Station.
Locations and contact details
are at the rear of this booklet.
ALL burning is prohibited on
days of Very High or above
Fire Danger Ratings and
whenever a Total Fire Ban or a
Harvest and Vehicle Movement
Ban has been declared.

At a glance – Fire Danger Ratings
0-11 12-31 32-49 50-74 75-99 100
LOW MODERATE HIGH VERY HIGH SEVERE EXTREME CATASTROPHIC
FIRE DANGER INDEX RATING
NO FIRE MAY BE LIT ON A DAY WHEN THE
FORECAST FIRE DANGER RATING FOR
THE DISTRICT IS VERY HIGH OR ABOVE.
The Shire’s fire weather district is Metro Hills.
The Fire Danger Rating (FDR) is
supplied daily by the Bureau of
Meteorology.
This information is available on:
The Shire’s information Hotline
9290 6644
Online: www.mundaring.wa.gov.au
Fire Information Boards:
Great Eastern Highway - Top of Greenmount Hill
Great Eastern Highway - East of Mundaring LIA
Stoneville/Riley Rds intersection, Stoneville
Great Eastern Highway, Chidlow
This FDR is also available from Telstra
Weather Service on Ph 1196 and the
Bureau of Meteorology website
www.bom.gov.au.

Firebreak Notice
To assist in the control of bush fires, or preventing the
spread or extension of a bush fire which may occur, all
owners and occupiers of land within Shire of Mundaring
are required to:
- Clear firebreaks before 1 December each year
- Maintain firebreaks and measures until 31 March the following year
LAND CATEGORIES AND REQUIREMENTS
ALL LAND ZONED RESIDENTIAL WITH A BUILDING ON IT
• Maintain all grass on the land to a height no greater than 5cm
• Prune trees and shrubs, and remove dead flammable material around all structures to
provide a building protection zone.
• Ensure the roofs, gutters and walls of all buildings on the land are free of flammable
matter.
On lots with an area of less than 4000sqm with a dwelling, or a lot substantially developed
(ie at least 75% cleared of natural vegetation), grass must be kept at a height less than 5cm
in lieu of clearing a firebreak.
ALL VACANT LAND ZONED RESIDENTIAL
• Maintain all grass and dead flammable matter on the land to a height no greater
than 5cm.
• Install a 3 metre wide firebreak immediately inside all external boundaries of the land
by removing all flammable matter within the firebreak to a height of 4 metres.

ALL LAND ZONED OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL, WITH A BUILDING ON IT
• Maintain all grass and clear dead flammable matter on the land to a height no
greater than 5cm.
• Install a 3 metre wide firebreak around all structures and immediately inside all
external boundaries of the land by removing all flammable matter within the firebreak
to a height of 4 metres.
• Prune trees and shrubs, and remove dead flammable material around all structures to
provide a building protection zone.
• Ensure the roofs, gutters and walls of all buildings on the land are free of flammable
matter.
• Maintain fuel loadings in natural bush areas at less than 8 tonnes per hectare across
the land.
ALL VACANT LAND ZONED OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL
• Maintain all grass on the land to a height no greater than 5cm.
• Install a 3 metre wide firebreak immediately inside all external boundaries of the land
and within 20 metres of any haystacks or stockpiled flammable material, by removing
all flammable matter within the firebreak to a height of 4 metres.
• Maintain fuel loadings in natural bush areas at less than 8 tonnes per hectare across the land.
LIVESTOCK
If the land is stocked, the livestock must graze the grass down so that the grass is no
greater than 5cm high prior to the end of December of that year.
FUEL DUMPS AND DEPOTS
Remove all inflammable matter within 10 metres
of where fuel drums, fuel ramps or fuel dumps are
located, and where fuel drums, whether containing
fuel or not, are stored.

Preparing your Property
BUILDING PROTECTION ZONE
Buildings should be protected by a building protection zone that meets
the following requirements:
Width: 20 metres measured from any external wall of the building
Location: within the boundaries of the lot on which the building is situated
Fuel load: reduced to and maintained at less than 2 tonnes per hectare
• trees (crowns) are a minimum of 10 metres apart
• trees are low pruned to a height of 2 metres at least
• no tall shrub or tree is located within 2 metres of a building (including windows)
• there are no tree crowns overhanging the building
• fences and sheds within the building protection zone are constructed using non
combustible materials (eg colorbond iron, brick, limestone)
• shrubs in the building protection zone have no dead material within the plant
• tall shrubs within the building protection zone are not planted in clumps close to
the building i.e. within 3 metres
• trees in the building protection zone have no dead material within the plant’s
crown or on the bole
BURNING OF GARDEN REFUSE
Garden refuse must NOT be burnt:
• at any time during the Prohibited Burning Period
• if a Total Fire Ban or Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban has been declared
• if the Fire Danger Rating is Very High or above.
During Restricted Burning Periods, a permit is required to burn garden refuse before 6pm, and is subject to the
conditions as set out on the permit. Garden refuse may be burnt without a permit after 6pm, subject to:
• the pile of refuse being burnt does not exceed 1 square metre
• a 5 metre wide area clear of flammable material surrounds the pile

• the fire is only lit between 6pm and 11pm
• only one pile is alight at one time
• the fire is completely extinguished by midnight
• at least one person is in attendance at all times
• there is a means of extinguishing the fire available at all times
(eg garden hose, knapsack spray or fire unit)
• neighbours are informed of your intention to burn
• the smoke does not cause a nuisance to neighbours
• the smoke does not create a traffic hazard
• household or commercial waste or any noxious materials are not burned
Note: Do not burn damp, wet or green material at any time as this will cause excessive smoke.
When Restricted or Prohibited Burning Periods are not in place (usually around June to September), garden
refuse may be burnt at any time but care must be exercised.
ALTERNATIVES TO BURNING
There are a range of alternatives to burning waste which will not harm the environment or cause health problems
for you or your neighbours.
Grass can be slashed, grazed or sprayed with herbicide to reduce fuel loads. This may be a practical alternative
particularly if erosion is a concern or if areas are difficult to access.
Shire of Mundaring residents and ratepayers are able to dispose of green waste and garden refuse free of charge
at the Waste Transfer Stations at Coppin Road and Mathieson Road.
The green waste material collected at the Waste Transfer Stations is mulched and sold commercially as garden
mulch and compost. Garden refuse can also be used as a mulch or compost to improve soils and the growth of
plants. If you have large quantities of green waste (branches, tree trunks) you can arrange for mobile mulching
services to mulch the material onsite.
Mulch piles should be no larger than 5 cubic metres to reduce the risk of
spontaneous combustion and should be surrounded by a firebreak.

Fire Bans
TOTAL FIRE BANS & HARVEST AND VEHICLE
MOVEMENT BANS
Total Fire Bans may be declared by FESA at times of
extreme weather conditions or bushfire risk or when
fires may seriously stretch fire fighting resources.
If declared, they are published on the FESA website
(www.fesa.gov.au) and are broadcast on the ABC local
radio station (6WF 720 AM).
Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans may be declared
by Shire of Mundaring in anticipation of local fire
weather conditions.
If declared they are published on the Shire’s website
(www.mundaring.wa.gov.au)
and broadcast on the ABC local radio stations
(6WF, 720 AM).
When a Total Fire Ban or Harvest and Vehicle
Movement Ban has been declared it is illegal to do
anything that may cause fire.
That means if you live in an area where a Ban is in place
you must not:
• cook outside using an open fire
• move vehicles or equipment in bushland or a
paddock – see Necessary Agricultural Activities.
• harvest – see Necessary Agricultural Activities.
• undertake ‘hot work’ such as welding or grinding
or the like unless you have an exemption
A HARVEST AND VEHICLE
MOVEMENT BAN
includes a prohibition on the
use of engines, vehicles, plant
or machinery likely to cause or
be conducive to the spread of
a bush fire.

During a Total Fire Ban or Harvest and Vehicle
Movement Ban, you will still be able to:
• use a gas cooker or barbecue with an enclosed
flame or an electrical stove at home or in a
designated recreation area
• undertake essential feeding and watering of your
stock – see Necessary Agricultural Activities
• use a chainsaw, plant/grass trimmer or lawn
mower but it is best to postpone this work as it
could still start a fire
• smoke, but you must put out your cigarettes or
cigars properly and safely
• undertake any work covered by a current
exemption as long as you meet any special
conditions that apply
Necessary Agricultural Activities are defined as an
activity that cannot be postponed until after the Total
Fire Ban ends without detriment to livestock or crops.
These activities may continue with care on days of Total
Fire Bans but the harvesting of crops or the movement
of vehicles in paddocks is not permitted if a Harvest or
Vehicle Movement Ban has been declared.
During a vehicle movement ban, a vehicle may only be used
or operated in bush or paddocks if it is for the prevention of
an immediate and serious risk to a person or livestock and
only if all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent
the activity from creating a bushfire.
YOU COULD BE FINED UP TO $25,000 OR
JAILED FOR 12 MONTHS OR BOTH IF YOU
IGNORE THESE BANS.
An exemption may be granted if you can show you are
taking proper steps to prevent any fire spreading and can
control and put out any fire that might start. Exemptions
to Total Fire Bans must be obtained from FESA in writing
and will cover specific times and locations and can be
changed or cancelled at any time.
For more information visit the FESA website.
www.fesa.wa.gov.au

VOLUNTEER BUSH FIRE BRIGADES
VOLUNTEER BUSH FIRE BRIGADES are called to
fires via a paging and radio communications system.
The 000 emergency number will put you in contact
with FESA’s fire services who will dispatch the nearest
Brigade in the event of a fire. Volunteer Bush Fire
Brigades should not be contacted directly to report a
fire, the 000 network is the most efficient method.
Should the public wish to contact a Brigade to obtain
a fire burning permit or to seek advice on fire safety
issues, the Brigade addresses and contact times are
listed below. Please note that a permit to burn may only
be obtained from your local fire station.
CHIDLOW BUSH FIRE BRIGADE
Cnr Willcox Rd & Old Northam Rd Chidlow
Ph 9572 3016 (Hrs - Saturday 9am-11am)
DARLING RANGE COMMUNICATION BRIGADE
Wandeara Drive Mundaring (No Permit issuing)
DARLINGTON BUSH FIRE BRIGADE
Pine Terrace Darlington Ph 9299 7217
(Hrs - Saturday 9am-10am)
GLEN FORREST BUSH FIRE BRIGADE
Hardey Rd Glen Forrest Ph 9298 8936
(Hrs - Saturday 9am-11am)
MT HELENA BUSH FIRE BRIGADE
Chidlow St Mt Helena Ph 9572 1414
(Hrs - Saturday 9am-10am)
MUNDARING FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
Wandeara Drive Mundaring Ph 9295 6555
(Hrs - Saturday 9am-10am)
PARKERVILLE BUSH FIRE BRIGADE
644 Riley Rd Parkerville Ph 9295 4484
(Hrs - Saturday 8.30am-10.30am)
SAWYERS VALLEY BUSH FIRE BRIGADE
Leather Green Sawyers Valley Ph 9295 6166
(Hrs - Saturday 9.30am-10.30am)
STONEVILLE BUSH FIRE BRIGADE
Bentley St Stoneville Ph 9295 6457
(Hrs - Saturday 9.30am-11am)
WOOROLOO BUSH FIRE BRIGADE
Government Rd Wooroloo Ph 9573 1166
(Hrs - Saturday 9.30am-11am)

NOTES

Shire of Mundaring
7000 Great Eastern Highway, Mundaring 6073
E: shire@mundaring.wa.gov.au
W: www.mundaring.wa.gov.au
TO REPORT ALL FIRES
RING 000
The Shire’s Information Hotline:
9290 6644
www.mundaring.wa.gov.au