Agricultural Fire Management Guidelines - Guide to Rural ...

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Section 3 Advice10. Fire prevention issuesPreventing fi res starting is an important part of fi re safety forindividuals and the community.a. Fire prevention noticesIn accordance with legislation, landowners and managersare required to undertake any fi re prevention activitiesdirected in a fi re prevention notice. These notices are issuedby local council municipal fi re prevention offi cers. CFA Act 1958, s41There are rights to appeal a fi re prevention notice. However,an objection to the notice must be lodged in writing to theauthority issuing the notice within 7 days or this appeal is nolonger available.b. PowerlinesIn accordance with legislation, landowners and managersneed to ensure that private powerlines are maintainedin sound condition and that they are clear of vegetation.Detailed information on these requirements can be found bycontacting Energy Safe Victoria or visiting its website andfollowing the links to electricity safety. Energy Safe Victoria (www.esv.vic.gov.au) Guidelines to the Electricity Safety (Electrical Line Clearance)Regulations 2005 incorporating the Code of Practice for ElectricalLine Clearance 2005 (ESV, 2007) Fire Hazard Ratings for the Electricity Safety Act 1998(an interactive DVD-ROM produced by CFA, Metropolitan FireBrigade and Energy Safe Victoria) 2006.c. Electric fencingElectric fences can cause fi res. This generally occurs whensparks jump from one wire to another in the presence of dryvegetation.Ensure electric fences are free of wire, grass, weeds andother vegetation. Operate electric fences according tomanufacturers’ advice. It is a common practice to switch offelectric fences at times of extreme fi re danger.d. Dangerous goodsLandowners and managers are advised to store fuel andchemicals away from vegetation and key assets in tanks orcontainers that are in good condition. This will minimise therisk of fi re starting in, or spreading from, these areas.Consider how fuel spillage can be controlled so that it doesnot pollute land or waterways.Consider minimising the risk associated with dangerousgoods by minimising the amount of these items beingstored on rural properties.44 On the Land: Agricultural Fire Management Guidelines
Turn gas supplies off if the property is threatened by a fi re.Store and install gas cylinders in a protected location,upright on a fi rm surface with pressure relief valves (orventing valve) facing away from the house or building.Do not place any foreign materials such as wet blankets onor around gas cylinders.e. Compost and manureLandowners and managers are encouraged to managecompost and manure heaps to minimise the risk of fi re.Manure and compost heaps may spontaneously ignite ifthey are large enough. Compost (Agriculture Note, DPI 2000)Large lumps of dried manure can smoulder for several days.Consider harrowing manure across paddocks or removingmanure prior to the Fire Danger Period.f. Fire safety policiesConsider having policies restricting public access toplantations and restricting such activities as smoking onor near plantations during the Fire Danger Period.g. Hay and silage storageLandowners and managers are encouraged to store hayand silage:• in a number of different places on the property ratherthan in one location to reduce the risk of losing all oftheir hay and silage in a fi re;• away from other key assets, such as sheds andpowerlines, to reduce the impact of high fuel loadson these assets;• away from roadsides that have a history of fi re starts;• away from vegetation that may be a source ofembers; and• in areas that are not likely to fl ood and in sheds thatare in good repair so that the moisture content of thehay remains at safe levels.Storing hay below 20% moisture content will helpminimise the risk of haystack fi res. To be safe, it isrecommended that hay is stored between 12% and 18%moisture content.Consider using temporary fencing to allow stock tograze close to hay and silage stores to reduce fuel loadsnear these assets. What Happens When Hay Heats (Agriculture Note, DPI 2006)Section 3 AdviceOn the Land: Agricultural Fire Management Guidelines45
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Page 10: Section 2 BackgroundFuelFire behavi
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Page 20 and 21: Section 2 BackgroundFigure 13: Tota
Page 22 and 23: Section 2 BackgroundTypes of fuel b
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Page 26 and 27: Questions to considerThis list can
Page 28 and 29: All Achieving Objective 2 - Prevent
Page 30 and 31: All Achieving Objective 3 - Limit f
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Page 34 and 35: Section 3 Advice1. Personal safetyT
Page 36 and 37: 3. Recovery planningPlanning for re
Page 38 and 39: Section 3 Advice4. Property and bui
Page 40 and 41: Section 3 Advice6. Environmental pr
Page 42 and 43: Section 3 Advicee. EquipmentIn acco
Page 44 and 45: Section 3 Advice8. Using fi re safe
Page 46 and 47: Section 3 Advicec. Lighting a fire
Page 50 and 51: Section 3 Advice11. Fuel breaksFuel
Page 52 and 53: 12. Reporting andextinguishing fi r
Page 54 and 55: Section 3 Advice14. Building and pr
Page 56 and 57: Section 3 Advice15. Water supply ac
Page 58 and 59: 16. Community groupsWhile personal
Page 60 and 61: Section 4 AppendicesAppendix 1Gloss
Page 62 and 63: Section 4 AppendicesAppendix 2Usefu
Page 64 and 65: Section 4 AppendicesAppendix 3Index
Page 66 and 67: Section 4 AppendicesAppendix 4Conta
Page 68: © Country Fire AuthorityMay 2007Re

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