Fire restrictions now in place

Property owners have until the end of this month to get their homes bushfire ready, with the spring-into-summer restricted burning period now in effect. A permit to burn was mandatory for any burn-offs of more than one cubic metre, while bonfires on private properties were allowed without a permit, but can only be lit after 6pm and to be extinguished by 11pm. Shire of Augusta-Margaret River community emergency services manager Adam Jasper said fires would also be fully prohibited if the safety rating went too high. “Please ensure you are across all fire compliance requirements by reading the Firebreak Notice Requirements and Bushfire Information for 2021-22,” he said. “The list of restrictions and prohibitions are intended to best preserve lives and homes over the bushfire season. “It doesn’t take much for fire to start and spread in hot and windy weather, but it takes a lot to stop it. “Please prepare your properties and do everything you can to stay aware and informed of fire requirements.” Rangers will start property inspections in early December, while a total fire ban would come into effect on December 22. Last month, residents were urged to take advantage of the mild weather to prepare their homes for the summer bushfire season. Property owners living outside the region were especially asked to take note, with brigades attending neglected burn piles and out-of-control fires an annual burden on volunteers. Wallcliffe Volunteer Bushfire Brigade said conditions were now ideal to reduce fuel loads which would endanger homes in the event of a fire. DFES also said any residents conducting permitted burns should contact the communications centre on 9395 9209 to avoid their burn-offs reported as emergencies. DFES recommended liaising with local governments, checking weather conditions before lighting burns, and downloading the Burn Smart Guide from the DFES website.