Fire education and safety
15 December 2022
Published by: https://www.fremantle.wa.gov.au
AUSTRALIA – Developing a bush fire plan
The Department of Fire Emergency Services’ (DFES) My Bushfire Plan is a bushfire preparedness tool, providing the public with one place to prepare, store, print, share and update their bushfire plan anytime, from any device. A bushfire plan can help keep you and your family safe and using the bushfire plan tool enables you to create your own personalised bushfire plan in around 15 minutes.
When a bushfire starts, things can change in a matter of minutes. So, you need to keep connected and updated regularly during bushfire season.
By being alert and following official warnings closely via the Emergency WA website you and your family have the best chance to act early and leave for a safer place. The single biggest killer in a bushfire is indecision.
Take action when there is smoke nearby
- Run the air conditioner to wet the filter pads.
- Switch the unit off when smoke is over your home or ash starts to drop around your house.
- If possible, continue to run water over the filter with the fan turned off.
- If water can’t be run on its own, or there’s a power failure, wet the filter pads using a garden hose.
- Keep checking your air conditioner and the area around your home for spot fires from embers until the danger has passed.
Fire breaks
The penalty for failing to comply with fire break requirements is a fine of up to $5 000 and a person in default is also liable whether prosecuted or not to pay the cost of performing the work directed in this notice if it is not carried out by the owner or occupier by the date required by this notice.
Once installed the fire break must be maintained up to and including 31 March the following year.
Contact the chief bush fire control officer on 1300 MY FREO for more information regarding fire control.
If you want to use a solid fuel BBQ’s or wood fire pizza ovens between the 14 December–31 March, check with DFES as their use may be prohibited. Call the Total Fire Ban Information Line on 1800 709 355.
Burning of garden refuse and rubbish
The City of Fremantle prohibits the burning of garden refuse and rubbish in an incinerator or on the ground all year round. Any person who deliberately lights a fire may face penalties.
Pursuant to the powers contained in section 33 of the Bush Fires Act 1954, property owners or occupiers are hereby required on or before the 30th day of November each year to clear flammable matter from the land in accordance with these requirements:
Land area less than or equal to 1500 square metres
The owner or occupier is to remove all the flammable matter from the whole of the property except living trees, shrubs, plants under cultivation and lawns by slashing or mowing to a height of not more than one hundred (100) millimetres, or otherwise to the satisfaction of council or an authorised officer.
Land area greater than 1500 square metres
clear firebreaks of a minimum width of three (3) metres inside all external boundaries of the land and all buildings situated on the land by ploughing, cultivating or scarifying.
mow/slash the whole of the land. The height of vegetation thereafter must not exceed one hundred (100) millimetres over the entire area of land, as far as reasonably practical as determined by the authorised officer.
Reporting overgrown blocks
To report an overgrown block please call 1300 MY FREO.
Bush fire prone areas
Bush fire prone areas are designated as those areas containing bush fire prone vegetation as well as areas that are within a 100 metre buffer zone immediately surrounding it. Bush fire prone areas are subject to or likely to be subject to bush fire attack in the event of a fire.
Bush fire attack includes embers that may be transported by wind from the bush fire. Information on how to prepare your property and yourself is available on the DFES website.
The Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner has designated all bush fire prone areas in the State. These are marked in pink on the bush fire prone areas map.
More information on bush fire prone areas is available on the DFES website.
Reporting suspicious behaviour
If people have any information about a fire or suspect somebody of deliberately lighting fires, they should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Ongoing vigilance by the community in reporting suspicious behaviour and arson will help minimise the likelihood of bush fire.
