The fire danger period (FDP) will finish at 1am Monday 23 April 2018, in the following municipalities.
- West Wimmera Shire Council (Remainder)
- Yarriambiack Shire Council (Remainder)
- Horsham Rural City Council (Whole)
CFA Operations Manager Dale Russell emphasised that although the FDP is coming to an end it is important to remain vigilant.
“Residents that wish to conduct burn-offs on their private properties need to follow some basic rules, register your burn-offs first and foremost, check weather conditions as well as monitor the wind, and follow local council laws and regulations.”
OM Dale Russell also emphasised the importance of communication,
“It is important that as well as registering your burn-offs with ESTA, you are alerting your neighbours that they may see smoke on the set dates.”
“Every year our CFA crews are wasting resources responding to false alarms because people are not registering their burn-offs. If you register your burn off and somebody rings spotting smoke, the incident will be cross-checked with the burn-off register and prevent an angry CFA crew showing up on your door.”
“There are few things that annoy CFA fireys more than being taken away from family, friends, work and potential emergencies over a false alarm caused by an un-registered burn-off.”
Landowners can register their burn-off with the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) by calling 1800 668 511 or emailing burnoffs@esta.vic.gov.au
Whether registering a burn-off by phone or email, people should be prepared to give some basic information including location, date, expected start and finish times, estimated size, and what they intended to burn.
“The burn off line is very easy to use - the operators are friendly, and prompt you by asking the key questions,” he said.
“When conducting burn-offs, remain alert and always have resources on hand to extinguish the fire.”
Keep your burn off safe and legal:
- Check fire restrictions in your area and always register your burn
- Check and monitor weather conditions - particularly wind
- Warn your neighbours beforehand that there will be smoke in the air.
- Stay in attendance the whole time your burn is going
- Have sufficient equipment and water to stop the fire spreading.