Fire Danger Period announced for Northern Grampians Shire
Published on 06 December 2022
The Northern Grampians Shire Fire Danger Period for 2022-2023 has been confirmed, with the use of fire restricted across the community from 12 December 2022 through to May 2023.
Designed to help prevent fires from starting, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) declares a tailored Fire Danger Period for each municipality in the lead up to the fire season, with calculations dependent on rain totals, grassland curing rate and other local conditions. The Fire Danger Period remains in place until the fire danger lessens.
Northern Grampians Shire Council will initiate a Fire Hazard Inspection program in December to align with the upcoming fire danger period. Detailed in council’s Municipal Fire Management Plan, in accordance with the Emergency Management Act 2013, fire hazard inspections will be conducted within the municipality, concentrating on high-risk areas, and fire prevention notices will be issued on land considered to be a fire risk as soon as practicable after the declaration of the Fire Danger Period.
By law, landowners must take every precaution to reduce the risk of fire on their property and ensure that property remains low risk throughout the Fire Danger Period. Recommended actions to take include mowing or slashing grass and weeds to below 10cm in height, raking leaves and bark in the immediate area around buildings, pruning low branches from around buildings and fences, and removing rubbish and garden waste.
If you receive a Fire Prevention Notice, it is important that you read the notice carefully and ensure that any specified works are carried out by the completion date. Failure to comply with a notice may result in a $1,849 infringement, an administration fee from council, and an order for contractors to undertake the necessary work at landholder expense.
If landholders require further information on their fire prevention obligations, they are encouraged to contact the Northern Grampians Shire Council Municipal Fire Prevention Officer on 03 5358 8743.
Quote attributable to Northern Grampians Shire Mayor, Cr Kevin Erwin:
“Fire is an incredible risk throughout our shire. We need to work together to do everything we can to protect our property and communities and reducing the fuel load is an important aspect of that. It’s been a wet year, but things are likely to dry out quickly.”