The Country Fire Authority (CFA) has announced the Fire Danger Period (FDP) for Northern Grampians Shire will be in force from Monday 30 November 2020 until Saturday 1 May 2020 until further notice.
The FDP is a period of high fire risk when CFA restricts the use of fire to prevent uncontrolled fires from igniting and posing a threat to the community. During this period you cannot light a fire in the Northern Grampians Shire without a permit and must comply with requirements that have been set by CFA and council local laws.
The CFA has prepared a comprehensive brochure “Can I or Can’t I?” with examples of activities that cannot be undertaken during the FDP unless certain conditions are met. The brochure is available for download from the CFA website or from the nearest CFA district office.
Activities with restrictions in place during the FDP include:
barbecues and campfires
barbecue, hotplate, rotisserie spit and cooker usage at outdoor events
gas powered wildlife scaring guns
vegetation burn offs
driving vehicles through crops or undergrowth
use of trimming equipment like whipper snippers and lawn mowers
welding and soldering
moving bees with a bee smoker
Once the FDP commences, council officers will be conducting more inspections on private properties throughout the district to check for fire hazards. If a fire hazard is identified, council will issue a Fire Prevention Notice outlining works that will need to be completed on the property to reduce the fire risk.
Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor, Cr Murray Emerson, encouraged all landholders and visitors to the shire to pay attention to the Fire Danger Period and associated restrictions.
“As a community, it is up to us to do what we can to reduce the threat of fire in our region,” he said.
“Have a thorough understanding of the kinds of activities that carry a risk of fire during the Fire Danger Period and ensure you operate according to the guidelines from CFA and council.
“Be informed, work to mitigate the risks around you and stay safe this bushfire season.”
