We’re working with the community to prepare our city for the fire danger period.
The fire danger period is when fire services restrict the use of fire in the community to help prevent fires from starting and keeps the community safe. Due to wet conditions, the predication from fire services is that the fire danger period maybe declared as late as end of December or early January 2022.
Being prepared for fire season is a shared responsibility across government, emergency services and the community. Together, we can reduce the impact of fires in Hume City.
What we’re doing
Council’s fire prevention works are underway ahead of the declared fire season in accordance with the Municipal Fire Management Plan. Some of the activities Council undertakes are:
- Increased roadside slashing activity.
- Grading bare-earth firebreaks.
- Mowing parks and reserves.
- Slashed fire breaks and planned burns in conservation areas.
- Maintaining Fire Access Roads.
Fire Prevention Officers have also commenced inspecting vacant land across the municipality to ensure that the grass has been cut and rubbish has been removed. We will inspect 6,500 properties between now and January 2022.
If a property is not compliant at the time of inspection, the owner will be issued with a fire prevention notice asking them to take action within 21 days. Penalties apply for not complying with a fire prevention notice.
How to prepare your property:
- Ensuring grass and weeds are less than 10cm in height, including around fence lines.
- Removing any dead leaves and old tree branches.
- Removing any flammable materials, old tyres and rubbish.
- Checking your insurance and make sure fences, outbuildings and their contents are covered by your insurance policy.
- Having a bushfire plan and fire ready kit.
- Getting to know your neighbours so you can assist or ask for assistance if need be.
We have a range of services to help you prepare your property. You may want to take advantage of a Food and Garden Organics bin, book a hard rubbish collection or visit our Resource Recovery Centres (tips).
