Fire season dates revised due to wet weather

Please be advised that the Shire of Augusta Margaret River will be suspending the Prohibited Burning Period at 11.59pm on Sunday 22 March 2020.

The Restricted Burning Period will commence 12.00am on Monday 23 March and will remain in place until Tuesday 12 May (unless varied).

Shire of Augusta Margaret River Chief Bush Fire Control Officer David Holland said the recent rain had sufficiently damped fuel loads to allow for open fires under restricted conditions.

“I remind the public that a Permit to Burn is required prior to lighting any fire in the open air during the Restricted Burning Period,” he said.

“These can be issued by your area Fire Control Officer whose details are listed in the Shire’s Firebreak Notice and Bushfire Information 2019–2020 brochure.

“Please bear in mind that while a Permit to Burn was not required for the burning of garden refuse (up to 1 cubic metre) last year, they are required for this autumn's Restricted Burning Period.

“This is due to a range of new measures that recognise increasingly dry local soil conditions each autumn, as well as the potential impact of smoke on grapes that might be still on the vines.”

Mr Holland thanked the local community for their efforts in being fire safe this summer, with no major incidents yet recorded for the season.

“It’s been a dire season for much of Australia and a sombre reminder of the devastating impact of fires,” he said.

“Thank you to everyone who has played their part by adequately preparing their properties, adhering to fire prohibitions, and being personally prepared with family fire plans in place.

“We know from the past few years that fire can come at unusual times and out of usual weather events so please be conscious that we are not out of the woods for this fire season yet.

“Please continue to be diligent and comply with all fire requirements.”

A copy of the Firebreak Notice and Bushfire Information 2019–2020 brochure is available at https://www.amrshire.wa.gov.au/library/file/2Services/01%20Animal%20Welfare/2019-20%20Firebreak%20Notice.pdf

The most up-to-date fire season dates are published in the fire information banner on the Shire website homepage at www.amrshire.wa.gov.au