First Defence Against Fire is Proper Precautions and Planning

Ararat Rural City Council urges everyone to be diligent over this fire season and help prevent fires by taking precautionary and preventative measures when burning off.

“Remnants of burn piles can smolder under burnt vegetation and soil for days, or even months if they are not extinguished correctly,” said Ararat Rural City Council CEO, Dr Tim Harrison.

“Preventative measures are our first defense against bush fires, and there are a number of ways that you can safely check your past fires and mitigate risks when burning in future.

“As warmer weather continues, so does the risk of fire and it is extremely important that everyone remains diligent.”

After burning off, check burn piles to ensure they are completely extinguished, through steps such as:

Carefully check the area around and on the surface of the burn pile to see if the pile is still hot Pour some water on the burn pile: if steam rises, there may still be some hot materials underneath If you can, clear away the surface material and dampen the exposed materials with water to extinguish any remaining embers If you have further concerns, contact your local CFA brigade for advice or assistance.

Before burning, plan and ensure that weather conditions are suitable, adequate safety measures are in place and the relevant authorities have been consulted, this includes:

Checking Council rules around burning off in your area Adhering to current fire restrictions that are in place by the CFA Registering your burn with the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) on 1800 668 511 (available 24/7) Ensure there is a minimum area of three metres around the burn pile that has been cleared of all flammable material Monitoring the fire at all times, by an adult that is trained and capable Keeping an adequate supply of water at hand to extinguish and control the fire Extinguishing all fires with water, not soil as embers can continue to burn underneath soil.

Remember that burning off is not permitted within the Fire Danger Period unless an approved Schedule 13 or Schedule 14 permit has been issued by the Country Fire Authority.

As of 31, July 2020, Schedule 13 permits are now issued online through the Fire Permits Victoria website and are reviewed by the CFA District 16 Office.

To apply for a permit, please visit the Fire Permits Victoria Website and complete the application process at: https://firepermits.vic.gov.au/.

“Ararat Rural City Council is always willing to help keep the community safe, and people who are planning to burn are encouraged to contact us with any questions or for support,” Dr Tim Harrison concluded.

If you have any questions about this, or other fire prevention measure, a range of resources can be found at www.ararat.vic.gov.au or call 5355 0200 and ask to speak to our Emergency Management Coordinator.