Prohibited Burning Period starts 10 days early

The Prohibited Burning Period for the Shire of Augusta Margaret River has come into effect from 12.01am this morning (Monday 13 December 2021), 10 days ahead of schedule. This means that fuel reduction burns, garden refuse burns, campfires, and pit fires are prohibited, while wood and solid fuel BBQs and pizza ovens can only be used if the fire danger rating scale is below ‘Very High’. Shire Chief Bush Fire Control Officer David Holland said the decision to start the seasonal prohibitions early was made in light of continued dry fuel loads and weather conditions, and fatigued fighters. “We are all aware we’ve had a very busy week and the Calgardup Fire has consumed a lot of local resources,” he said. "At this point we are focused on ensuring that any possible chance of future emergencies is minimised. “Our firefighting teams are still working on mop up and our attention is still very much on making the burn area safe.” Mr Holland extended his thanks to the tireless efforts of all responding firefighters, the supporting agencies, and the local community. “My thanks to the community for the support offered to our firefighters and all of the agencies involved in the recent Calgardup fire,” he said. “Hopefully we can all enjoy some reprieve in the lead-up to Christmas.” The Prohibited Burning Period will stay in effect until midnight 14 March 2022, after which the Autumn Restricted Burning Period will be in place until midnight 12 May 2022. Full details about fire restrictions can be read in the Firebreak Notice Requirements and Bushfire Information 2021-22 booklet available on the Shire's website.