Restricted Burning Periods and Permits
Restricted Burning Times
Restricted burning periods are normally 19th September to 31st October and 1st March. Permits are required to light a fire during the Restricted Burning Time. All permit holders are required to comply with the requirements of the Bush Fire Act 1954. Any additional special conditions imposed on the permit holder must also be complied with.
Seasonal conditions may result in variation to these dates (see above). Any changes will be advertised in local newspapers and updated on this website.
Burning under a permit is now permissible in Fire Weather Zones - South West and North West (West of Brand Highway) over the Easter Holiday Period.
Prohibited Burning Times
Under the Bush Fires Act 1954, it is generally an offence to light fires during the Prohibited Burning period. Penalties of up to $10,000 fine, 12 months’ imprisonment, or both may apply. Prohibited Burning times are as follows; 1st November to 28th February.
Permits to Burn
If you want to light a fire during the restricted burning period you must obtain a permit to burn from a fire control officer. See the emergency contacts page on this website for fire control officer contact details for your area.
Total Fire Bans | Harvest & Vehicle Movement Bans
Total Fire Bans
A Total Fire Ban (TFB) may be declared by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) on days when fires are most likely to threaten lives and property. This is because of predicted adverse fire weather or when widespread fires are impacting the availability of resources.
During a TFB, the lighting of any fire in the open air is prohibited. This includes all open cooking and camping fires and incinerators. It also includes ‘hot work’ such as welding, grinding and soldering or gas cutting. The penalty is a fine of $25,000 or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.
TFBs are announced on the DFES website, on ABC Radio and the DFES Twitter feed. Exemptions may be available. You can find out more about TFBs by visiting the DFES website.
Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans
The Shire of Dandaragan and the Chief Bushfire Control Officer may impose Harvest and/or Vehicle Movement Bans when adverse fire weather conditions are experienced or firefighting resources are already committed to a fire in the district. Consultation with fire weather officers will occur to determine if a ban is warranted.
The Shire has four weather zones:
- Northwest Zone
- Southwest Zone
- Northeast Zone
- Southeast Zone
Weather Zones allow the implementation of a harvest ban in individual or multiple zones depending on the weather conditions in each zone. A fire weather map (PDF) clearly showing the zones and their boundaries is available by clicking on the link below.
Fire Weather Zone Map (PDF)
The Shire of Dandaragan Fire Control Officers have the following powers under the BUSH FIRE REGULATIONS 1954
Harvest and Off Road Activity Bans are declared by a Fire Control Officer and in consultation with the Shire. They can be declared when fire weather conditions are most likely to threaten lives and property or when a fire is already underway and firefighting resources are committed. Special conditions and exemptions may apply depending on the type and reason for the ban.
REGULATION 24C – NOTICE TO BAN THE USE OF ENGINES, VEHICLES, PLANT OR MACHINERY LIKELY TO CAUSE A BUSH FIRE WHEN A TOTAL FIRE BAN IS DECLARED.
REGULATION 38A – NOTICE TO BAN THE USE OF ENGINES, VEHICLES, PLANT OR MACHINERY LIKELY TO CAUSE A BUSH FIRE DURING THE RESTRICTED AND PROHIBITED BURNING TIMES.
- Harvesting and agricultural operations are not permitted.
- All off-road activity is banned, regardless of whether it is for agricultural purposes or work being conducted by business, industry and public authorities.
Exemptions:
Essential Services
Off-Road activity, for urgent work, carried out by an essential service can continue, but only when the prescribed conditions in Division 9 of the Bush Fires Regulation 1954 are complied with. Urgent works, in relation to the provision of an essential service, means repairs or maintenance necessary for the continued provision, or restoration, of the service. Essential service: water supply, sewerage or drainage services, electricity, or gas services; telecommunications services; public transport services and rubbish collection or disposal services.
Health and Safety
Off-Road Activity is permitted for the use or operation of a vehicle for the prevention of an immediate and serious risk to the health or safety of a person or livestock, and only if all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent the activity from creating a bush fire danger.
Permitted Areas of Work During all Bans
- Use or operation of any vehicle on gazetted roads, lanes, driveways, yards, or other areas that provide access to, or a parking facility at, any residential, farming or business premises, if the area has been sufficiently cleared of inflammable material to prevent the escape of fire.
- The Shire may grant an exemption to continue trucking movements from grain transfer points to the nearest gazetted road if specific conditions are met at the grain transfer point. The Shire of Dandaragan Fire Weather Officers are responsible for issueing the exemption, however may choose to decline if the site does not satisfy prescribed conditions or the Fire Weather Officer is of the belief that the undertaking can not be done safely.
Definitions:
Off-Road:
Includes areas such as paddocks, vegetation, uncleared land and land with stubble, grass or any inflammable material present.
Off-Road Activity:
Includes the use of anything activated by an internal combustion engine used off-road. e.g. Motor bikes, quad bikes, excavators, chain saws, ride on mowers and generators.
Communication of total fire bans and harvest and vehicle movement bans
The Shire of Dandaragan will endeaver to communicate broadly when a total fire ban is imposed by DFES. However, it is the responsibility of landowners and occupiers to check if a ban is in place before engaging in any activity that may be prohibited. If you would like to receive an SMS notification to your mobile phone of Shire imposed harvest and total vehicle movement bans then please complete the online form below and submit or alternatively print out Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban Notification Form (print version) and return it to the shire.
Fire Break and Fuel Hazard Notice
For more detailed information on fire break requirements, harvesting operations and building protection zones please refer to the Fire Break & Hazard Reduction Notice 2024/2025.
Hazard Reduction Burns
The Shire of Dandaragan carries out a program of prescribed hazard reduction burns on its Reserves during the autumn and springs months. Burns are subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions.
Notification will be provided to all landholders surrounding the planned burns prior to the burn being carried out. Maps detailing the 2023 program can be found by following the links below:
Bibby Road | Aragon X Brown Street | Cervantes Airstrip North | Cervantes Airstrip South | Cockleshell Gully Road | Koonah Road - East | Koonah Road - West | Mullering Brook | Mullering Road X Wolba Road | Munbinea Road | Waddi Road | Yerramullah Road - North | Yerramullah Road - South 1 | Yerramullah Road - South 2
Alternative Alignments & Variations to Firebreak & Fuel Hazard Notices
If it is impractical to have a firebreak immediately inside a boundary, for environmental or any other reason(s), you are required to apply to the Shire of Dandaragan in writing, before 1st October to obtain permission for firebreaks to be installed in an alternative position or for alternative measures to be put in place. Approval is granted for a period of 3 years, after which the landowner must re-apply for a variation to the firebreak notice. Firebreak Variation Application
Bushfire Brigade PPC/PPE Request Form