General News
1 June, 2023
Reminder to register burn offs
Residents are being reminded to register their burn offs with local firefighters needlessly called to a number of controlled burns in recent weeks. The Central Goldfields Shire is no longer covered by the Fire Danger Period (FDP) which means...
Residents are being reminded to register their burn offs with local firefighters needlessly called to a number of controlled burns in recent weeks.
The Central Goldfields Shire is no longer covered by the Fire Danger Period (FDP) which means residents are not legally required to register their burn offs with the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA).
However, if burns are not registered, fire brigades can be needlessly called out which takes a toll on volunteers and takes them away from their work, family and other commitments according to Peter Higgins, Group Officer of all local fire brigades.
“The thing that we’re disappointed with is that people seem to think that because the FDP has finished, they can do burn offs without issue,” he said.
“We had a burn off we were called to in Bowenvale recently and that had been going for an hour and a half before we were contacted, it was a stubble burn in a paddock which the resident was allowed to do, but if it had have been registered it would have saved us turning out.
“We’re all volunteers and attending callouts, whether they’re genuine or not, takes us away from our families and work and we don’t need to be wasting our time — it’s really that simple.”
Mr Higgins said there needs to be a culture change around the attitude towards burn offs.
“A lot of the time we receive reports of fires from people who are driving along, see smoke and call it in,” he said.
“If a burn off is registered though, then authorities can look and see there’s a registered burn at that location, which saves us having to attend.
“Even though we’re out of the FDP, it’s important people are still calling the burn off number and registering their fires.
“If we can educate people and change the culture so we are all registering our burns regardless of what time of year it is, that can only be a good thing.”
To register a burn off with ESTA, residents must provide the planned burns location, date and expected start and finish times, estimated size and what will be burnt.
Registrations can be made either online at firepermits.vic.gov.au or over the phone on 1800 668 511.