Fire Prevention

The dates for the 2012/13 Fire Danger Season are 15 November 2012 to 30 April 2013 . Please contact the CFS Hotline on 1300 362 361 or visit http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/ for further information.

Information provided herein is relevant to the Wakefield Regional Council area only. Burning in the open in townships is not permitted during the Fire Danger Season. A permit to light a fire in the open in the Fire Danger Season is required when burning off is undertaken and when any fire is lit on the ground. A permit can be obtained by contacting the Council office. The conditions under which the permit is issued must be complied with. The Wakefield Regional Council Bushfire Prevention Committee has set the conditions which are to be adhered to when lighting a fire under permit.

Once you have received your permit, it is still a requirement for you to contact Council on a daily basis if you are burning off.

Conditional Permit Burning Season - 1 March to 30 April

Conditions:

No burning on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Must be in possession of a current Ninth Schedule Fire Permit, issued by the issuing authority (Local Council Office).
Burning only between the hours of 9 am until 9 pm.
A sufficient number of people (minimum of 4 able-bodied persons) to control the fire must be present at the site from the time it is lit until it is fully extinguished, except if fire harrowing or burning raked or harrowed rows or heaps, then it shall be 2 or more able-bodied persons.
The space immediately around and above the fire must be cleared of all flammable material to a distance of at least 4 metres.
Neighbours, nearest CFS brigade officer, and Council authorities must be notified in accordance with the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 and Regulations (as per back of Fire Permit).
400 litres of water or extinguishing agent must be on hand to control the fire.
No native vegetation shall be removed, damaged or destroyed in the course of action allowed by this fire permit.
That the fire must be lighted from the leeward side of the relevant land to establish a positive break, and then may be lighted from the windward side of the land.

Failure to comply with this legislation may result in prosecution pursuant to the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005. For further conditions contact Council's Fire Prevention Officer - full conditions will be issued with permits.

When the fire permit has been issued it is the permit holders responsibility to maintain a safe burn off and must be mindful of local weather conditions and be aware of any possible change in those weather conditions.

Environment Protection (Burning) Policy on a Domestic Premise

When can I burn? Burning in incinerators or fires in the open may only occur between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm from Monday to Saturday.

What can I burn? Only dry paper, dry cardboard, dry wood and garden prunings, which have been dried.

What can't I burn? The Environment Protection (Burning) Policy 1994 prohibits the burning of rubber tyres, polystyrene, plastics, wood treated with copper chrome arsenate or other chemical preservatives (eg permapine), wood and prunings that are wet or green.

Otherwise, burning on domestic premises may occur if it is:

within a dwelling (eg slow combustion heaters)
used principally for the preparation of food (barbeques, picnics)
used for the purposes of reducing the hazard of bushfires, and the person has either a permit under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 or the written permission of the local Council
any land or premises outside the boundaries of a township within a district (burning outside of townships is legislated under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005).

During the fire danger season (currently 15 November to 30 April) a burning permit is required to light fires on the ground. Burning in incinerators is restricted. Incinerators are prohibited on days of total fire ban. The burning of wood treated with chemical preservatives is completely prohibited.

Any infringement of the above offences can result in legal action taken against the offender. This can be in the form of a prosecution in a court of law or an expiation notice with a fee.

Please note:

for burning fires in the open on a non domestic premise, please contact Council's Authorised Officer.
Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005