Deputy Chief Officer Gregg Paterson said there were some simple steps people could take to keep their burn-offs safe.
“We encourage residents to clean up their properties before fire danger periods are declared in their area, but the effects of an out-of-control fire can be devastating,” he said.
“It is vital people do the right thing by checking local conditions before burning off, and that they comply with local by-laws and registering their burn-offs. A two-minute call is all it takes to register the burn.
“It is absolutely essential you have enough water on hand to put out a fire. There isn’t enough time to run back to your house if your fire gets out of control. You should construct a fire break, free of flammable materials, around any burn-off.
“We know burn-offs can flare up a couple of days after the burn-off, which highlights the importance of making sure your burn-off is fully extinguished and keeping an eye on weather conditions not just for the day of your burn but for the following days. We’d urge anyone who has burnt off in the past few days to double check that it has been fully extinguished.”
Burning off undergrowth and other vegetation may generally be permitted outside the fire danger period, but landowners should always check local laws and register their burn-off by calling 1800 668 511, which would ensure the burn is added to the statewide register.
“All calls to 000 about smoke sightings are cross-checked with that register, and firefighters are called out if nothing is listed for that location,” DCO Paterson said.
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