LOCAL authorities are calling for residents to be aware of the fire risk this summer as all indications point to a dangerous season.
It was imperative to put the responsibility for preventing fires and reducing hazards on the everyday community, Donnybrook-Balingup Shire senior ranger Bob Jeffreys said.
“They’re the ones who make the big difference,” he said.
The shire council, the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and the local Fire and Rescue units combined had access to 40 appliances, Mr Jeffreys said.
“You don’t have to be too clever to work out that that’s not enough to protect every house,” he said.
“People should prepare their bushfire survival plan, and in the process of doing that, they’ll be able to make informed decisions.
“Preparation and hazard reduction are the main factors in keeping your property and person safe.”
DEC Blackwood district fire coordinator Don Boothey said all indications pointed to a heavy fire season, because vegetation grown over the wet winter was drying out very quickly.
Work to make properties fire-safe needed to be done now, Mr Jeffreys said.
The restricted burning period began on November 1, during which time a permit must be obtained before burning.
People who wanted to burn off in the restricted period needed to see their local fire control officer, notify their neighbours and the shire before burning and also the DEC if the burn is within three kilometres of DEC land.
“Penalties apply for non-compliance with this requirement,” Mr Jeffreys said.
He also said that lighting fires without a permit would make insurance policies null and void.
“Down here is a very high fire damage risk area, people have just got to be aware of it,” he said.
Mr Jeffreys and Mr Boothey also highlighted concerns about recent incidents of arson.
“Some incidents have been recorded where sections of bushland have been lit up,” Mr Jeffreys said. “This is classified as arson.
“persons caught lighting these fires will be prosecuted.”
Thirty one of the 58 fires attended by DEC, in the Blackwood region last year — 53 per cent — were deliberately lit, Mr Boothey said.
Last summer’s Ferndale fire was a product of nine deliberately lit fires. Seven self-extinguished but two kept going.
Mr Jeffreys called on the community to report any suspicious behaviour, giving a good description of the place, person and vehicles involved, to Crimestoppers or the shire council.
He also said that penalties applied under the Bushfires Act for discarding cigarette butts during bushfire season.
A tri-agency agreement between the police, FESA and DEC offers a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the conviction of arsonists.
Anyone who has any information on arson can report it to Crime-stoppers on 1800 333 000.
DEC will continue with planned burns in the Donnybrook area over the next few weeks, and warns people not to go into burn sites because there may be danger from hot spots and falling tree limbs.
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