Fire Danger Season

The Fire Danger Season is likely to commence on the 1^st December 2022 until the 30^th April 2023. This year our region has experienced a wetter winter and these conditions are likely to persist. With the La Nina and negative Indian Ocean Dipole set to continue, this will mean we are likely to experience higher chances of rain. Higher rainfall has the potential to increase the amount of fuel through regrowth and therefore it is important that residents understand their responsibilities, plan and maintain their properties throughout the fire danger season.

Be Bushfire Ready!

Land Owners Responsibilities:

All land owners/occupiers must take responsible steps to:

*    to prevent or inhibit the outbreak of fire on the land; and

*    to prevent or inhibit the spread of fire through the land; and

*    to protect property on the land from fire; and

*    to minimise the threat to human life from a fire on the land.

If the property is under one hectare in area:

*    all grass and undergrowth is required to be reduced to a maximum height of ten (10) centimetres in height.

If the property is over one hectare in area:

*    establish and maintain a fuel break around the whole area, placed as near as practicable to the perimeter

*    fuel break shall be at least a five (5) metre wide strip on which all grass, pest plants and undergrowth is reduced to a maximum of ten (10) centimetres in height.

All rural properties are required to have:

*    a five (5) metre fire break around the perimeter of the property, this includes property with stock,

*    a twenty (20) metre fire break around any structures, buildings etc on the property

Clearing Native Vegetation - Do I Need Approval?

CFS is the authority that approves native vegetation clearances and has a wide range of information including a step-by-step process guide to follow when seeking to reduce, modify or remove native vegetation for bushfire safety.

Council’s Role and Actions

Each year, between October to November, Councils authorised officer will undertake inspections of vacant land throughout the District, to identify flammable undergrowth greater than 10 cm. Any vacant land identified not to comply will be issued with a Compliance Notice pursuant to Section 105(F) of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005, requiring the land owners/occupiers to take action:

*    to protect the property on the land from fire, and

*    to prevent or inhibit the outbreak of fire on the land, or

*    the spread of fire through the land

by the clearing any potentially flammable undergrowth on the land to a maximum height of 10cm within fourteen (14) days.

If the land owner/occupier of the land fails to comply with a notice, Council and its agents may enter the land and carry out any fuel reduction works required.

Where can I find out more?

If you would like to speak to one of Councils Fire Prevention Officers, then please contact Council via email council@yankalilla.sa.gov.au or via phone on (08) 8558 0200. Alternatively, the CFS website has a wide range of information to assist in your bushfire planning.