On or before the 14th of November each year landowners and or occupiers must have a 2-metre wide firebreak clear of all flammable material immediately inside all external boundaries of their property. A 3-metre firebreak must be constructed immediately surrounding all buildings on a property up to and including the 15th of April the following year.

Where property abuts a Railway Reserve on which Railway traffic operates, a 3-metre firebreak must be installed and maintained clear of all flammable material.

Before the commencement of the firebreak period it is a requirement to clear all inflammable material (including standing and fallen trees branches and undergrowth) firebreaks of at least 3 metres wide along and as close as possible to external boundaries of each separate area of undeveloped land and in extra positions so as areas of more than 200 hectares are divided into areas of no more than 200 hectares completely surrounded by a firebreak.

Where an internal fence is constructed of rubber tyres, it must be maintained clear of all inflammable material and a 2-metre firebreak installed on each side of such fence.

Where a boundary fence is constructed of rubber tyres it must be maintained clear of all inflammable material and a firebreak of 3 metres installed immediately inside such boundary fence.

The purpose of a firebreak is to:

• Stop fires spreading
• Allow entry for firefighting vehicles
• To provide a firebreak from which back burning can take place to control a fire.

IF IT IS IMPRACTICAL TO CONSTRUCT A FIREBREAK ALONG YOUR BOUNDARY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL OR OTHER REASONS, PLEASE NOTIFY THE SHIRE COUNCIL BEFORE NOVEMBER 7TH TO OBTAIN PERMISSION FOR AN ALTERNATIVE FIREBREAK PLAN.

Burning permits can be obtained from your local Fire Control Officer or if your Fire Control Officer is not available, the Shire Office during hours of business.

ZONE 4: From 1st November in each year to the following 14th February
ZONE 5: From 1st November each year to the following 21st February

Lighting of fires is prohibited during this period except for special purposes. Enquiries should be made to the office of the Shire of Northam for further information.

ZONE 4: 19th September to 31st October                 15th February to 29th March
ZONE 5: 19th September to 31st October                 22nd February to 5th April

Fires must not be lit during this period unless a permit to do so is first obtained from a Fire Control Officer appointed by the Shire and the conditions contained therein are complied with.

Occupiers should note the dates of Restricted and Prohibited Burning Periods may be varied on seasonal conditions, so burning should not take place without consulting the Shire Office or a Fire Control Officer.

Standing in the ruins of your home knowing the smouldering mess is your fault because you have failed to take the proper precautions.

Further advice on how to protect your home, when and how to burn off is available from the Shire Office or your Fire Control Officer. If you have any questions, contact them. The safety of the whole community is at stake.

BRIGADE	NAME	ADDRESS	PHONE NO
CLACKLINE/MURESK	T M (Michael) Letch	CLACKLINE	9574 1413
CLACKLINE/MURESK	J M (Mike) Tighe	CLACKLINE	9574 1420
CLACKLINE/MURESK	B (Blair) Wilding	NORTHAM	9574 1463
INKPEN	S (Sim) Kuiper	WOOROLOO	9573 1093
INKPEN	C (Clive) Owen	CARMEL	9293 5232
INKPEN	R (Rob) Chester	YORK	9641 1264
SOUTHERN BROOK	No Fire Control Officer	Please contact Shire	for Permit
BAKERS HILL	G H (Hugh) Williams	BAKERS HILL	9574 1212
BAKERS HILL	G A (Gordon) Ashman	BAKERS HILL	9574 1524
BAKERS HILL	S (Steve) Gray	WUNDOWIE	9573 6219
BAKERS HILL	J (John) Chitty	BAKERS HILLS	9574 1573
JENNAPULLIN	T (Trevor) Smith	NORTHAM	9622 3850
JENNAPULLIN	L D (Lynton) Smith	NORTHAM	9622 3850
GRASS VALLEY	A (Angus) Cooke	GRASS VALLEY	9622 9525
GRASS VALLEY	P M (Phil) Gentle	NORTHAM	9622 9565
GRASS VALLEY	P (Paul) Reynolds	NORTHAM	9622 9594
GRASS VALLEY	A J (Alf) Brown	NORTHAM	9622 1062
IRISHTOWN	D E (Don) French	NORTHAM	9623 2250
IRISHTOWN	A D (Doug) Morgan	NORTHAM	9622 1002
IRISHTOWN	A R (Ross) McKenzie	NORTHAM	9622 1276
IRISHTOWN	W (Wayne) Smith	IRISHTOWN	9623 2235
WUNDOWIE TOWN	B (Brad) Hibble	WUNDOWIE	9573 6460
SHIRE OF NORTHAM	A J (Allan) Middleton	NORTHAM SHIRE	9622 1099 9622 1273 AH
SHIRE OF NORTHAM	S D (Stuart) Billingham	NORTHAM SHIRE	9622 1099 9622 2696 AH
SHIRE OF NORTHAM	F (Felix) McQuistan	NORTHAM SHIRE	0418 951544 AH

POSITION	NAME	PHONE NO
Chief Bush Fire Control Officer	A D (Doug) Morgan	9622 1002
Deputy Chief Bush Fire Control Officer - West	G A (Gordon) Ashman	9574 1524
Deputy Chief Bush Fire Control Officer - East	P M (Phil) Gentle	9622 9565
Chief Fire Weather Officer	A D (Doug) Morgan	9622 1002
Deputy Chief Fire Weather Officer & Radio Controller	E G (Eric) Fox	9622 1364
Clover Burning Officer	A J (Allan) Middleton	9622 1099

Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades will welcome people who are prepared to join and assist in fire prevention or fire fighting. Contact your local brigade, training is available for all new members.

HINTS FOR BURNING

(1) Do not light a fire on a hot or windy day
(2) Do not try to burn more than you can control
(3) Inform your neighbours
(4) Make sure smoke and sparks will not affect neighbour's washing or open windows
(5) Cut or rake long grass around trees, buildings and fences before burning
(6) Burn against the wind
(7) On a sloping block, burn from the top down
(8) Have adequate water to dampen down fierce fires and/or to extinguish

REDUCE FIRE FUELS

(1) Remove all flammable fuels that are close to your house
(2) Clear all firewood, timber and petrol, well away from your house
(3) Clear all dead material out of rain gutters regularly
(4) Remove dead trees and branches
(5) Do not have dead branches overhanging buildings
(6) Remove rubbish regularly
(7) Rake up leaves and other debris regularly
(8) Burn off dry grass and vegetation at the approved times and in the approved manner

All blocks with an area of 1020 square metres or less shall be completely cleared of inflammable material. All blocks exceeding 1020 square metres in area but not exceeding 4000 square metres in area shall be hazard reduced by ploughing, slashing to a height of 150 mm or burning. Where the option of ploughing or slashing is selected a 2-metre wide firebreak shall also be installed on the perimeter of the block. Construct firebreaks of at least 2-metres in width immediately inside and along all external boundaries of the land where the lot is greater than 4000 square metres in area. If it is considered impracticable or undesirable to provide firebreaks as required by these Local laws, the approval of the Council must be obtained for any variation. Approval will be only granted up to or before the 7th day of November in any year, and will not be obtained unless the prior consent of the appropriate Fire Control Officer of the Council has been obtained. If permission is not granted by the Council or its duly authorised officers, you must comply with the requirements of this notice.

The penalty for failing to comply with this notice is a fine up to $1000 and a person in default is also liable whether prosecuted or not, to pay the costs of performing the work directed by this notice if it is not carried out by the owner and/or occupier by the date required by this notice.

If the requirements of this notice are carried out by burning, such burning must be in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Bush Fires Act.

• Close all doors, windows and shutters
• Bring all outdoor furniture inside
• Remove highly flammable curtains and furniture from window areas. (Close fire retarded or woollen curtains)
• Keep sprinklers spraying on high-risk parts of the house - windows, eaves, and gas bottles
• Fill basins, sinks and baths with water. Fill outside gutters, if time permits - block up the mouth of the down pipe to keep the water in
• Soak towels and rugs in water and lay along doorways to keep sparks out. They can also be used as beaters for firefighting
• Soak blankets and keep handy to protect you from radiant heat
• Keep checking for spot fires around the house and put them out
• As the fire approaches, move people into the refuge area if you have one. Take hoses inside to prevent them melting. Leave sprinklers running if installed

DO NOT LEAVE THE DECISION TO EVACUATE UNTIL THE FIRES ARE SO CLOSE THAT YOU CAN'T GET OUT ANYWAY.

When bush fires are close and you feel sure they'll reach your house, you must decide EARLY whether to stay with the house or evacuate your family. If you stay, you may have a good chance of saving your home. Recent research by the University of Melbourne's Forestry Section into the Ash Wednesday fires in Mt Macedon suggest that this could be the case. Of those who stayed, 90% were able to save their houses, mainly because they were able to put out spot fires as they started. Staying with the house could also be safer than trying to get away on roads blocked by fires.

• If you are confident your home is well prepared and protected from fire
• If you have sufficient emergency water supplies
• If you think you and your family could deal with the stress and tension of battling the fire

• If you are not confident about the fire safety of your house
• If you are worried about young children, elderly people or someone who is sick
• If you suspect you could not cope with the stress of fighting the fire
• If you know it is safe to leave and you have a firm destination
• If you decide to evacuate, go early and make sure you know where you're heading (the local sports oval? The nearest town?)

In Western Australia, the Fire Authority, in consultation with the Police, will decide whether there is a need to evacuate communities in a major fire. If so, the Police will organise the evacuation.

Once you've decided to evacuate:

• Dress in protective clothing (long trousers and shirts, strong shoes)
• Put woolen blankets (wet if possible) and drinking water in the car
• Take your pets with you
• In the fire region, keep all the windows wound up and don't get out of the car
• Drive carefully and slowly and with your headlights on, windows wound up
• If you are forced to stop, choose a place with the least amount of vegetation. Burnt country is safer than unburned
• Turn off fans and AIR-CONDITIONING to keep smoke out.

 DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR!!!