Fire

Restricted Burning Periods & Permits

Prohibited Burning Times

Under the Bush Fires Act 1954, it is generally an offence to light fires during the Prohibited Burning Time. Penalties of up to $10,000 fine, 12 months’ imprisonment, or both may apply.

Prohibited burning times are as follows:

• North East Sector - 15 November 2019 to 1 March 2020
• South West Sector: 22 December 2019 to 14 March 2020

Restricted Burning Times

Permits are required to light a fire during the Restricted Burning Time. All permit holders are required to comply with the requirements of the Bush Fire Act 1954. Any additional special conditions imposed on the permit holder must also be complied with.

• North East Sector :1 October 2019 to 14 November 2019, 1 March 2020 to 30 April 2020
• South West Sector: 1 November 2019 to 21 December 2019, 15 March 2020 to 14 May 2020

Seasonal conditions may result in variation to these dates. Any changes will be advertised in local newspapers and updated on this website.

Brigade and Sector Boundaries

The map below shows Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade boundaries and the Sector that each brigade is located in.

Permits to Burn

If you want to light a fire during the Restricted Burning times, you must obtain a permit.

Who you contact to request a permit depends on the location of the property where you want to light a fire:

• If you live within the DFES Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) district which covers the Albany town site and close adjacent areas, you can apply for a permit in person at our Administration Office at 102 North Road for an Application for Permit to Burn form, or click on the link below to download a form.
• If you live outside of this area, please contact your local Volunteer Bush Fire Control Officer for an application for a permit to burn.
• If you are unsure of which brigade area you live in, visit the City's online map module to check your address.

Permits to burn are issued subject to certain conditions which are listed on the permit. Failure to comply with all of these conditions may result in a fine of $250.  All permit holders must comply with the requirements of the Bush Fire Act 1954.

Permits will not be issued to burn materials that can be disposed of in a green-waste bin. No permits will be issued Good Friday to Easter Monday (inclusive).

Please consider your neighbours when undertaking a burn and make sure that smoke doesn't drift onto roads causing a traffic hazard.

Application for an Inspection Prior to the Intention to Burn 

(only if you live within the DFES Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) district)

Total Fire Bans & Vehicle Movement Bans

Total Fire Ban

A Total Fire Ban (TFB) may be declared by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) on days when fires are most likely to threaten lives and property. This is because of predicted adverse fire weather or when widespread fires are impacting the availability of resources.

During a TFB, the lighting of any fire in the open air is prohibited. This includes all open cooking and camping fires and incinerators. It also includes ‘hot work’ such as welding, grinding and soldering or gas cutting. The penalty is a fine of $25,000 or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.

TFBs are announced on the DFES website, on ABC Radio and the DFES Twitter feed. Exemptions may be available. You can find out more about TFBs by visiting the DFES website.

Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans

The City of Albany may impose Harvest and/or Vehicle Movement Bans when adverse fire weather conditions are experienced. The City will consult with Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades' weather officers to determine if a ban is warranted.

During harvest bans all harvesting operations must immediately cease. No harvesting is permitted on Christmas Day.

A vehicle movement ban means no internal combustion powered vehicles are to be driven in paddocks or bush areas and ‘hot work’ such as welding or grinding is not to be undertaken in the open air.

Communication of Fire Bans

The City of Albany will endeavour to communicate broadly when a ban is imposed. However, it is the responsibility of landowners and occupiers to check if bans are in place before engaging in any activity that may be prohibited for the duration of the ban.

All bans will be communicated via ABC local radio on 558AM or 630AM 10:05am, 12:35pm and 2:05pm.

If you are a farmer or a contractor and would like to receive notification by SMS notification of Harvest or Vehicle Movement Bans direct to your mobile phone email emergencyservices@albany.wa.gov.au  with your name, organisation name and mobile number.

Prescribed Burns

The City of Albany carries out a program of prescribed burns on its reserves during the autumn and winter months. Burns are carried out subject to weather and volunteer availability.   Link to list of current planned prescribed burns

Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades

Much of the City of Albany lies outside of the gazetted Fire and Rescue area so the local communities rely on Volunteer Bushfire Brigades who are often the first called when fire threatens. There are 16 brigades strategically distributed across all parts of the City providing a high level of service to their community.

Bushfire volunteers are trained in key areas of personal and team safety, bushfire awareness and suppression techniques, driving vehicles, radio operations and first aid. The more experienced volunteers may also be invited to participate in key fire ground leadership and emergency management roles.

If you're interested in joining a brigade, please contact your local fire control officer:

Brigade	Sector	Position	Name	Phone
Bornholm	SW	FCO DFCO	Laurie Nissen (permits) Chris Ayres	0429 838 038 0427 451 123
Elleker	SW	FCO DFCO DFCO	Roy Smith Craig Wickham Mal Parsons (permits)	0498 725 555 0478 954 454 9844 6367
Gnowellen	NE	FCO DFCO	Morgan Sounness Jeff Stoney	0427 471 057 0427 471 011
Green Range	NE	FCO DFCO	Ian Smith (permits) Mark Plunkett	0429 466 031 0428 466 032
Highway	SW	FCO DFCO	Gerrit Ballast Walter Van Dongen (permits)	0498 998 878 0428 281 224
Kalgan	SW	FCO DFCO DFCO	Darryl Bradley Kevin Bransby Don Tomlinson (permits)	0438 198 473 0408 067 576 0427 366 040
King River	SW	FCO DFCO	Simon Whitford Malcolm Pearce (permits)	0429 337 382
Kojaneerup	NE	FCO DFCO	Ashton Hood (permits) Scott Smith	0458 468 003 0429 466 037
Manypeaks	NE	FCO DFCO	Kim Lester (permits) Tim Metcalfe	0429 889 075 0487 350 111
Napier	SW	FCO DFCO	Tom Collins (permits) Brett Smoker	0428 443 451 0458 552 822
Redmond	SW	FCO DFCO	Pieter Mostert (permits) Lance Flett	0497 453 009 0427 453 048
South Coast	SW	FCO DFCO	Shane Duncan Rowan Hardy	0417 820 443 0419 663 061
South Stirling	NE	FCO DFCO	Graeme Pyle (permits) John Howard	9854 3021 0428 543 004
Torbay	SW	FCO DFCO	Keith Smith (permits) Sam Cockburn (permits)	0428 451 516 0400 733 455
Youngs Siding	SW	FCO DFCO	Kevin Martin (permits) Martin Peterson	0427 452 032 9845 2010
Wellstead	NE	FCO DFCO	Peter Diprose (permits) Matthew Wood	0427 472 037

Brigade Operating Procedures

The City of Albany Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade Operating Procedures describe the safe work practices that should be followed by volunteers and staff when involved in brigade activities.

City of Albany Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade Operating Procedures