Fire Bans » Shire of Donnybrook Balingup

Total Fire Bans

The Department of Fire & Emergency Services (DFES) will declare a Total Fire Ban, sometimes abbreviated to TFB, on days when fires are most likely to threaten lives and property. A Total Fire Ban could be called due to:

The existing weather conditions in an area of the State are conducive to the outbreak or spread of bushfires
Dangerous weather conditions in an area of the State are imminent
Operational reasons deem it necessary to declare a Total Fire Ban in a specific area of the State (e.g. limited firefighting resources available).

When declaring a Total Fire Ban, DFES considers local factors such as the weather forecast, available resources, the number of days since it last rained, and the amount of vegetation that could burn during a fire.

Harvest & Vehicle Movement Bans

At varying times during the Restricted and Prohibited Burning period, the Shire's Chief Bush Fire Control Officer may impose a ban on the use or operation of any engine, vehicle, plant, equipment or machinery in the area. This ban is referred to as a Harvest & Vehicle Movement Ban (HVMB).

A HVMB is imposed to restrict activities that are likely to cause a bushfire or contribute to the spread of a bushfire when the expected weather conditions indicate that if a wildfire was to start, it would be dangerous, destructive and difficult to stop once started.

On days when the fire danger index for the area is or exceeds 35, a ban must be imposed. During the bushfire season, the fire danger index is monitored throughout the day through various means including through physical weather readings taken in the field and through the monitoring of weather stations.

You can find out if there is a HVMB in place by:

Checking the Latest News & Notices or Alerts that we’ve published on our website
Checking (and following to see the latest posts) our social media platforms
Contacting your local Fire Control Officer (a contact list is available in the Fire Prevention Order)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What can I do during a Harvest & Vehicle Movement Ban?

Activities that are NOT permitted during a HVMB include:

Harvesting operations,
Any ‘hot works’ (welding, grinding, cutting, heating, etc.) in the open air,
Use or operation of any engine, vehicle, plant, equipment or machinery in the area likely to cause a bushfire or contribute to the spread of a bushfire (motorbikes, quad bikes, or other motorised vehicles in bush or off-road areas, including paddocks).

Activities that ARE permitted during a HVMB include:

Movement of vehicles on “gazetted roads” – as described in Bush Fires regulation 24A(1) and Road Traffic Act 1974 section 5.1,
Movement of vehicles on a lane, driveway, yard or other area that provides access to, or a parking facility at, any residential, farming or business premises, if the area has been sufficiently cleared of inflammable material to prevent the escape of fire,
Use or operation of a vehicle if it is for the prevention of an immediate and serious risk to the health or safety of a person or livestock, and only if all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent the activity from creating a bushfire danger,
Use or operations of vehicles and undertaking of “hot works” by those persons holding a current Exemption under Bush Fires Act 1954 s. 22C (exemption from Total Fire Bans).

How can I find out if a Harvest & Vehicle Movement Ban is in place?

There are several ways you can find out if a Harvest & Vehicle Movement Ban has been declared - the quickest way to find out is by checking the latest news and notices section of our website (linked below).

See our Latest News & Notices

We are in the process of setting up an SMS System that will be used to quickly alert the public if a Harvest & Vehicle Movement Ban has been put in place for the Shire via text. To register for this notification system, please provide your details by completing the form linked below.

If you are experiencing any issues with this form, please contact the Shire Administration Office for assistance.

Other ways you can find out are by:

Contacting your local Fire Control Officer - a contact list is available in the Fire Prevention Order
Listen to the ABC South West local radio
Follow us on social media

About Firebreaks & Prevention

What can I do during a Total Fire Ban?

A list of all activities restricted during a Total Fire Ban is available on the DFES website linked below, or you can call the DFES Total Fire Ban hotline on 1800 709 355.

In the interests of community safety, if you have planned to carry out an activity that may pose a fire risk (even if it is not explicitly prohibited by a Total Fire Ban), please postpone until conditions have improved and the restrictions have lifted.

Visit the DFES website

How can I find out if a Total Fire Ban is in place?

There are several ways you can find out if a Total Fire Ban has been declared - the quickest way to find out is by visiting the EmergencyWA website (linked below).

You can also listen to ABC Local Radio (684 AM, 1044 AM, 738 AM), or call the DFES Total Fire Ban hotline on 1800 709 355.

Visit the EmergencyWA website

Exemptions

Total Fire Ban exemptions are required for any activity not prescribed in the Bush Fires Regulations 1954 which could cause a fire - these activities include fireworks, programmed hot fire training, rail grinding, and religious and cultural ceremonies.

To learn more, please refer to the DFES website below or call the DFES Total Fire Ban Hotline on 1800 709 355.

Visit the EmergencyWA website