Total Fire Ban

A Total Fire Ban is declared by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) on days when fires are most likely to threaten lives and property. This may be because of:

  • The existing weather conditions in an area of the State are conducive to the outbreak or spread of bush fires
  • Such weather conditions in an area of the State are imminent
  • It is otherwise necessary to declare a total fire ban in respect of an area of the State (eg limited firefighting resources available).

The declaration of a Total Fire Ban considers local factors such as the forecast weather, available resources, the number of days since last rain and the amount of vegetation in the area that could burn during a fire.

Activities not permitted during a Total Fire Ban

During a Total Fire Ban, it is illegal to carry out any activity in the open air likely to cause a fire, such as but not limited to:

  • Light a fire in the open air
  • Use any appliance that consumes a solid fuel e.g. fire pits, BBQs, pizza ovens, smokers, spit roaster
  • Undertake hot works such as welding, grinding and cutting of metal in the open air
  • Use any internal combustion engine powered equipment in areas near or in areas of bush
  • Use motor bikes, quad bikes or other motorised vehicles in bush or paddocks, unless it is for the feeding or watering of stock.

A list of all activities restricted during a Total Fire Ban is available on the DFES website or by calling 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 the activity until conditions have improved and the restrictions have been lifted.

Notification of a Total Fire Ban

There are several ways you can find out if a Total Fire Ban has been declared:

A Total Fire Ban will also be posted on the Shire's Facebook page.

Reporting breaches during a Total Fire Ban

If you see someone undertaking any activity that is not permitted during a Total Fire ban you can report this either by:

Please note if the behaviour is related to arson, call the police immediately on 000.

Exemptions

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

To find out more, visit the Department of Fire and Emergency Services website.

Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban

From time to time during the Restricted and Prohibited Burning period the Shire of Mundaring 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 commonly referred to as a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban.

A Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban is imposed to restrict activities that are likely to cause a bush fire or contribute to the spread of a bush fire 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 behaviour index for the area is or exceeds 40, a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban must be imposed. During the bush fire 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.

Non permitted activities

Following are examples of activities that are not permitted during a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban:

  • Harvesting operations are not permitted
  • Any “hot works” (e.g. welding, grinding, cutting, heating etc) in the “open air” are not permitted 
  • Use or operation of any engine, vehicle, plant, equipment or machinery in the area likely to cause a bush fire or contribute to the spread of a bush fire (eg motor bikes, quad bikes or other motorised vehicles in bush or off-road areas including paddocks).

In the in 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 Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban, please postpone the activity until conditions have improved and the restrictions have been lifted.

Permitted activities

The following activities are permitted during a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban:

The movement of vehicles is permitted on “Roads” as referenced under s24A(3) of the Bush Fire Regulations 1954. Any engine, vehicle, plant, equipment or machinery:

  1. On a road that is not a private road; or
  2. On a lane, private road, 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 a fire.
  3. The purpose of that use or operation is the prevention of an immediate and serious risk to the health or safety of a person or livestock; and
  4. All reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent the use or operation from causing a bush fire In addition to the above, s22B (2)(b) of the Bush Fires Act 1954, A person must not — carry out an activity in the open air that causes, or is likely to cause, a fire.

Notification of a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban

There are several ways you can find out if a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban has been declared:

    A Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban will also be posted on the Shire's Facebook page.

    More information

    For all Fire Emergencies where life or property is under threat, please call 000

    Fire and Burning Information line on (08) 9290 6644

    Shire of Mundaring Fire Safety Team can be contact via the below for general enquiries