Understanding current fire conditions and restrictions is an important part of living, working and visiting the Shire of Mundaring. Fire danger ratings, burning periods, permits and fire bans help reduce the risk of bushfires and provide guidance on activities that may be restricted during periods of increased fire danger.
Conditions can change quickly throughout the year. Depending on the season and weather conditions, restrictions may apply to burning, the use of machinery and equipment, vehicle movements or other activities that could start a fire.
The resources below bring together the key information residents and visitors need to determine what activities are permitted on any given day. Always check current conditions before undertaking any activity that may create a fire risk.
Fire conditions
Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS), tells you how dangerous a fire would be if one started. Ratings are forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology, based on weather and other environmental conditions such as fuel load.
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- Moderate: Plan and prepare
- High: Be ready to act
- Extreme: Take action now to protect life and property
- Catastrophic: For your survival, leave bushfire risk areas.
There will be no rating level for days where no action is required.
Daily Fire Danger Rating (Shire of Mundaring’s Fire Weather District falls within Swan Inland North)
Burning periods
Burning Periods (indicative only, and please note that further restrictions may apply) – there are three burning periods in the Shire of Mundaring:
Prohibited burning - December to March
All burning, including the burning of garden refuse, is prohibited during this period. If you see someone burning during the Prohibited Burning Period, call Triple Zero (000). Burning period dates may be varied due to climate or weather conditions. Any changes will be advertised on this website, in local newspapers and on the Shire's Facebook page.
Restricted burning - April, May, October and November
One pile of garden refuse, up to 1 square metre in size, may be burnt between 6pm and 11pm without a permit, provided all of the following conditions are met:
- Only one pile is burnt at a time
- The fire is completely extinguished by midnight, with no remaining heat, smoke, steam or white ash
- An adequate water supply is available and capable of reaching the fire and surrounding area if the fire escapes
- An able-bodied adult is present at all times while the fire is burning.
Burning is not permitted if:
- The Fire Danger Rating is High or above
- Wind speeds exceed 15km/h.
Any burning outside these conditions requires a Permit to Burn.
Unrestricted burning - June to September
A Permit to Burn is not required during the Unrestricted Burning Period. However, you should exercise caution, ensure fires are properly controlled, and take steps to minimise smoke nuisance to neighbours and road users.
Permit to Burn, permits are available online or from your local Brigade on Saturday mornings.
Apply for a Permit to Burn
Fire and Burning Information Line, call 9290 6644 for recorded information about today’s local burning conditions.
Access to Lake Leschenaultia Public access to Lake Leschenaultia is assessed regularly during summer based on the Fire Behaviour Index (FBI).
- FBI below 60: The lake remains open.
- FBI 60 to 74: West Beach, mountain bike trails and walking trails will be closed. The main beach will remain open.
- FBI 75 or above: The lake will be closed to the public.
- Catastrophic fire danger rating: The lake will be closed to both visitors and campers.
Any partial or full closures will be communicated through the Shire's website and social media channels.
View Lake Closures
Fire Ban SMS Notifications
Register for SMS Notifications to be directly informed about changes to:
- Burning periods
- Fire Danger Ratings on days of Extreme or above
- Total Fire Bans
- Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans
- Cancellation of burning permits
- Other fire information all year round.
Disclaimer
- Bush Fire Warnings are not included in this subscription/service.
- Emergency alerts will be sent from the Emergency Broadcast Network to notify people in affected areas by SMS/landline.
- You no longer have to register to receive notifications from the Emergency Broadcast Network.
- Do not rely on the Shire's Fire Ban SMS notifications in the event of a bushfire emergency. Leaving early is the safest option.
Apply for a Permit to Burn
Permit to Burn, permits are available online or from your local Brigade on Saturday mornings.
Apply for a Permit to Burn
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.
Occasionally, Total Fire Bans may be declared outside of a fire season (such as in May or June) due to other factors such as higher temperatures and expected strong winds preceding a storm front. When a Total Fire Ban is active, it is illegal to light an open-air fire or conduct any activity that could start a fire.
The DFES website provides more information on prohibited activities. Some of these activities are prescribed in the Bush Fires Regulations 1954, meaning they can be carried out during a Total Fire Ban, provided you comply with the conditions listed. Businesses, public authorities or industries may be given an exemption for activities not prescribed in the Regulations, as long as conditions are met to ensure the activity does not start a fire.
Learn more about Total Fire Bans
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
Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans are issued by the Shire of Mundaring's Chief Bush Fire Control Officer when the Grassland Fire Behaviour Index reaches a level that significantly increases the risk of fire. These bans restrict the use of engines, vehicles, plant and machinery that may ignite a fire during certain times of the day.
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.
When a ban is in place, information will be published here on the Shire's website, social media channels, SMS Notifications and the Fire and Burning Information Line (9290 6644).
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:
- On a road that is not a private road; or
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
Fire pits, BBQs, pizza ovens and smokers
Solid fuel refers to the product used to fuel the fire, including wood, coal, synthetic char, wood pallets etc.
Solid fuel fire pits, BBQs, pizza ovens and smokers cannot be used:
- If there is a Total Fire Ban
- If the Fire Danger Rating is High, Extreme or Catastrophic.
When using fire pits, BBQs, pizza ovens or smoke pits outside of these times, you must still follow the regulations below:
- The area surrounding the fire pit, BBQ, pizza oven or smoker is clear up to 5m of flammable material
- A water source is nearby
- Precautions are taken to avoid nuisance smoke.
Shire of Mundaring Emergency Management Team can be contacted via the below for general enquiries