Fire safety & prevention

Reduce the risk of fire

• Clean up around the property prior to the summer
• Prune trees, and cut vegetation before it dries off
• Plant trees well clear of power lines
• Keep the grass mown or grazed, especially around the house
• Do not store any material or substance that could fuel a fire near the house
• If you own an empty section, please keep the grass mown and clear of debris
• Please take care when using mechanical mowing equipment as sparks from the equipment can ignite dry vegetation
  

Be prepared

• Have a family plan to evacuate the property
• Install smoke alarms in the house and check the batteries
• Identify your property - clearly display your road/rapid number at the gate and at the house end of any shared accessway
• Have a garden hose long enough to reach around the house connected to a tap at all times
• Keep driveways and yards clear of obstructions to provide a clear path for vehicles
• Know where the nearest fire fighting water supply is, and signpost access to the supply

Responsibility of property owners/occupiers

• All property owners/occupiers have an obligation to keep their property free of fire hazards, i.e. long grass. Should Council consider your property to be a fire hazard, you will be required to remove that hazard and given one month to do so
• Should the fire hazard not be removed in that time, then Council will engage a contractor to remove it and the cost will be forwarded to the property owner/occupier
  

Keep safe

• Phone 111 to report any fire
• Evacuate everyone from the property
• Stay away from the fire