Properties are to be kept clear of long grass and any other fire hazards, particularly during the summer period. Failure to do so may incur a penalty from the Council.

Additional information on fire control can be obtained from Council's Fire Prevention Officer, Steve Davey, on 0429 678 622 during office hours.

Block Clearing & Mowing

Now is the time to arrange for the clearing and mowing of any blocks located in and adjoining townships.

Council emphasise the importance of undertaking necessary fire prevention measures for the safety of your family, pets and property. Preparation of your property (or vacant block) includes but is not limited to the following:

• Cut grass (to approx. 10cm / 4 inches) within 20 metres of all buildings
• Cut grass (to approx. 10cm / 4 inches) within 5 metres of all structures * Remove dead branches, leaves and undergrowth from around your home
• Prune tree limbs less than two metres above ground
• Prune branches overhanging your home
• Remove bark, heavy mulch, wood piles and any other flammable materials close to your home and sheds
• Clean out your gutters
• Spark Proofing your home
• Vacant Blocks shall be cut to a maximum height of 10cm to ensure compliance

Burning Green Waste is NOT permitted within Township Boundaries. Please use your Green Waste bin or Dispose of your green waste at the Waste Transfer Station in Port Broughton or Bute where there is no fee for the disposal of Green Waste.

Services available for Block Clearing & Mowing

The following Contractors have a service available for the clearing and mowing of blocks.  Please note, Contractors Business  are not  listed as one of Council’s preferred contractors, it is a guide only to offer block slashing services for ratepayers.

• Take a Break Services – takeabreakservices98@gmail.com

Marijke Gurr – Administration – 0407 397 071

Rick Gurr – Gardening – 0419 877 624

Website: https://www.facebook.com/Pelicanlogo/

• Lyn Bettess Gardening – 0427 262 162
• Anthony Manners -  0427 242 306  Anthony.manners1@gmail.com

Preparing your home and property

Keeping your home and property well prepared throughout the year is essential to ensure you survive a bushfire. A well prepared home is more likely to survive a bushfire than one that hasn't been prepared.

A well prepared home:

• can be easier for you or firefighters to defend
• is more likely to survive, even if you're not there
• is less likely to put your neighbours' homes at risk
• will give you more protection if a fire threatens suddenly and you cannot leave and have to take shelter

Ways to protect your home:

• Use non-flammable building materials
• Starve the fire by clearing vegetation and rubbish away from your home
• Create a defendable space by carefully managing trees close to your home and reducing vegetation for 20 metres
• Fill the gaps where embers might enter or catch
• Protect your assets with adequate home and contents insurance

Even if you plan to leave early, there is a greater chance that your home will survive if you have undertaken preparations.

For more information read the Preparing your property fact sheet.

Around the house

Spark proof the house and buildings

To protect your house it is vital that you prevent sparks and burning material from entering through windows, under doors and/or under floor boards. You can do this by:

• Fitting metal fly wire mesh or solid screens to spark proof the windows, doors, ventilators and skylights.
• Close in all openings in eaves and under-floor areas.
• Sealing all gaps in the roof area along the ridge cap, gutter line and fascia board.
• Extending wall cladding on buildings and sheds to the ground.
• Sealing the flute spaces at the fascia board with fibreglass insulation or scribed flat metal with corrugated iron roofs.
• Tiled roofs require an appropriate fire rated insulation (sarking) immediately below the tiles.

Roofing

Most homes ignite when sparks or burning embers blow under tiles and start burning roofing timbers or accumulated litter. Metal roofing offers more protection provided it is firmly secured and sealed around vents, skylights, fascias and roof caps.

Underfloor

Underfloor areas that are not enclosed allow sparks and embers to penetrate. If these areas are used to store timber, firewood, or other flammable materials, the risk is increased. Make sure that underfloor areas are kept clear of flammable material during summer.

Windows and vents

Crevices where embers can collect are potential ignition points. Cracks under doors, on window ledges, windows, or along verandas are particularly vulnerable. Vents into the house structure are also common entry points for sparks. They should be covered in fine wire mesh to prevent embers from getting into walls, roof cavity areas or through windows.

In the garden

Reducing the amount of vegetation on a property is one of the most critical components of preparing for bushfires.

Before the fire season you can:

• Remove dead branches, leaves and undergrowth from around your home especially under trees.
• Prune tree limbs that are lower than two metres above the ground or overhanging your home.
• Reduce, remove and manage vegetation such as long grass within 20 metres of your home and within 5 metres of any sheds and garages.
• Remove bark, heavy mulch, wood piles and any other flammable materials close to your home and sheds.

Other things you can do include:

• Installing a sprinkler system to wet down your home and garden to reduce the impact of radiant heat, sparks and embers. All fittings should be metal, as plastic melts.
• Ensuring access to an independent water supply such as a tank, dam or swimming pool of at least 5000 litres. Do not rely on mains water being available during a fire.
• Installing a petrol/diesel-driven water pump.
• Making sure hoses are long enough to reach around your home.
• Using a stone wall, earth barrier, or fence close to your home as a radiant heat shield.
• Planting lower flammability vegetation, including plants and trees with low oil and high water and salt content.
• Developing a well-managed vegetable garden, as it can act as an excellent fuel break.
• Planting trees and shrubs with space between them so they do not form a continuous canopy.
• You can do some things in each season to make sure you keep your home and property prepared.

In winter take advantage of the cooler weather to clean up your property and ember proof your home.

• Clear all gutters and create as much clear space as possible around your home.
• Remove dead vegetation from around your home and prune lower limbs of trees.
• Check with your council to see if a permit is required to burn off garden waste, or dispose of the material through mulching or at a council rubbish dump.
• Ember-proof your home: seal gaps and areas under your home, verandahs or balconies; repair any loose tiles or gaps in your roof; cover windows, crevices and vents with fine wire mesh or flywire; repair or fill nooks and crannies where leaves or embers could gather.

In spring get ready for the impending Fire Danger Season

• Slash or mow long grass and remove cut material (unless it can rot down before summer).
• Remove weeds.
• Cut back trees overhanging your home.
• Remove fallen branches and other debris.
• Remove leaves from gutters.
• Check and service all mechanical equipment, including grass cutters, water pumps, sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers.
• Prepare / check your emergency kit.
• Review, update and practise your Bushfire Survival Plan.

During summer maintain your preparedness through the Fire Danger Season

• Maintain defendable space of up to 20 metres around your home (greater if on a slope) and 5 metres from sheds and garages.
• Clear around trees.
• Remove leaves from gutters.
• Slash stubble near sheds and buildings (following regulations for Total Fire Ban Days).
• Check reserve water supplies.
• Practise your Bushfire Survival Plan with your family.
• Ensure you have a portable battery-powered radio and spare batteries to listen to bushfire warnings.
• Monitor Fire Danger Ratings.

In autumn clean up after summer

• Remove undergrowth and dead vegetation.
• Check with your council to see if a permit is required for a burnoff.
• Check for any fire hazards and remove.

Your Bushfire Plan

Council is extremely cautious of the need to ensure that any bushfire risk is minimised, and requests residents to undertake the necessary steps to ensure not only their safety, but that of their neighbours. Below is a range of information for consideration.

Do you know:

a) The conditions under which a bushfire is most likely to occur and spread?

b) The most likely cause of house loss during bushfires?

c) How to reduce the chances of your house burning in a bushfire?

d) How will you find out about a fire in your area?

e) What is required for personal protection during a bushfire?

Have you thought about:

a) Whether to stay with your house or to leave well before a fire starts?

b) All members of your household and their abilities to deal with bushfires?

c) Preparing an action plan for what every household member will do during a bushfire?

d) Where family members might be when a bushfire starts - home, work, school, shopping, friends?

e) The possibility of a fire threatening on a weekend, at night or when you have guests?

Have you done everything necessary to:

a) Reduce the amount of fire fuels (leaves, small sticks and grass) from around your house?

b) Maintain your house to minimise the risk of ember attack in a bushfire?

c) Prepare a kit of personal safety gear for each household member?

d) Secure a reliable water supply and equipment to defend your house during a bushfire?

e) Plan for the safety of your pets?

f) Identify and gather your valuables?

g) Do you feel confident that you can implement your bushfire plan?

For information on joining the Country Fire Service, please contact the group in your local area.

Information brochures on fire safety are available from both Council offices.

Flinders Mid North & Yorke Interim Bushfire Managment Plan (12463 kb)

Farming Codes of Practice

The CFS have adopted Codes of Practice as a guide for farming communities, they are:

grain harvesting This code of practice applies to all grain harvesting and grain handling operations that occur "in the paddock", including operation of grain harvesters, operation of vehicles involved in transporting grain, grain dryers and grain augers. The Grain Harvesting Code of Practice applies to harvesting of any flammable crop.

Use of Metal Cutting Tools and Welders A guide to assist in the use of prescribed tools (Angle Grinders/Metal friction tools) outside of the fire danger season

Broad Acre Burning A guide to assist in the practice of safe broad acre stubble burning outside of the fire danger season.

Vegetation Pile Burning A guide to assist in the practice of safe vegetation pile burning outside of the fire danger season.