Fire hazard reduction in the Shire

With the wet weather conditions holding on longer than expected the Shire and other agencies active in the area of bush fire mitigation and prescribed burns are making the most of the diminishing time available to safely and effectively manage the risk posed to the community from bush fire. 

The Collie Shire Brigades, Collie Volunteer Fire and Rescue and the Wellington Office of the Department of Parks and Wildlife, whose office is located in Collie, are collaboratively undertaking a range of bush fire hazard reduction works within the Shire of Collie.

The Williams Road Brigade, captained by Julian Martin, undertook a prescribed burn on private property on October 12 along Ewing Street, with the objective of reducing the fuel load while protecting neighbouring properties. Williams Road Brigade captain Julian Martin said the controlled burns help to lower the risk of out-of-control bush fires.

“The burns basically reduce the fuel loads to a level where if an an uncontrolled fire was to come through it would be of lower intensity, creating a lower risk to the community from where fuel loads have been reduced in nearby bush and rural lands,” he said. 

“Often the bush fire brigades will work collaboratively to achieve the priorities in the shire and to assist the other brigades with burns.”

Mr Martin said the weather conditions this year have impacted on the shire’s burn plans. 

“We’ve had an above average winter rainfall, so that has delayed a lot of the burning activities that were planned,” he said. “We have the opportunity to try and complete as much as possible before the burn period closes and then pick up some of them in Autumn.” “It’s important that private land owners identify if fuel loads are becoming too high, they can seek consultation of their respective bush fire brigade for advice or through the bush fire planning coordinator at the shire.”