Fire Hazard Reduction Notice

Slashing

Slash, mow, or trim dead grasses, dead shrubs, and dead plants to a height no greater than 50mm and remove cuttings/swath across the entire property.

Remove Dead Flammable Material

Reduce and/or maintain all dead flammable material below 8 tonne per hectare (see definition FUEL LOAD).

Clean gutters

Further, please refer to additional works section.

Slashing

Slash, mow, or trim dead grasses, dead shrubs, and dead plants to a height no greater than 50mm and remove cuttings/swath across the entire property.

Remove Dead Flammable Material

Reduce and/or maintain all dead flammable material below 8 tonne per hectare (see definition FUEL LOAD).

Firebreaks

Install or upgrade a 3-metre-wide by 4-metre-high clearance, bare mineral earth, continuous (no dead ends) trafficable fire break as close as possible inside the entire perimeter of the land. Maintained, reticulated living lawns that are kept completely green is acceptable in conjunction with, or in lieu of, a mineral earth fire break/s (see definition FIRE BREAK).

Asset Protection Zone

An Asset Protection Zone (APZ) is a buffer zone of area extending around a building where there is reduced flammable material.

Maintain a fuel reduced zone around all buildings or assets which extends 20 metres from the outermost point of the building or asset.

• Gutters, roofs, and walls of all buildings to be free of flammable matter and maintained.
• Fuel load within the 20-metre zone is reduced and maintained to no more than 2 tonne per hectare.
• Trees over 5 metres in height within the 20-metre zone to be under pruned up to 2 metres.
• Trees or shrubs within 2 metres of the asset shall be pruned to a height no greater than 2 metres and/or pruned away from the asset to a distance no greater than 2 metres.

Further, please refer to additional works section.

A Fire Control Officer may require you to carry out further bushfire property preparedness works on your land in order to reduce any fire hazards not specific to the Notice. These additional works will be stated in a work order and sent to the postal address of the owner and/or occupier.

If you know, suspect or are unsure whether you live at a property with environmental sensitivities or you plan to clear part of your property you MUST enquire first with the relevant agencies or departments prior to starting any works. There is legislation in place to protect the environment and land in Western Australia and without prior approval or authorisation you may face penalties.

Download Guide for applying the Bushfire Risk Treatment Standards appendix 1 to identify which agency you may need to contact.

From 1 November until 31 March each year all landowners and/or residents are subject to a fire hazard assessment against the Fire Hazard Reduction Notice by a Fire Control Officer.

Officers aim to strategically assess properties across all suburbs within the City. After a fire hazard assessment is completed and fire hazards have been identified by the Fire Control Officer, you may receive a work order which will outline the actions that need taking.

If you have any questions regarding property preparedness or regarding your work order, contact the City.

Landowners and/or occupiers can engage a contractor to conduct works as outlined on the current Fire Hazard Reduction Notice. It is the landowner and/or occupier’s responsibility to ensure the work is being completed in full and to the requirements on the Notice. It is suggested that the landowner and/or occupier advise the City that a contractor has been booked with the start and end dates to ensure compliance.

For more information on the requirements of the current Notice please download the Guide to Understanding the Fire Hazard Reduction Notice and/or see our Bushfire Safety Information section.

The Notice is distributed and available:

• Each year with your Rates.
• On the City of Kalamunda website.
• At the City of Kalamunda libraries.
• At the City of Kalamunda recreation centres.
• At various community engagement events.
• At the City’s administration office front desk.

Property owners and residents are encouraged to read the Notice in full and keep it on hand in preparation for the fire hazard assessments that commence from 1 November each year.

Firebreak Specifications

• Must be not less than 3 metres wide immediately inside and along all boundaries (including on boundaries adjacent to roads, rail and drain reserves and all public open space reserves.
• Must be not more than 4 metres wide (further width extensions may be considered upon written application for approval to the City).
• May have a corner turning radius of up to 10 metres.
• Must have a vertical clearance height of 4 metres, with all overhanging vegetation trimmed back clear of the firebreak.
• Must be a mineral earth firebreak with a continuous trafficable surface for a 4WD vehicle, clear of any obstructions and must not terminate in a cul-de-sac (dead end).
• Maintained and living lawns are acceptable in conjunction with or in lieu of mineral earth firebreaks, provided that the same width and height requirements for a firebreak are applied.

Firebreaks are intended to minimise the spread or extension of a bushfire and provide safe access on your property for emergency vehicles.

Fuel Load

• Is any flammable material such as leaf litter on the ground inclusive of leaves, twigs (up to 6mm diameter) fallen branches or wood, bark, leaves, grass and shrubs that provides fuel, likely to be ignited and capable of burning.

• A Fuel Load depth of 15mm from the top of the layer to the mineral earth beneath is indicative of approximately 8 tonnes per hectare.

• Mulch piles, stored firewood and burn piles contribute to fuel load and must be stored safely or removed from the property.

• Fuel Load depth measurement tools are available from the City of Kalamunda Administration Centre.