Carry out seasonal fuel reduction programs to maintain a 'zone of protection' between your home and property and the surrounding bushland and grassland.

One simple rule guides all fire prevention planning on farms, rural properties, hobby farms and hills properties: 'reduce the fuel and the threat is reduced'.

All assets; buildings, stock, fences and fodder resources need wide areas around them where ground fuels of dry grass, undergrowth and dead branches and leaves are reduced or cleared.

Types:

• Grazing of selected areas is very effective in reducing ground fuel vegetation around buildings and fodder reserves. Maintain 70% ground cover if possible and aim to have 3cm height of dry pasture by the end of March.

• Ploughing and harrowing can produce excellent fuel breaks if established early. Late workings can kill all ground vegetation. Constant maintenance may be needed in steep or windy areas to prevent soil erosion.

• Slashing or mowing is an economical method, provided the cut material is removed or allowed to rot down well before Summer. These breaks will need maintaining by grazing or mowing.

• Herbicides can be sprayed onto areas where other methods of fuel reduction may be difficult, such as around buildings, sheds, alongside fence lines and around fuel supplies. Spraying needs to be done after the Autumn break or at the end of Winter to be effective on actively growing plants. Check regrowth of sprayed fuel breaks and re-do if necessary with a plough, slasher or boom spray.

Property Protection:

Home

• Prepare a 20 metre fuel reduced zone around the homestead by cutting long grass, removing dead vegetation and pruning lower limbs of established trees to provide a vertical fuel break, to reduce the danger from radiant heat and sparks.

• Fodder crops such as lucerne, the household vegetable garden, mown lawns or wide paths can provide an excellent fuel break around the home area.

Buildings/Sheds

• Protect all outbuildings/sheds with a 4 metre cleared fuel break prepared by grazing, slashing, mowing, ploughing or spraying herbicide.

• Prepare and maintain fuel reduced areas onto which stock can be moved and held during a bushfire.

• Plan to use a safe area if threatened by fire, eg: green feed, fallow paddocks, well grazed holding paddocks, raceways, stockyards, irrigated pasture or Summer crops.

• Prepare a 4 metre fuel break along all fence lines with bare gaps at intervals under the fence line by spraying, slashing, mowing or ploughing.

Fuel/Chemical Supplies

• Prepare a 4 metre fuel break around all fully enclosed clearly labelled sheds.

Crops

• Prepare a 4 metre mechanical fuel break around all crops and a mechanical fuel break behind the first lap of the header.

• Locate farm machinery on a cleared/ploughed area away from adjacent crops when not being used during harvesting operations.

Fodder Reserves

• Clear or spray, graze, slash, mow or plough fuel breaks around all haystacks and haysheds.

• Surround all fodder reserves with a further 20 metre fuel reduced strip either irrigated, mown, bared (through grazing or spraying) or ploughed. Do not attempt to burn-off.

• Wherever possible fodder reserves should be located away from sides of buildings facing the most likely direction of fire.

• Store the hay away from roads, boundary fences and trees, for the best protection from bushfire.

Take all Precautions:

• Where possible dry the hay before it is baled or stored to guard against spontaneous combustion.

• Surround fodder reserves with a 20 metre fuel reduced strip either irrigated, mown, grazed, sprayed or ploughed.

• Erect a temporary fence to enable stock to graze right up to the stack to reduce the fire risk. Where three sides of a stack are walled, wire mesh gates, hinged or temporary can be put across the open side.

• Failing this, use herbicides to reduce the grass fire danger.

• Do not burn-off around haystacks.

• Insure all flammable reserves.

• Install a sprinkler system around the stacks for the best protection.

Rotary mowers or slashers used in stubble retention practices can start bushfires through a combination of sparks from the blades striking stones and the flammable fuel being cut.

The CFS advises that mowers, especially rotary types should not be used in dry grass, stubble or crops on days when there is the slightest chance of fires starting and spreading.

• In compliance with the Country Fires Act and Regulations, when using a mower or slasher, chain saw, brush cutter or edger during the fire danger season you must either:

• clear a 4 metre area of all flammable material right around the area to be cut, or

• have a knapsack or extinguisher and a rake or shovel on hand.

 

• Any tractor powered by an internal combustion engine must also have an efficient spark arrester fitted to the exhaust pipe.

• Should a fire start and escape during slashing the operator may be liable to a fine of up to $4,000 and face possible litigation from any affected neighbour.

Grinders and Welders etc

Sparks from angle grinders, welders, oxy cutting tools, and other gas fired appliances used during the fire danger season can also cause bushfires.

All operators need to observe the rules for using these appliances outdoors during the fire danger season and comply with the Country Fires Act and Regulations.

• This equipment can only be used outdoors when there is no Total Fire Ban in force and even then a 4 metre space must be cleared and the operator must have a knapsack or water extinguisher on hand.

• Dampen down the area with water prior to commencing work as an additional precaution.

• On Total Fire Ban days a permit is required from the local council.

• Illegal use can result in fines of up to $4,000 for a first offence.

Farmers need to take precautions to ensure that every item of equipment on their farm, which generates heat in one form or another, is in good working order and is not likely to ignite crops or other flammable substances during farming operations.

• All farm machinery and vehicle engines are free from any mechanical defects that could cause a fire.

• All engines are fitted with efficient spark arresters.

• An efficient knapsack spray and rake or shovel is carried ready for use. A nine litre water extinguisher can be carried as an alternative.

• Stationary engines, including generators are operated within a four metre clearance of all flammable material.

Save Crops through Equipment Maintenance:

All farm machinery needs to be regularly maintained and serviced during the summer months to protect crops and machinery.

• Keep the spark arrester clean and in good order.

• Check the exhaust system for emission of sparks.

• Remove dry grass/stubble/chaff/straw caught in machinery particularly near the exhaust system before operating.

• Replace twisted wire on exhaust systems with clamps to prevent flammable material getting caught and causing a fire.

• Keep machinery clean of oil and grease and lubricate regularly to prevent overheating of bearings and other parts.

• Keep battery terminals and all electrical wiring clean and tight.

• Regularly check that the knapsack spray pump is in proper working order.

• Inspect fuel lines and tank daily for leaks.

• Check wheel brake adjustments to prevent drag and friction heating.

Safe Practices:

• Always carry a full knapsack, and rake or shovel on the machine when it is in the field. This is mandatory when harvesting a flammable crop, spreading lime or fertiliser or moving a flammable crop on the land where it has been harvested.

• Locate farm machinery when not being used during harvesting on a cleared/ploughed area away from adjacent crops.

• When working machinery regularly glance behind to check for fire.

• Maintain a farm firefighting unit with its own pump, motor hoses and water tank ready to use when harvesting, burning-off, welding or conducting other farm operations.

• Do not carry drums of fuel on tractors. Vibration may cause leaks.

• Never refuel any machine while the engine is running and always keep a suitable fire extinguisher on hand.

• When using a stationary engine, if no one is present while it is operating, the area around it must be cleared of all flammable material for a distance of 4 metres. If an operator is present when the engine is in use, they must have a knapsack (or water extinguisher) and a rake or shovel available.

Fires can start from flammable vegetation caught in a vehicle’s hot metal exhaust pipe or muffler or catalytic converter and shield in a paddock of dry grass or crop. Any motor vehicle exhaust can become hot enough to start a fire in dry grass even under normal running conditions.

Where possible avoid driving a vehicle across paddocks of long dry grass or crop stubble where dry vegetation can come in contact with the vehicle’s exhaust system. This also applies to cars and utilities parked on thick vegetation on roadsides adjacent to crops.

Safe Practices:

The CFS asks landowners to follow these safety steps during the fire danger season:

1. Regularly check the exhaust system and remove any build up of flammable material caught in the vehicle’s exhaust pipe, muffler or catalytic converter.

2. Restrict off road driving to tracks where grass is low and park only in cleared areas.

3. Always carry a knapsack spray or fire extinguisher on the vehicle.

Burning-off is still the farming practice that produces the greatest risk every summer. Unless the procedure is planned carefully and carried out with extreme caution, at the right time and under the right conditions there is a real danger that the burn-off will get out of control.

During the Fire Danger Season:

• Under no circumstances can burning-off be done during the fire danger season without a permit obtained from the local council authorised officer.

• At all times stick strictly to the conditions set out in your permit.

• When carrying out this operation do not try to burn more than can be controlled at any time with the personnel and equipment available.

• You can not burn-off on a Total Fire Ban day

   

• In any burning-off operation outside the declared fire danger season the owner of the land risks prosecution under section 40 of the Country Fires Act, should the burn off escape and cause damage to others.

• A penalty of up to $4,000 can apply with prosecution undertaken by the police or local council.

• Be aware of the local Council's code of practice for burning-off outside of the fire danger season and follow these guidelines.

• Some Council’s have environmental restrictions for burning off. Before commencing a burn-off find out if any restrictions apply in your local area.

Safe Practices:

When planning a burn-off adopt the following safety procedures: 

1. Obtain a permit from the local council permit officer if you are planning to burn during the fire danger season.

2. Prepare clean fuel break at least 4 metres wide around the area to be burnt.

3. Obtain a weather forecast before a burn-off, especially for local winds. Do not start too early in the day before weather conditions are settled.
4. Give at least 24 hours notice to neighbours of your intention to burn.

5. Ensure a sufficient water supply for firefighting is available at all times during and after the burn-off. Provide ample water through tanks and portable pumps set up on trucks or utes for farm firefighting and also for refilling of knapsacks.

6. Ensure a sufficient number of people are present at the site from the time the fire is lit to the time it is completely extinguished.

7. Do not attempt to burn any more area than can be controlled with the people and equipment available.

8. Use a strip burning method to control the direction and rate of burning to match the wind strength.

9. Where possible burn down hill. Burning up a steep incline even against the wind is always dangerous. Light the fire first on the leeward side of the land to establish a protective break. Burning into the wind will give a slower, safer and cleaner burn. Then light from the windward side of the land.Beware of sudden changes in wind direction and speed. If it changes considerably cease lighting and make every effort to make the perimeter safe, Always make sure the fire edge is blacked out progressively for at least 20 metres into the burnt area.

10. Have immediate access to a UHF CB or mobile phone through out the fire operation to call for assistance if needed.

11. Have a well-maintained firefighting unit at all times in the area where the burning-off is taking place.

12. Constantly patrol the burn-off area for a number of days after, to prevent rekindling as stumps and tree roots can continue to burn underground for many days.

Burning Rubbish/Use of Incinerators:

• Check with your local council regarding regulations and restrictions for burning on domestic premises. The Environment Protection (Burning) Policy 1994 restricts the burning of rubbish and the use of incinerators. Burning of green fuel generates lots of smoke and should be avoided. Alternative methods of fuel disposal such as mulching or dumping should be considered.

• Some councils have totally prohibited the use of open fires and incinerators for waste disposal on domestic premises.

• A permit is required to burn rubbish or garden refuse on the ground during the fire danger season. The area must be cleared for 4 metres and a person in attendance at all times with enough water available to readily extinguish the fire.

LP Gas (or Liquified Petroleum Gas) is derived from two principal sources: it is extracted with crude oils/gases from the earth, or it is produced during the refining processes.

The two most common LP Gases are Propane and Butane. LP Gas is widely used as a domestic fuel because it is convenient, relatively inexpensive and safe. As with any fuel, however, certain simple safety precautions must be observed in its use.

Characteristics of LP Gas

LP Gas is usually stored as a liquid under pressure. When released into the atmosphere at any temperature above its boiling Point (-42º C for propane and 0º C for butane) it will change from liquid to vapour. Liquid LPG on bare skin causes frostbite.

LP Gas is heavier than air. In both its liquid and vapour states, it is colourless and odourless. It is considered to be non-toxic, but may have some anaesthetic effect if inhaled in high concentrations.

LP Gas is FLAMMABLE.

1. Always follow manufacturer’s directions when using LP Gas appliances.

2. Ensure connections are tight before operating equipment. If there is a leak, turn off and do not operate until the leak is fixed.

3. If a leak has occurred, LP Gas will settle in low spots such as cellars or drains as it is heavier than air. Ventilate these areas well.

4. Do not overfill cylinders as LP Gas expands as the temperature rises and the container could become over-pressurised.

5. Keep cylinders upright, even when empty to ensure the pressure relief valve can operate effectively.

6. Ensure the relief valve is pointed away from the structure supporting the cylinder, in case the relief valve operates and the discharge ignites.

7. Protect cylinders from direct sun. If, on extremely hot days, the relief valve operates, cool the cylinder with water.

8. When using a gas barbecue or other LP Gas equipment outdoors, be sure the area is cleared of any ground fuel.

9. Where possible secure portable cylinders.

If a leak or a fire occurs when using LP Gas equipment, call your local fire brigade.

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