By Callum Ludwig
An unattended burn-off in Warburton has provided a prompt reminder ahead of any last summer burning that residents need to take proper precautions.
CFA crews were called to a grassfire on Old Warburton Road at Warburton at 7.10pm on 10 November.
A CFA spokesperson said the fire was believed to be a private burn-off left unattended.
“The incident was declared safe at 7.26pm and the local council was notified due to local burning-off by-laws,” they said.
“CFA had two trucks on scene from Warburton.”
Warburton CFA Captain Ron McIntosh was one of the brigade members who attended the scene.
Mr McIntosh said he spoke to the chap involved who was very apologetic and thought it would be okay.
“He started it in the morning and then he got called into work so he’d raked it down as best he could into a little pile and then left it just sitting there smoking away,” he said.
“I said ‘No it’s not okay’, you must make sure that your fires are completely out before you leave them, it must be out under Council regulations, it must be registered, there must be somebody there with it at all times and you must have water available.”
The first Fire Danger Periods of the 2024-25 bushfire season were declared on 28 October in the Wimmera and Yarriambiack regions, with more having since followed in other regional areas of Victoria.
Mr McIntosh said the risk of leaving a burn-off unattended is that you could have another Black Saturday.
“That’s the potential because you’ve got nobody watching it, it was on Old Warby Road which isn’t really a highly frequented road in the first place and it could have been up behind the house before anybody knew about it,” he said.
“I doubt that he’ll do that again but the point is that you shouldn’t really have to have that conversation with people who live in this area to make sure that their burn-offs are properly extinguished,”
“Once they’ve started the fire burning, then it’s up to them to make sure that they’re going to be there at all times, regardless of what phone calls they may receive even if they have to have somebody else that they could ring, whether it be a neighbour or a friend or something like that, that can then come and take over from them while they go and do whatever the urgent matter might be.”
Under Yarra Ranges local laws, burn-off offences include:
Burning offensive material
Burning off posing a danger to a person or neighbouring property
Burning off without adequate attendees, tools and water supply to control the fire or windrow
Burning off without prior notification to ESTA, and reasonable attempts to notify neighbours
Burning off causing a smoke hazard
Leaving a burn-off or incinerator unattended, except for in a Rural category property
Refusing to immediately extinguish a fire or substance when instructed by an authorised officer or emergency services worker
Burning off on Council land without a permit
Director of Communities at Yarra Ranges Council Leanne Hurst said burn-offs found to be breaching their Local Laws are liable for penalties.
“Outside of the CFA’s declared Fire Danger Period (FDP), burning off is enforced by the Community Safety Team,” she said.
“During the Fire Danger Period, Council’s Local Laws regarding burning off are suspended, and CFA and Victoria Police manage enforcement and infringements,”
“Exemptions apply, and we encourage community members to read our Neighbourhood Amenity Local Law and the rules for burning off at yarraranges.vic.gov.au/burnoff.”
