WHERE and when residents can burn off in Yarra Ranges Shire is critical knowledge as summer approaches.
Illegal burns can not only pose a risk to life and property, they put unnecessary pressure on local volunteer fire brigades and can result in hefty fines for the offenders.
Under Yarra Ranges Council’s open air burning local laws the shire is divided into three areas; urban, residential bushland and rural.
The local law addresses issues including control of open air burning, minimising smoke nuisance and provision for burning off for fuel reduction and fire prevention.
The right to burn off depends on the time of year (for example, burning is not permitted during the CFA declared fire danger period) and whether the property is classified as urban, bushland residential or rural under the local law.
For each area there are also specific guidelines and restrictions which need to be followed.
Yarra Ranges Council has an online mapping system available to residents which will display what area a property is in, and provide a link to a fact sheet.
Alternatively, download the Open Air Burning Guide or call Yarra Ranges Council on 1300 368 333 for information.
