Burning Permits
This applies during the fire danger season which commences on 15 November 2022 and ends midnight on 15 April 2023. During this period most fires in the open are banned unless you have obtained a written permit from the Council/Country Fire Service.
Please contact the Fire Prevention Officer on 87521044 prior to 11.00 am on the day of the burn)
To apply for a permit contact Council's Fire Prevention Officer, Adrian Packer on (08) 8752-1044. Alternatively contact the Council Offices at Keith or Bordertown prior to 11.00 am on the day of the burn. We request that landowners have the following information at hand to streamline the permit issuing process:
- Section and Hundred details
- Mobile number of person conducting the burn
- Name of nearest road access
- Grid reference of burn (obtained from CFS map book and page number)
- Property name if applicable
Blanket permits will not be issued but up to 5 separate burns can be included on one permit.
Permits can be issued from March 1 2023 until April 15 2023.
We request that you reapply if the burns are not completed that week.
Landowners are asked to check the weather conditions prior to burning to see if weather conditions are suitable.
Stubble burning with Grassland Fire Danger Index (GFDI) of 25
The table below calculates the average wind speed+ (kilometres per hour) for different temperature (degrees Celsius) and relative humidity (RH) combinations that equate to a Grassland Fire Danger Index (GDFI) of 25.
Stubble burning* must cease for periods when the average wind speed for a particular combination is exceeded.
Is the wind speed too high for me to undertake my stubble burning right now?
Example of a day with temp - 240C and relative humidity of 23%:
- Temperature = 240C (round up to 250C)
- Relatively humidity (RH) = 23% (round down to 20%)
- For the above combination of Temp & RH, stubble burning must cease when the average wind speed+ is greater than 29 kph.
* Stubble burning cannot take place unless a permit is obtained from your local Council and the conditions are right. Please check with your local Council regarding start dates for stubble burning permits in your area.
+ Wind speed average over 10 minutes
Click here to access Native Vegetation Council Information sheet regarding Stubble Burning and Protection of Scattered Trees and Remnant Vegetation.
Click here to access the Reducing Harvester Fire Risk Back Pocket Guide
Any person wishing to light a fire during the above period should seek advice before doing so as severe penalties apply to illegal fires.
For more specific information concerning fire prevention, contact Council's Fire Prevention Officer, Adrian Packer or the CFS website at http://www.cfs.org.au/
STUBBLE BURNING - A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF SMOKE TAINT IN GRAPES
What is the risk of stubble burning affecting grapes?
Given grapes are susceptible to smoke when stubble burning typically occurs, there is a risk that grapes could become tainted from exposure to smoke from stubble burning. The degree of risk will depend on many factors, such as the amount of stubble/ha, the temperature of the burn, wind speed and direction and other environmental conditions, smoke density, the concentration of the volatile phenol compounds, duration of exposure and proximity of the vineyard. While the risk is likely to be less than that associated with a bushfire, because stubble fires are less likely to result in longer-term smoke exposure, there is still a risk.
For more information please click here to read The Australian Wine Research Institute Fact Sheet.