Register your burn-off early and online

THE number of burn-offs is predicted to increase considerably as the weather improves, and emergency services are urging landowners to register burn-offs as early as possible.

Hundreds of thousands of Victorians are expected to take advantage of the spring conditions and begin preparing their property ahead of an earlier start to fire season, leading to a surge in burn-off registrations.

The quickest and easiest way to register your burn-off is by using the Fire Permits Victoria website at firepermits.vic.gov.au

Emergency Services Communications Authority (ESTA) chief operating officer Nicole Ashworth said while the burn-off registration phone line was still available, people seeking a permit could experience long wait times on days of high demand.

“Using the Fire Permits Victoria website to register your burn-off also ensures ESTA’s fire call takers can focus their efforts on taking emergency triple zero calls.

“Earlier this year, we experienced days with more than 1,200 non-emergency calls to register burn-offs on private land, so we’re encouraging people to start pivoting to the easy-to-use Fire Permits Victoria website.”

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said the Fire Permits Victoria website was the preferred platform for people to register their burns

“By registering your burn-offs it allows emergency services to verify the fire is a planned burn if Triple Zero receive any good intent calls to report it as an actual fire.

“Unregistered burns can lead to unnecessary call-outs for your local fire brigade.”

The Fire Permits Victoria website allows you to notify emergency services of your burn, and also check and apply for a permit, if necessary.

However, if your burn is taking place within the next two hours, you must register your burn via the phone line.

Fire permits are free, but people are asked to apply as early as possible. At busier periods during the fire season, fire permit processing may take up to two weeks.

Before you notify the CFA, make sure you:

• Follow regulations or laws by CFA and local council
• Notify your neighbours if the burn will generate fire and smoke
• Check the weather conditions are safe to burn, and postpone your activity if high fire risk conditions develop
• Establish a gap in vegetation or fire break of no less than three metres cleared of all flammable material
• Have enough people to monitor, contain and extinguish the burn safely and effectively, and
• Never leave a burn-off unattended.

For more information about burning off safely, head to cfa.vic.gov.au/burnoff

To contact ESTA’s burn-off registration line, phone 1800 668 511.