By Meg Kennedy<\/p>\n
When the clock struck midnight on Monday, 12 November, the Moorabool Shire officially entered the 2018\/19 Fire Danger Period (FDP).
\nAlthough this means certain fire restrictions will come into practice, the period includes the implementation of the Moorabool-centric Zero Tolerance strategy, which means it is a criminal offence to start a fire, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
\nDuring the Fire Danger Period, fires cannot be lit in the open air without a written permit from CFA or a Municipal Fire Prevention Officer. FDPs are based on local conditions and take into account fuel moisture, fuel loads, grassland curing, weather and rainfall.
\nThe Zero Tolerance strategy is a joint-initiative by Victoria Police, CFA and Moorabool Shire Council, first implemented during the 2005\/06 bushfire season. Bacchus Marsh Fire Brigade First Deputy Officer Nathan Ractliffe said that there will be \u201cno warnings\u201d for offenders who light fires during the period and can lead to prosecution.
\nMr. Ractliffe says Moorabool \u201chasn\u2019t had a significant fire act\u201d within the decade of its beginning, and that there are three messages the residents of Moorabool should be aware of.
\n\u201cReport all suspicious activities by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, call Triple-Zero in the case of a fire emergency, and act and prepare for the fire season, no matter whether you\u2019re in a rural or suburban area,\u201d he said.
\nMoorabool Shire Mayor Paul Tatchell said the municipality \u201chas 11 communities identified by the Victorian Fire Risk Register as being at high risk of bushfire, so we all need to do all we can to minimise the risk.\u201d
\nFor more information on what you can or can\u2019t do in the upcoming bushfire season, visit https:\/\/www.cfa.vic.gov.au\/warnings-restrictions\/can\/.
\nTo register a burn-off in the upcoming season, contact the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) on 1800 668 511.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Meg Kennedy When the clock struck midnight on Monday, 12 November, the Moorabool Shire officially entered the 2018\/19 Fire Danger Period (FDP). Although this means certain fire restrictions will come into practice, the period includes the implementation of the Moorabool-centric Zero Tolerance strategy, which means it is a criminal offence to start a fire, […]<\/p>\n