Firebreak inspections underway

Firebreaks are a simple way to help protect people and properties from fire by creating a strip of cleared or ploughed land to allow easy access for emergency vehicles during a fire.

They must extend around the entire perimeter of the land immediately inside the boundary and are a legal requirement.

Firebreaks must be installed by 1 November each year and maintained until the following April.

Director Community and Place, Debbie Terelinck, said drones were being used to conduct firebreak inspections in areas such as Two Rocks and Yanchep, where properties are generally large and feature expanses of natural bushland.

“Firebreak inspections are vital but labour intensive with Rangers often needing to arrange access to properties and manually take photographs,” Ms Terelinck said.

“Using drones to inspect large properties saves time and is less intrusive for residents as Rangers don’t need to meet with property owners,” she said.

In semirural areas, Rangers are continuing to manually conduct inspections.

Inspections have been carried out in suburbs including Eglinton, Alkimos, Pinjar, Mindarie, Tamala Park, Carramar, Banksia Grove, Tapping, Ashby, Sinagra and Jandabup.

Any properties which have not installed firebreaks, or have installed insufficient firebreaks, will have already received reminder letters and second inspections will commence within the next two weeks.

Inspections in other areas will also take place within the next two weeks, with second inspections taking place in early January.

If firebreaks are not completed by the time second inspections are carried out, infringements will be issued and firebreak contractors will install firebreaks during February, at a cost to property owners.

For more information about firebreak requirements, visit the City’s website www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/firebreaks.

For more information about drone inspections taking place during December and January, please contact Ranger Services on 9405 5000.