Firebreaks

A firebreak means a strip of land which has been cleared of all flammable material such as wood, leaves and grass that is likely to be ignited and capable of burning. It must be trafficable, meaning it must be accessible by a fire appliance and cleared of vegetation to a maximum height of 50mm, without any obstruction to the vehicle. A firebreak cannot terminate or lead to a dead end.

While firebreaks do not actually stop fires or prevent them, they can provide vehicle and other access for firefighters during a bushfire and assist with the prevention of fires spreading.

Landowners can clear firebreaks by ploughing, grading, cultivating, scarifying, raking, burning and chemical spraying (reticulated and maintained green lawn is acceptable as a firebreak).

Most properties under 1000m² will automatically comply if dead leaves and twigs have been cleared, trees and shrubs are pruned and lawns are kept short and green where possible.  

Firebreaks must be in place by 1 November each year and maintained until 30 April the following year. This is a requirement under the Bush Fires Act 1954 Section 33.

The City of Wanneroo conducts firebreak inspections from 1 November each year on properties that are classified high risk. Inspections will be carried out by trained Fire Control Officers who are authorised to enter a property by foot, vehicle, quad bike and/or drone.

Fire mitigation requirements are dependent on your property size. Visit the City's mapping system to check the size of your property and follow the below instructions:

• Select ‘House Search’ towards the bottom left of the screen
• Type in your address and click ‘Search’
• Your property size will be displayed in the column on the right-hand side of the screen under 'Area'. It will be displayed in square metres (M) or hectares (H).

Requirements based on property size are listed below:

Fire management for land LESS than 4000m²

• Maintain grasses and flammable materials, with the exception of living trees, on the entire property to a height of no more than 50 millimetres.  The entire property is required to be maintained below 50 millimetres from 1 November each year until 30 April the following year

OR

• A 3 metre wide trafficable firebreak as close as possible to all external boundaries of the property must be installed by 1 November each year and maintained until 30 April the following year
• If it is not possible to install the firebreak adjacent to the external boundary of the property due to naturally occurring obstacles, it is acceptable to install the firebreak around the obstacle.  If this requires the firebreak to be greater than 5 metres away from the external boundary, a firebreak variation is required. 
• Ensure a minimum vertical clearance of 4 metres is maintained along the firebreaks to enable vehicles to drive along the firebreaks without access being obstructed.
• Where a property is affected by an approved bushfire management plan, property owners must still comply with all requirements in the Firebreak Notice and with any additional requirements outlined within that plan.
• Additional mitigation work may be required by a Fire Control Officer to maintain a 20 metre asset protection zone around buildings. 

Fire management for land GREATER than 4000m²

• A 3 metre wide trafficable firebreak as close as possible to all external boundaries of the property must be installed by 1 November each year and maintained until 30 April the following year
• If it is not possible to install the firebreak adjacent to the external boundary of the property due to naturally occurring obstacles, it is acceptable to install the firebreak around the obstacle.  If this requires the firebreak to be greater than 5 metres away from the external boundary, a firebreak variation is required. 
• Ensure a minimum vertical clearance of 4 metres is maintained along the firebreaks to enable vehicles to drive along the firebreaks without access being obstructed;
• Install and maintain a 20 metre bare earth area around all hay stacks and fuel storage.
• Where a property is affected by an approved bushfire management plan, property owners must still comply with all requirements in the Fire Mitigation Notice and with any additional requirements outlined within that plan.
• Additional mitigation work may be required by a Fire Control Officer to maintain a 20 metre asset protection zone around buildings.

Fire management for all vacant land GREATER than 4000m²

• A 3 metre wide trafficable firebreak as close as possible to all external boundaries of the property must be installed by 1 November each year and maintained until 30 April the following year.
• Ensure a minimum vertical clearance of 4 metres is maintained along the firebreaks to ensure vehicles can drive along the firebreaks without being impeded by tree branches.
• For pastoral and grassed properties in rural and semi-rural areas, if the land is an area of 50,000sqm (5 hectares) or greater, the grass must be maintained on the land to a height of no greater than 50 millimetres for a distance of 10 metres from any firebreak.

If it is considered impracticable for any reason to implement any of the above requirements, an application for a firebreak variation must be made no later than 18th October of each year to the City of Wanneroo for permission to provide alternative fire mitigation measures and will remain in effect unless significant changes to the property occur or the City of Wanneroo revokes the variation.

If permission is not granted, the above requirements must be complied with. 

Please use the form below to apply for a variation to your fire break.

You will be required to upload a map of the proposed variation. If you require assistance before completing this form please contact Community Safety and Emergency Management on (08) 9405 5000.

Apply for a Firebreak Variation online form

This image shows a compliant firebreak; 3m wide and trafficable with a vertical clearance of not less than 4m.

Non-compliant firebreak.

If a property owner has failed to meet the requirements outlined in the Fire Mitigation Notice, they will be fined $250 and be required to carry out necessary work. Continued failure to comply may incur penalties of up to $5000 and the works required will be carried out by the City of Wanneroo at the expense of the owner/occupier.

If you are concerned a neighbouring property is not compliant, please call the City’s Emergency Management team on (08) 9405 5000. 

In addition to the requirements of the Fire Mitigation Notice, further works may need to be carried out to reduce the risk of bushfire which are considered necessary by a City of Wanneroo Authorised Officer and in line with the City’s Bushfire Risk Management Plan. Landowners who need to carry out further works will be notified via a separate letter to the address of the owner/s as shown on the City of Wanneroo rates record for the relevant land.

The City strongly recommends creating a 20 metre asset protection zone around buildings.

For further information call the City of Wanneroo Community Safety and Emergency Management Team on (08) 9405 5000.