Annual Fire Prevention

The Rural City of Wangaratta reminds residents to prepare for this year’s fire season. Fire Prevention is a shared community responsibility and anyone who lives near bush, forest or grassland needs to prepare their property for fire. Reducing the vegetation around your home is one of the most important things you can do to keep you home safe. 

Council has an inspection and enforcement role to minimise risk on private land and has responsibilities as a landowner and land manager with respect to some public land. The protection of life and property is paramount so where risks are identified Council’s Municipal Fire Prevention Officer will issue a notice to the property owner responsible for the identified hazard. 

In the past month Council’s Fire Prevention Officer has issued almost 200 Municipal Fire Prevention Notices to property owners requesting they reduce their fire hazard, the majority of these properties are in residential areas, but some have been issued in farm zones. Recipients of a Municipal Fire Prevention Notice will receive simple, clear instructions on how to remove the risk, and a date by which that needs to be done. 

If you require more information regarding what you can and cannot do during the declared fire season, please refer to the Warnings & Restrictions page of the Country Fire Association (CFA) website. 

Residents are also advised to have a fire and emergency plan in place for their household, for more information please refer to the Plan & Prepare page of the CFA’s website.