Total Fire Bans

A Total Fire Ban (TFB) is declared by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) when we are experiencing extreme weather or bushfires are seriously stretching firefighting resources. Total Fire Bans are generally declared the evening before they take effect.

Any permits which have been issued are suspended during a Total Fire Ban. 

When a Total Fire Ban is declared any activities that include the lighting of any fires in the open air and any other activities that may start a fire are prohibited.

These activities include-

• All open air fires for cooking or camping such as use any barbecue, smoker, wood fired pizza ovens, pellet smokers and kettle barbecues or cooker that requires solid or liquid fuel such as methylated spirits, kerosene, wood, briquettes, wood pellets or charcoal in an area that is not fully enclosed. Undercover areas such as patios, pergolas and huts are not considered fully enclosed as they are generally partially open.
• Camp Fires or Bon Fires
• Burning off of Vegetation on your property
• Backyard fire pits
• Outdoor use of a welder or power operated abrasive cutting discs of any kind including grinding, soldering, gas cutting and all other forms of ‘hot work’.
• Use a vehicle off-road such as in the bush, paddock or any land which contains vegetation (alive or dead). You can only use a vehicle on a road, track or in an area which does not contain vegetation i.e. sand, clay. The only exception is if the activity is part of Agricultural Activity and a HVMB has not been issued by the Shire of Morawa.
• Use of incinerators

For more information including exemptions visit  DFES Website

Or to find out if there is a Total Fire Ban in Place visit  Emergency WA Website

or you can download the Total Fire Ban fact sheet from DFES.  

Total Fire Ban Fact Sheet

Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans

Due to Morawa's hot and dry climate Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans must be followed to avoid the possibility of causing a  bush fire, particularly during hotter parts of the year.

All Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans (HVMB) are issued by the Shire of Morawa and are advertised on our website or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/shireofmorawa

The Shire of Morawa also has a dedicated SMS facility that will send a Text Message directly to your Mobile device when Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban's are issued.

To be included in this service please contact the Shire of Morawa administration on (08)9971 1204 or admin@morawa.wa.gov.au.

Many factors come into account when a Ban is issued these include-

• Unfavourable fire weather conditions.
• Extreme weather (heat or wind)
• Lack of firefighting resources due to existing commitments.

When a HVMB is issued you are prohibited from operating anything that is operated by an internal combustion engine on land with vegetation, for example:

• Harvesting
• Driving cars, ATV’s or motorbikes  
• Operating drill rigs/machinery
• Clearing vegetation including clearing as part of road construction
• Slashing road verges
• Lawn mowing services by businesses or local governments.

NO harvesting operations are permitted on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. A separate fire fighting appliance is required to be present in any paddock being harvested, chaining, raking stubble, straw baling and associated allied activities during restricted and prohibited periods. The fire fighting unit must be in a state of readiness and have a minimum capacity of 400 litres of water, a powered pump and hose. The farm fire fighting unit should be parked on bare ground in or near the harvesting or working area.

A Harvesting and Vehicle Movement Ban and Use of Internal Combustion Engines (except for the watering and movement of stock) will be imposed when the actual weather conditions reach a Fire Behaviour Index (FBI) rating of Thirty Two (32) or above at the weather stations of two (2) Bush Fire Control Officers. All such bans are at the discretion of the Chief Bush Fire Control Officer or a duly appointed person.

Fines for not breaching a declared Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban come under Regulation 24C penalties include $1,000 infringement, $25,000 fine, and/or 12 months in jail for serious violations. Under regulation 38A an infringement of $250 or a $5000 fine.