SA Country Fire Service

Media release

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Early start to fire season in four districts

09/10/2014

The Country Fire Service (CFS) has announced an early start to the 2014/15 Fire Danger Season in four of its Fire Ban Districts.

This means the season will start on 15 October in Flinders and on 20 October in Eastern Eyre Peninsula and West Coast Fire Ban Districts which had previously been scheduled to commence on 1 November.

The Fire Danger Season will also start 15 days sooner in the Mid North on 1 November.

This follows a consultation process involving CFS Bushfire Management Committees with a final declaration from the CFS Chief Officer Greg Nettleton to include 15 November as the start date for Yorke Peninsula.

CFS Director Preparedness Operations Leigh Miller said the Bushfire Management Committees have reported significant and widespread increases in grass fuel loads and curing in recent weeks.

"These changes have been assessed against what would normally be expected in these Fire Ban Districts," Mr Miller said.

"As a consequence, the Bushfire Management Committees in these regions have recommended that the Fire Danger Season in four districts be brought forward earlier than normal and another, Yorke Peninsula, to include no change to its start date."

The Fire Danger Season dates for the other 10 districts have not yet been determined.

Mr Miller said the start of the Fire Danger Season for a corresponding Fire Ban District means that no fires can be lit outdoors including fuel-reduction or rubbish burn-offs without a Schedule Nine Permit from a local council.

"It is everyone's responsibility to prepare for bushfires, irrespective of the Fire Ban District they live in, work at or are likely to visit this summer," Mr Miller said.

"I encourage all residents, workers and visitors to any of South Australia's 15 Fire Ban Districts to help reduce their risk by developing a Bushfire Survival Plan," he said.

"Preparing for bushfires is a shared responsibility and action should be taken now."

For more information on restrictions during the Fire Danger Season and how to develop a Bushfire Survival Plan, visit the CFS website at www.cfs.sa.gov.au

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Media information
For media enquiries call the CFS Media Line on 08 8115 3531.

Government of South Australia