Reducing fire risk is a shared responsibility. Keeping your property well maintained, managing flammable vegetation and understanding local burning restrictions can help protect you, your neighbours and the wider Gawler community.
The Town of Gawler undertakes fire prevention activities and works with emergency services to help reduce risks. Property owners also have an important role to play, particularly during the warmer months.
Prepare for bushfire season
Bushfire preparation should happen all year round, not just when the Fire Danger Season begins.
If you live, work or travel in an area at risk of bushfire, take time to understand your risks and plan what you will do if a fire threatens.
The Country Fire Service (CFS) provides advice to help you prepare your property, protect your family and make informed decisions before a bushfire.
Stay informed
Bushfire Survival Plan
Farm fire safety & prevention
During a fire - what to do
Ensuring a plan is in place and making informed decisions in advance of a bushfire, like whether you should stay in your house or go, will be perhaps the most important decision you and your family can make to protect yourselves.
Fire Danger Season and restrictions
Fire Danger Season dates will be released soon. The decision is based on weather predictions (including the recently declared El Nino and long-term forecasting data from the Bureau of Meteorology), soil moisture observations, fuel curing and predicted fire behaviour this season which are all considered reflective of the risk that communities are facing this year.
As the above date is subject to change, please refer to the CFS website for annual dates.
Council allow burning on some residential properties where the land size is adequate and smoke will not impact nearby residents.
Burning is only permitted in the non-township area between 10am and 3pm Mon - Sat (not on public holidays or Total Fire Ban Days)
- Forward any Fire works permits to - Safework SA G.P.O Box 465, Adelaide SA 5001
During the Fire Danger Season restrictions are placed on lighting fires to reduce the chances of large fires starting.
These restrictions are escalated when a Total Fire Ban Day is declared.
From May 1 through to November 30, rural landowners require a permit to burn under the Environment Protection Act 1993.
The application form can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
Notices are issued from September/October to the end of fire season to the owners/occupants of land to take action to remedy properties assessed to have an unreasonable risk of fire on the land.
Pursuant to Section 105(f) of the Fire and Emergency Services ACT 2005, Land owners are required to take action to protect the property on the land from fire, or to prevent or inhibit the outbreak of fire on the land, or the spread of fire through the land by; The clearing of flammable or potentially flammable undergrowth on the land to a maximum height of 10cm within fourteen (14) days, of receiving a Flammable Undergrowth Notice.
"Flammable Undergrowth means grass, weeds and any other growth which may become flammable if not destroyed in the ordinary course of the season."
If the owner/occupant of the land fails to comply with a notice served upon him/her pursuant to the above Act, council and its agents may enter upon the land and carry out the requirements of such notice. All rural properties are required to have a minimum 5-metre fire break all around the perimeter of the property, even if the property owners have stock on the land, and a 20 metre fire break around any structures, buildings etc. on the property. Residential properties must be completely cleared at a maximum height of 10cm.
Any expense incurred by the council pursuant to the above Act due to noncompliance may be recovered from the said owner/occupier
Bushfire Safer Places
If you live, work or travel in an area where bushfires can occur you need to make a plan that includes places you can relocate to if you are threatened by a bushfire.
There are two categories of places that can be used to shelter from a bushfire that we have identified. The preferred category called Bushfire Safer Places offers the greater level of protection. The second category called Bushfire Last Resort Refuges offers little protection but may provide a central gathering point if all other options aren't available.
Find bushfire safer places in your area:
Additional Information
For more information about fire safety, prevention and restrictions, visit:
- Country Fire Service (CFS)
- South Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
- Alert SA – Emergency warnings and information
- Bushfire Management Area Plan
For Council-specific information about backyard burning, vegetation management or fire prevention requirements see the docuements below or contact Council on 8522 9211