Bushfire Control & Fire Information

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Restricted and Prohibited Burning Periods

Restricted and Prohibited Burning Periods may be extended at the discretion of the Shire of Corrigin. Please check with your Fire Control Officer to ascertain whether a permit is required before burning.

Harvesting is not permitted on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

UNRESTRICTED BURNING PERIOD 16 April - 18 September No permit required
RESTRICTED BURNING PERIOD 19 September - 31 October Permit required
PROHIBITED PERIOD PERIOD 1 November - 15 February No burning allowed
RESTRICTED BURNING PERIOD 16 February - 15 April Permit required

Obtaining a Burning Permit

Permits for burning during the restricted burning period are available from your local Bush Fire Control Officer; please refer to the list below.

Burning is not permitted during the restricted burning period, or on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Persons burning without permits during the Restricted Burning Period or on days when a High or greater fire weather warning has been issued may be prosecuted.

Fire Control Officers

Fire Control Officers
Chief Bush Fire Control Officer Greg Evans 0429 657 021
Deputy Chief Bush Fire Control Officer Steven Bolt 0427 652 043

Bilbarin Brigade

Bilbarin Brigade - Bushfire Control Officers (FCO's)
Name Phone Mobile Phone
Sandow Jacobs 0427 652 042
Steven Bolt (DCBFCO) 9065 2043 0427 652 043
Paul McBeath 9062 9024 0427 629 024

Bullaring Brigade

Bullaring Brigade Information - Bushfire Control Officers (FCO's)
Name Phone Mobile Phone
Juan Baker 0427 378 970
Greg Evans (CBFCO) 9065 7021 0429 657 021
Craig Jespersen 9888 7075 0427 887 075
Joel Bell 0429 657 097

Bulyee / Kunjin Brigade

Bulyee/Kunjin Brigade - Bushfire Control Officers (FCO's)
Name Phone Mobile Phone
Kim Sturges 0488 658 040
Craig Poultney 9062 9130 0427 454 002
John Hewett 9063 2480 0427 632 480
Braden Grylls 9065 8006 0428 658 048

Corrigin East Brigade

Corrigin East Brigade - Bushfire Control Officers (FCO's)
Name Phone Mobile Phone
Tim George 9065 5045 0427 655 045
Kim Courboules   0427 632 624
Bruce Talbot 9063 2132 0427 632 224

Corrigin Central Brigade

Corrigin Central Brigade - Bushfire Control Officers (FCO's)
Name Phone Mobile Phone
Garrick Connelly 9063 2286 0488 632 107
Adam Rendell 9063 2291 0427 632 291
Corey Weguelin 0427 312 448
Natalie Manton 9063 2203 0427 425 727
Roger Northey (CESM) 0448 494 027

Total Fire Bans

A Total Fire Ban is declared by the Minister for Emergency Services through the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) on days of extreme weather or when widespread fires are seriously stretching firefighting resources. Total Fire Bans can be declared at any time of the year.

On a Total Fire Ban day, it is illegal to light an open-air fire or conduct any activity that could start a fire. 

NOT PERMITTED

  • Burning
  • Fires
  • Hot works
  • Activities that may start or cause a fire, including open fires for the purpose of cooking or camping, wood or charcoal fuelled smokers, bbqs, and pizza ovens, incinerators, welding, grinding, soldering, or gas cutting.

Any burning permits held by residents/landowners are suspended until the ban is over.

You can find the full list of Permitted and Prohibited activities HERE.

Harvest and Movement of Vehicle Bans

A Harvest and Movement of Vehicle Ban includes harvesting and the movement of vehicles in paddocks, except vehicles carrying water to stock.

Various Fire Control Officers and Executive Officers of the Shire of Corrigin are authorised to impose Harvest and Movement of Vehicle Bans during high fire risk periods. An automatic ban is placed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and when a wild fire is active within the Shire.

ACTIVITIES NOT PERMITTED 

  • Harvesting operations
  • Movement of vehicles in the bush and/or on ungazetted roads
  • Movement of vehicles across paddocks and grassed areas
  • Hot works e.g. welding, grinding, cutting
  • Any other use of an engine, vehicle, plant, equipment, or machinery in an area conducive to the outbreak or spread of a bushfire.

ACTIVITIES PERMITTED 

  • Movement of vehicles on gazetted roads
  • Movement of vehicles on a lane, driveway, yard or other area that provides access to any residential, farming, or business premises, if the area has been sufficiently cleared of inflammable material to prevent the escape of fire
  • Use or operation of a vehicle or equipment for the prevention of an immediate risk to health and/or safety of a person and/or livestock
  • Contractors carting lime, gypsum, or fertilizer can enter paddocks to unload provided a manned fire unit with at least 500 litres of water is in attendance

The responsibility remains on the individual to be aware if a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban is currently in place. Persons undertaking prohibited activities during a Harvest and Movement of Vehicle Ban may be prosecuted.

WHERE TO CHECK?

  • Listen to the local ABC Radio Station for the daily harvest ban notices
  • Register for the Shire of Corrigin SMS Service for harvest ban alerts

Roadside Burning and Spraying

No roadside burning or spraying is allowed by any person within the Shire without the approval of the CEO. Please contact the CEO to discuss your plans for roadside burning or spraying to reduce the fire hazard in your area.

Firebreak Order 2026/2027

Pursuant to the powers contained in section 33 of the Bush Fires Act 1954, you are hereby required on or before 31 October 2026, to plough, scarify, cultivate, spray or otherwise clear and thereafter maintain free of all inflammable material until 15 April 2027 mineral earth Firebreaks in the following dimensions, on the land owned or occupied by you.

1. Rural Land

  1. Mineral earth firebreaks of not less than 2.44 metres (8 feet) in width must be constructed along and within 20 metres of all external boundaries of the property owned or occupied by you. If any portion of the land adjoins a public road or railway line, a firebreak must also be constructed along that boundary.
  2. Property in excess of 250 hectares shall have fire mineral earth firebreaks positioned as necessary to divide land into areas not exceeding 250 hectares each completely surrounded by a mineral        earth firebreak.
  3. Clear and maintain mineral earth firebreaks at least 2.44 metres (8 feet) wide within 20 metres of the perimeter of any building or group of buildings, fuel tanks, hayshed or haystack, in such a              manner as to fully encircle the structure/s. In addition to mineral earth Firebreaks, a 20 metre wide low fuel zone is required to be maintained around any building or group of buildings, fuel tanks,        hayshed or haystack. Low fuel means the removal of inflammable material, dead trees, leaf litter and trash and the removal of dead branches to a height of 1.5 metres from live standing trees.            Grass is to be slashed to a height not exceeding 100mm.
  4. During any period when harvesting operations are being conducted, there shall be provided an operational mobile firefighting unit with a minimum capacity of 500 litres of water located in or                immediately adjacent to the paddock being harvested. The responsibility to supply the unit is that of the landowner/occupier.

2. Townsites

  1. Where the area of the land is 0.2 hectares (one half of one acre) or less, you shall clear all inflammable material on the land from the whole of the land.
  2. Where the area of the land exceeds 0.2 hectares (one half of one acre), you shall clear of all inflammable material, mineral earth Firebreaks not less than 2.44 metres (8 feet) wide immediately            inside all external boundaries of the land, and also immediately surrounding all buildings, haystacks and fuel ramps situated on the land, and also immediately surrounding any drums or drums            situated on the land which are normally used for the storage of fuel, whether they contain fuel or not.
  3. All grass must be maintained to a height of no more than 100mm

3. General Provisions

The term 'inflammable material' or the purpose of this notice includes bush (as defined in the Bush Fires Act 1954), timber, boxes, cartons, paper, and the like inflammable materials, rubbish and
any combustible matter, but does not include buildings, green standing trees and bushes or growing bushes or plants in gardens or lawns.

If it is considered to be impractical for any reason to provide mineral earth firebreaks in the position or adhere to the provisions required by this notice, the written approval of Council or a duly authorised officer must be obtained to prepare such mineral earth firebreaks in an alternative position. If permission is not granted by Council or a duly authorised officer you shall comply with the requirements of this order.

The term 'mineral earth firebreak' means an area of the owner(s)/occupiers(s) land, cleared and maintained totally clear of all vegetation material (living or dead) so there is only mineral earth left.

4. Inspections

All properties will be inspected from 31 October 2026 to ensure they comply with these requirements. Failure to comply will result in an infringement being issued.

The penalty for failing to comply with this Order is a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5000) and a person in default is also liable, whether prosecuted or not, to pay the cost of performing the work directed by this notice, if it is not carried out by the owner or occupier by the date required by this notice.

5. General Information

Responsibility

Section 28 of the Bush Fires Act 1954 provides that where a bush fire is burning during prohibited or restricted times, the occupier of the land shall forthwith, whether he or she has lit or caused such fire to be lit or not, take all possible steps to extinguish the fire.  Where owners or occupiers fail to extinguish the fire a Bush Fire Control Officer may take all proper measures to extinguish such fire and the expenses of that action are recoverable from owners and occupiers.

Penalties

Penalties apply for failure to comply with these regulations.

Townsite Garden Refuse

Provided a fire danger forecast of catastrophic, extreme or high fire danger has not been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, garden refuse may be burnt at any time; day or night, in a properly constructed incinerator designed to prevent the escape of sparks or burning material. The incinerator must not be situated less than 2 metres from any building or fence and the area of 2 metres surrounding the incinerator is clear of flammable material.

Garden refuse and refuse on the ground may only be burnt between the hours of 6pm and 11pm and the fire must be completely extinguished by not later than midnight on that day. An area of 5 metres must be cleared all around the site of the fire and a person must remain in attendance at the site during the whole time that the fire is burning. A person must not burn garden refuse at any place at any time when there is a Total Fire Ban in force.

Information for Bush Fire Brigade Volunteers

Becoming a Volunteer

If you are interested in becoming a member of a local bush fire brigade, please contact the relevant Brigade Captain for assistance. Contacts can be found in the Restricted and Prohibited Burning Periods section above. You will need to complete an application form, which must be signed by the Brigade Captain and/or Secretary before submitting it to the Shire for processing.

Application Form

Updating Your Details

If you are already a brigade member and need to update your contact or personal details, please complete the update details form and return it to the Shire office.

Updating Details Form

LGIS Volunteer Handbook

The LGIS Bushfire Volunteer Handbook is a practical resource designed to support the health and safety of bushfire volunteers in Western Australia. It outlines key responsibilities under the Work Health and Safety Act, highlights common risks and hazards encountered during volunteer work, and includes guidance on protective equipment, wellbeing, and safe work practices.

LGIS Volunteer Handbook

Policies and Procedures

This document outlines the policies and procedures that guide the operations of local bush fire brigades, including volunteer conduct, safety protocols, chain of command, and emergency response procedures. Volunteers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with these to ensure compliance and safety on the fire ground.

Policies & Procedures

Training

Rural Fire Awareness is a minimum requirement for all volunteers and can be completed online through the volunteer hub.

Bushfire Safety Awareness has an online portion and has a face-to-face follow up sessions required to be completed within 6 weeks of completing the online component. 

DFES have created a step-by-step guide on how to login to the volunteer hub and access the eAcademy, the guide is available below 

If there are any issues with gaining access to the volunteer hub or eAcademy, the DFES region training support officer can assist: TSO.uppergreatsouthern@dfes.wa.gov.au or 0429 662 904.

Training Program Overview

Volunteer Hub and eAcademy Access Instructions

DFES Guidelines - Private use of Vehicles

DFES has guidelines for the private use of vehicles and equipment on the fire ground, which includes information on insurance coverage, safety responsibilities, and the limitations of using personal assets during emergency operations. All volunteers should review this guidance before deploying their own equipment.

DFES Guidelines - Private use of Vehicles

PPE and Uniform Ordering

Volunteers are issued with essential personal protective equipment (PPE) including jackets, pants, gloves, goggles, and other safety gear. Please complete the PPE/Uniform order form and submit it to the Shire office or email it to: eso@corrigin.wa.gov.au 

PPE/Uniform Ordering Form

Bush Fires Act 1954

The Bush Fires Act 1954 is the primary legislation governing bush fire control and prevention in Western Australia. It defines the powers and responsibilities of local governments, fire control officers, and volunteers, and outlines enforcement mechanisms, permits, and penalties.

Bush Fires Act 1954

Bush Fire Local Law 2024

The Bush Fire Local Law 2024 supports the implementation of the Bush Fires Act at a local level. It covers firebreak requirements, hazard reduction measures, prohibited and restricted burning periods, and enforcement provisions specific to the Shire of Corrigin.

Bush Fire Local Law 2024

Animal Welfare in Emergencies

Owners and carers of animals are encouraged to develop their own 'Plan for Animal Welfare in Emergencies' (PAWE), as part of their Emergency Plans for hazards they face. Advice on what to include in an owner or carer PAWE is included in the factsheet below. 

The following fact sheets are  available to help owners and carers of animals prepare for emergencies. They are available as both a single sided fact sheet or with the PAWE on the reverse side for printing at home.

    Contact the State Animal Welfare Emergency Coordinator for more information.