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Fire Hazards and Firebreaks

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Please ensure your firebreaks are in place and any slashing is done by 1 November each year, and maintained until 15 April the following year. 

Fire hazards – all properties (vacant or developed) – less than 4,047m2  

Properties under 4,047m2: All flammable materials such as dry grass and weeds must be slashed, mowed or trimmed down to a maximum height of 50mm across the entire property, and all dead vegetation must be removed.  

Firebreak requirements – all properties (vacant or developed) – 4,047m2 or greater 

Properties 4,047m2 or greater: A firebreak is an area where flammable material (such as wood, leaves and grass) has been cleared to provide vehicle access and help minimise the spread of a fire.  

A variety of earth-moving equipment is recommended to undertake this work. Dozers, front-end loaders, graders, tractors, skid-steer loaders, and compact track loaders are all suitable. Traversable surfaces may also be scraped, ploughed, grazed or sprayed with herbicide. 

Considerations 

Have you walked or driven around your firebreaks?  

Do you think a large fire truck like the one to the right could drive the length of your firebreaks? 

Request an inspection 

Ensuring your property meets the City’s Fire Control Order requirements is crucial, especially during fire season. Our Fire and Emergency Management team is here to help and you can request an inspection of your property from one of our knowledgeable Fire Control Officers to ensure it complies with our firebreak requirements.  

This service is available to all residents and is designed to give you peace of mind and provide guidance on how to keep your property and community safe.  

Please contact us if you have any questions about firebreak compliance. 

Graphic showing a truck utilising a firebreak to turn the corner
Fire Control Order variations

A variation is considered when the owner and/or occupier believes it’s impractical to meet the compliance requirements of this Fire Control Order. 

‘Approved structures’ occupying a firebreak don’t require a variation approval but a firebreak needs to be installed as close as practical around it.

If approved, variations will be valid in perpetuity, unless a new variation has been approved or the property changes ownership.

The City of Cockburn reserves the right to review, amend or revoke an existing variation in writing at any time. Should a request to vary the Fire Control Order requirements on your property not be approved in writing, this Fire Control Order must be complied with as applicable in its entirety. 

If you can’t comply with the above requirements, please complete the online Firebreak Variation Application Form.

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City of Cockburn
Whadjuk Boodja
9 Coleville Crescent,
Spearwood 6163

PO Box 1215, Bibra Lake DC,
Western Australia, 6965

Office opening hours:
8.30am to 4.30pm
Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

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Cockburn Nyungar moort Beeliar boodja-k kaadadjiny. Koora, yeyi, benang baalap nidja boodja-k kaaradjiny.
Ngalak kaditj boodjar kep wer kaadidjiny kalyakool yoodaniny, wer koora wer yeyi ngalak Birdiya koota-djinanginy.

The City of Cockburn acknowledges the Nyungar people of Beeliar Boodjar. Long ago, now and in the future they care for Country.
We acknowledge a continuing connection to Land, Waters and Culture and pay our respects to Elders, past and present.