The ACT’s 2017–18 bushfire season officially ended on 31 March, but residents and landowners have been urged to remain prepared.
Acting Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Gordon Ramsay said that while it had been a relatively safe fire season to date, very dry conditions meant there was still a significant bushfire risk to the ACT and surrounding regions.
Mr Ramsay said fire permits were no longer required for rural landholders wishing to conduct burns, but they were still asked to notify authorities if they planned to conduct burns and penalties applied if fires were left unattended or escaped containment.
He said the Emergency Services Agency (ESA) activated preformed Incident Management Teams on two total fire ban days, which ensured they were fully prepared in the event of a fire.
“This preparation proved effective when a small number of grass fires started and our emergency services worked together to quickly bring them under control,” Mr Ramsay said.
“Dedicated volunteers within our fire services remain active all year round, a reminder that despite milder conditions, there is always the potential for fires to threaten life, property and the environment.”
He said the ESA would undertake a review of the season to see what improvements could be made to bushfire preparedness and response for the next bushfire season.
Mr Ramsay also encouraged the community to review their bushfire survival plans during the cooler months.
