Fire Danger Ratings, Alerts and Warnings

To see the current alerts and warnings go to the Emergency WA Website.

SJ SMS Alert Service

Sign up for the SJ SMS Alert Service to get the latest fire ban information straight to your phone. It’s free, and you can opt in and out at any time. 

The service is aimed at:

• Residents and ratepayers who live on properties that may be impacted by total fire bans, harvest vehicle movement bans and burning permits being suspended.
• Contractors who may be working in the Shire and who may also be impacted by the above. 

The system is for out-bound messages only and is not a method for contacting the Shire.

This service is not an emergency alert system. People living and working in the Shire who witness a fire should always call 000.

The EmergencyWA website continues to provide the most up to date information about fire risk in Western Australia.

To sign up to the SJ SMS Alert Service follow this link https://tinyurl.com/stxu87ps

You will need to provide your contact details and agree to the terms of use. The information provided will only be used for the purpose of providing information from the Shire.

When the Fire Danger Rating is High, Extreme or Catastrophic:

• Permits are automatically suspended.
• Burning (including 1m3 garden refuse) is not allowed.
• You cannot use any BBQ or cooker in the open air that requires solid fuel (wood or charcoal). This includes wood fired ovens or stoves. 

• Campfires are not allowed.

Alerts and Warnings

Western Australia is joining with other States and Territories to deliver nationally consistent emergency information through the Australian Warning System (AWS).

The warning level icons and colours change to reflect the increasing risk to life or property, and the action you need to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

The following warning levels will be applied across all relevant hazards:

Advice	A fire has started but there is no immediate threat to lives or homes.	Be aware and keep up to date.
Watch and Act	There is a possible threat to lives or homes.	You need to leave or get ready to defend – do not wait and see.
Emergency Warning	There is a threat to lives or homes.	You are in danger and need to take immediate action to survive.

Total Fire Ban (TFB)

A Total Fire Ban is declared by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services on days of extreme weather or when widespread fires are seriously stretching firefighting resources. TFBs are generally declared the evening before they take effect. 

When a TFB is declared it prohibits the lighting of any fires in the open air and any other activities that may start a fire. This includes all open air fires for cooking or camping, use of incinerators, welding, grinding, soldering or gas cutting.

For more information including exemptions visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au/totalfirebans

To find out if a TFB has been declared visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au or tune in to 720AM on your radio.

Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans (HVMB)

A Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban prohibits all harvesting operations and all vehicle movements on a property (except for the essential watering of stock using a diesel powered vehicle).

HVMBs remain in place until midnight on the day called or until lifted by the Shire.

A ban may be called on the basis of:

• Unfavourable fire weather conditions.
• Lack of firefighting resources due to existing commitments.
• Public holidays.

The Shire will publish on its website and Facebook page when a HVMB has been declared.

Emergency Alert Telephone Warning System

Emergency Alert is a telephone warning system used to send emergency information to communities via landline and mobile telephones.

The system works by sending voice or text messages to phone numbers based on their service address or location.

It is a national system used by the fire and emergency services in all States and Territories.

To find out more visit the Department of Fire and Emergency Services website.