Bushfire risk management is a key responsibility for the City, ensuring the safety of the community and the protection of the environment. The City adopts a proactive and integrated approach to minimize fire threats. These efforts reflect the City’s commitment to reducing fire risks and safeguarding the well-being of both residents and local ecosystems.
Fire hazard reduction in City managed reserves
The City employs a variety of fire risk mitigation techniques to protect the community and environment. These include mechanical clearing to reduce vegetation, prescribed burning to manage fuel loads and maintain ecosystems and targeted spraying to control potential fire hazards. Each method is carefully planned and executed as part of the City's comprehensive bushfire management strategy.
Firebreaks are essential for bushfire management, providing safe access for firefighters and helping to contain and control fires effectively. The City maintains all of the firebreaks on its managed land, ensuring they meet strict standards to protect lives, property, and ecosystems.
Hazard reduction burning, also known as controlled burning or prescribed burning, is a fire management technique used to reduce the risk of uncontrolled wildfires. It involves deliberately setting fires under controlled conditions to burn away excess vegetation, such as dead leaves, dropped bark, grasses, and small shrubs, which can act as fuel for larger, more dangerous fires.
Before burning Council undertakes an environmental assessment to determine the biodiversity value of the area and how the burn might impact local plants and animals. Special attention is given to protecting threatened species and timings of burns scheduled to ensure sufficient rain and soil moisture for plant regeneration and seed germination.
Weed control on verges
The City of Armadale undertakes maintenance of roadsides with a combination of slashing and selected herbicide sprays to control the growth of vegetation and weeds throughout each year to assist with fire prevention, visibility and weed control.
Property inspections on private land
Ensuring private properties comply with the City’s Fire-break and Hazard Reduction Notice is vital for bushfire mitigation and community safety.
Each year, from 1 December to 31 March, Fire Control Officers conduct inspections of private properties to confirm compliance, helping to reduce fire risks and safeguard the community.
