Harvey’s restricted burning period set to stay and could be extended again

The Shire of Harvey’s restricted burning period has been extended for two weeks with the potential to be extended even further amid dry conditions.

The requirement for landowners to acquire a permit before lighting fires on their land was set to end at midnight on May 15 but has been extended until May 29, with shire chief bush fire control officer Wayne Jackson saying the decision was not made lightly.

“We had that rain a couple of weeks ago, like a fair bit of it, and I thought, excellent, we won’t have to extend it,” he said.

“But then I started to go north and I realised (it is) still dry, like it’s still really dry.”

Mr Jackson said despite the cold nights, the weather was still warm meaning there was still a risk to the community.

“I’ve talked to the farmers, and they’re saying the ground is still warm,” he said.

With no significant amount of rain expected for another month, Mr Jackson said there was a chance the restricted burning period would have to be extended further.

“There’s a lot to consider and I know it’s about inconvenience for people,” he said.

“So we don’t do it lightly, but when it’s got to be done, it’s got to be done.”

Leschenault Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade captain Mick Papalia last week told the Reporter while the restrictions could be extended, it was good to see community members following the rules.

“People are now starting to realise there is a danger if they go outside of the rules. Not only because you get fined, but because it endangers the community,” he said.

“I think from 2017 after Yarloop things really started to improve. I think now everybody realises these things happen and it doesn’t happen often, but when it does — you look at Yarloop — and (it’s) lives lost and property damaged.

“You do the wrong thing and there’s consequences. You’d hate to be the one person that had a fire outside of the permit and it got away and caused a Yarloop-type incident.”