Rural
9 October, 2023
Register your burn-off online
VICTORIA’S emergency services are encouraging landowners preparing their properties for the upcoming fire season to register burn-offs online in a bid to avoid long telephone wait times. Authorities expect a surge in burn-off registrations over...
VICTORIA’S emergency services are encouraging landowners preparing their properties for the upcoming fire season to register burn-offs online in a bid to avoid long telephone wait times.
Authorities expect a surge in burn-off registrations over the coming weeks.
The Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority’s (ESTA) chief operating officer Nicole Ashworth said while the burn-off registration phone line 1800 668 511 was still available, callers could experience long wait times on days of high demand.
“Using the Fire Permits Victoria website to register your burn-off also ensures ESTA’s fire call-takers can focus their efforts on taking emergency 000 calls,” Ms Ashworth said.
“Earlier this year we experienced days with more than 1200 non-emergency calls to register burn-offs on private land so we’re encouraging people to start pivoting to the easy-to-use Fire Permits Victoria website.”
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan echoed Ms Ashworth’s comments: “Registering your burn-off allows emergency services to verify the fire is a planned burn if 000 receive any good-intent calls to report it as an actual fire.
“Unregistered burns can lead to unnecessary callouts for your local fire brigade,” Mr Heffernan said.
The website allows users to notify emergency services of their burn and to also check and apply for a permit, if necessary.
However, any burn taking place within two hours must be registered via the phone line, on 1800 668 511.
