In Case of Fire Ring 000

Restricted and prohibited burning periods

Restricted
19 September - 31 October
Permit Required

Prohibited 
1 November - 15 February
No burning allowed - permits will not be issued

Restricted
16 February - 15 March
Permit Required

Restricted and Prohibited Burning Periods may be extended at the discretion of the Council, and/or Chief Bush Fire Control Officer.

No permits shall be issued to set fire to bush during the prohibited burning period except for reasons as specified under the Bush Fires Act 1954.

Permits for burning will only be issued during the restricted burning period and are available from your local Fire Control Officer Bush Fire Brigade Contact List 2026-2027

Permits will only be issued if the Fire Control Officer is of the opinion that the weather conditions are suitable, and may apply restrictions.  Failure to comply with the restrictions is an offence.

When a Fire Control Officer refuses to issue a permit, he must advise the Chief Executive Officer that the permit has been refused and details of the grounds for refusal to ensure that a permit is not obtained from another officer.

Fire Response Vehicle Identifier Stickers

To assist authorities to identify vehicles which can assist DFES in bushfire response, DFES and the Shire encourages owners of such vehicles or machinery to apply for a Fire Response Vehicle Identifier windscreen sticker. The stickers are designed to enable passage of approved vehicles through the vehicle control points (road blocks) where approved by the Incident Controller. Appliances or machinery without a Vehicle Identifier sticker may be delayed or prevented from assisting in the response.

Stickers are issued under a number of conditions including:

• the Fire Response Vehicle Identifier is for the purpose of fire response;
• when the vehicle is no longer used as a fire response vehicle (e.g. when sold) the identifier will be removed;
• compliance with the Road Traffic Act 1974;
• the identifier can be revoked by an Incident Controller or authorised person at any time;
• appropriate Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing will be worn at all times;
• the driver will ensure that the vehicle’s presence at an incident is recorded on both arrival and departure;
• Read and understood the “Guidelines for Operating Private Equipment at Fires” publication and will make drivers of the vehicle familiar with this document.

Application forms are available from the Shire Administration Centre or download Fire Response Vehicle Identifier Application

Multiple stickers may be issued to persons with multiple suitable vehicles/equipment – one application form per vehicle is required.

The Shire will utilise SMS to communicate with Vehicle Identifier holders (i.e. upon expiry, or any changes to the scheme), therefore a mobile phone number (or numbers) will be required as part of the application. Stickers will be mailed to the applicant following vetting of the application by the Shire.

All Owners and/or Occupiers of Land within the Shire of Kulin are guided by the Bush Fires Act 1954.

Shire of Kulin Firebreak Order 2026/27

Community Update – Grain Out-loading Areas Removed from 2026/2027 Firebreak Order

The Shire of Kulin has removed the provisions for Registered Grain Out-loading Areas from the 2026/2027 Firebreak Order. The change was unanimously supported by the Shire’s Bush Fire Brigades at its meeting in Pingaring on 10 September 2026 and was subsequently endorsed by Council at its Ordinary Meeting on 23 September 2026.

Registered Grain Out-loading Areas were introduced for the 2025/2026 season to provide an approved arrangement for grain out-loading from registered hardstand areas during a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban. Although the hardstand itself could be maintained as bare earth and supported by operational controls, the review identified uncertainty about responsibility and potential liability if a fire started in connection with the approved activity while a ban was in place.

Fire Control Officers and Council considered whether it was appropriate for the Shire to continue formally registering these areas while this uncertainty remained. On balance, it was agreed that removing the registration system provides the safest and clearest approach for the 2026/2027 season.

What this means for the 2026/2027 harvest: grain out-loading will not be permitted under a Shire-approved Registered Grain Out-loading Area arrangement while a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban is in place.

Chemical usage on road reserves

An application to use chemicals on road reserves for firebreak protection must be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer for approval.

No roadside burning is allowed by any persons within the Shire without the approval of the Council. Anybody who is found to have burnt any roadside vegetation or reserve vested in the Shire, either deliberately, by neglect or carelessness as per the Bush Fires Act 1954, may be made to pay the cost of spraying or re-vegetating the area.

Owners of town blocks can arrange, through the Shire Offices, to have vacant blocks sprayed, slashed, grazed or burnt to clear town lots. Phone the Shire Office on 9880 1204 for further information.

The Shire of Kulin, supplied by Stewart & Heaton and Scavenger Equipment, provides personal protective equipment to Kulin Bush Fire Brigade members. The Shire covers the full cost of one set of protective clothing and 50% of the cost of one face mask and/or pair of fire goggles, per Brigade member.

Please note the clothing design is an exaggerated full cut resulting in a loose-fitting garment. Protective Clothing Order Form is available here.

You must be a registered member of a Bushfire Brigade within the Shire of Kulin and have not placed an order in the past 5 years. Multiple items or ordering other styles will incur charges.
Please return order forms via email – to@kulin.wa.gov.au, or bring them into the Shire Administration Office, attention Jayde Hobson.

FCO's: please ensure all persons likely to attend fires over 16 years of age are registered as brigade members. Non-brigade members have to be authorised to attend a fire by the FCO in charge.

Vehicle Identifier Stickers are also required to identify private vehicles owned by persons pre-authorised by the Shire of Kulin to enter the fire ground and assist with emergency response operations.  New stickers valid to 30 Sept 2028 are available from the Shire office email shire@kulin.wa.gov.au.

This is necessary to be covered by Bushfire Insurance.