Burnoff gives warning

By Tania Martin
A CLOUD of black smoke billowed into the sky last week after a burnoff in Silvan got out of hand.
Silvan fire brigade Captain Stewart Parker said the burnoff escaped through a heap of mulch under some Cyprus trees and burnt a six foothigh pile of plastic crates.
The fire broke out shortly after 3.45pm on Monday, 17 October, but a quick response by the Silvan and Monbulk fire brigades had the fire contained to the plastic crates.
Captain Parker said units from Seville and Mt Evelyn also provided backup support.
Region 13 Country Fire Authority operations officer Tony Bearzatto said with any burnoff there was always a risk, but people needed to be vigilant in checking they were burning off at appropriate times.
Mr Bearzatto said people needed to assess the wind, heat and humidity conditions before burning off.
He said those who were burning off should also make sure they complied with the council’s bylaws and burn off at the right time.
Shire of Yarra Ranges manager of community relations James Martin has urged residents to observe the local laws or face fines of up to $2000.
He said the move from winter restrictions permitted residents to burn off from Thursday to Monday, for an extra three hours each day, between 10am and 6pm.
Mr Martin said if residents could not burn debris, the council’s green waste collection service would run from Monday, 7 November to Sunday, 18 December, with information being dropped in letter boxes two weekends before collection.
He said a second collection period would follow in February and March. Mr Bearzatto said even if there had been rain it didn’t always mean it was safe to burnoff.
He said now was the time for people living in the Hills to start clearing up before the onset of the summer months.
Mr Bearzatto said burning off was not always the best option to get rid of unwanted garden waste, and some people might consider taking it to a nearby landfill site instead.