Chidlow Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade

31/03/2026

The Shire of Mundaring enters a Restricted Burning period today, Wednesday 1 April 2026

‼️‼️️ Residents will be able to burn one small pile of garden refuse (1m x 1m) without a permit, after 6pm on days when the Fire Danger Rating is not HIGH or above.

✅Before lighting up, check the Fire Danger Rating and weather conditions to ensure burning is permitted at the time. No burning if the Fire Danger Rating is HIGH or above.
✅ One 1sqm pile of garden refuse may be burnt without a permit between 6pm and 11pm
✅ It must be fully extinguished by midnight. This means no heat, smoke, steam or white ash is to be present where the fire is situated.
✅ One able-bodied adult person must be in attendance at ALL times.
✅No more than one pile is to be burnt at any one time
✅ You have a water supply available at all times that can reach the fire and beyond.

📌Please register your burn (08 9395 9209) and advise your neighbours before lighting up.

All other burning requires a permit. For further information, please refer to:
https://www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/fire-safety-rangers/bush-fires-and-fire-management

📌Permits can be obtained online via - https://my.mundaring.wa.gov.au/PileApplication/Create or at the Chidlow Fire Station on Saturday mornings between 9am and 11am

30/03/2026

🔥 Important: “My Bushfire Plan” Closing 🔥

The My Bushfire Plan platform will close at 9.00am Wednesday 01 APR 2026. After this time, you won’t be able to access, update, or share your plan.

If you created a bushfire plan, you’ll receive an email on 31 March with a PDF copy—check your junk folder if it doesn’t appear. You can also log in before 01 APR to download your plan manually.

My Bushfire Plan has now been replaced by the new Emergency WA emergency plan tool, which helps you prepare for bushfire, cyclone, flood, and storm events.

Create your new emergency plan today via the Emergency WA app or website — it includes instant warnings, custom watch zones, and reminders to activate your plan when it matters most.

For more info head to https://mybushfireplan.wa.gov.au/faq

25/03/2026

You may have heard there's some big wind coming over the next few days and into the weekend 🌬

Monitor conditions by visiting www.emergency.wa.gov.au
and follow WA State Emergency Service and of Fire and Emergency Services WA.

⚠ Ensure pets are safe and secure
⚠ Clear your gutters and downpipes
⚠ Have your generator fueled (you're hills people - you know the power will fail)
⚠ Park vehicles under shelter
⚠ Put away or tie down any loose items from your yard or verandah
⚠ Check in with your family, friends, and neighbours

🚒 Be smart and stay safe. Good luck 🚒

20/03/2026

Saturday 21 March 2026 - SHIRE OF MUNDARING (Swan Inland North)

🔥 Fire Danger Rating is EXTREME

⛔ DFES have declared a TOTAL FIRE BAN until 11:59pm, unless extended.
On a Total Fire Ban day, it is illegal to light an open-air fire or conduct any activity that could start a fire. You can find a full list of prohibited activities here - https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/hazard-information/bushfire/total-fire-ban

For up-to-date information about Fire Danger Ratings, Total Fire Bans, Vehicle & Harvest Movement Bans, and other relevant information, including how to sign up for the Shire of Mundaring free SMS service
https://www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/fire-safety-rangers/bush-fires-and-fire-management.

Monitor conditions by visiting www.emergency.wa.gov.au
Please stay vigilant and report ALL smoke/fire to ☎000.
Report suspicious activity to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 00

20/03/2026

If you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between a Total Fire Ban (TFB) and a Harvest Vehicle Movement Ban (HVMB), this video from the Shire of Mundaring explains it really well.

This link from DFES has additional information - https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/hazard-information/bushfire/total-fire-ban

14/03/2026

🚒 Our brigade was called out to the fire in Beechina on Wednesday afternoon, and we’ve been patrolling the area since to ensure everything remains safe. Patrols will continue until at least tomorrow evening.

A big thank you to all the volunteer and career crews who worked alongside us during the incident – your dedication and teamwork are greatly appreciated.

We’d also like to thank the local community for your support and kind words while we’ve been out on the ground. It really means a lot to the team.

11/03/2026

Crashes often happen during bushfires due to poor visibility, high stress and increased adrenalin levels. This leads to confusion, poor decision making, loss of concentration and tunnel vision. Stay safe and leave early.

08/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is “Balancing the Scales” and Chidlow has been leading the way.

We currently have the highest percentage of women in Chidlow brigade compared to any other Shire of Mundaring brigade and we are currently under female leadership which promotes all our female members are included and encouraged to pursue any role they chose to.

04/03/2026

Thursday 5 March 2026 - SHIRE OF MUNDARING (Swan Inland North)

🔥 Fire Danger Rating is EXTREME

⛔ DFES have declared a TOTAL FIRE BAN until 11:59pm, unless extended.
On a Total Fire Ban day, it is illegal to light an open-air fire or conduct any activity that could start a fire. You can find a full list of prohibited activities here - https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/hazard-information/bushfire/total-fire-ban

For up-to-date information about Fire Danger Ratings, Total Fire Bans, Vehicle & Harvest Movement Bans, and other relevant information, including how to sign up for the Shire of Mundaring free SMS service
https://www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/fire-safety-rangers/bush-fires-and-fire-management

Monitor conditions by visiting www.emergency.wa.gov.au
Please stay vigilant and report ALL smoke/fire to ☎000.
Report suspicious activity to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 00

01/03/2026

The National Emergency Management Agency will soon begin testing the new mobile device message alert system, called AusAlert.

AusAlert will allow emergency services organisations across Australia to send targeted, near-instant warning messages to compatible mobile devices during disasters.

AusAlert is designed to complement, not replace, existing local warning channels such as radio, social media, road signage, and on the ground emergency services.

For further information, including times and dates for all tests, go to:
https://www.ausalert.gov.au/

Testing will soon begin for the new Australian Government cell-broadcast message alert system, called AusAlert. 📱

AusAlert will allow emergency services organisations across Australia to send targeted, near-instant warning messages to compatible mobile devices during disasters.

This means authorities can reach people quickly when it matters most, helping to save lives and property.

AusAlert will be operational by October 2026, ahead of the 2026-27 higher risk weather season.

Community testing will take place across urban, regional, and remote areas in all states and territories in June 2026. Locations include:

🔷 Majura, Australian Capital Territory
🔶 Queanbeyan, New South Wales
🔷 Liverpool, New South Wales
🔶 Port Douglas, Queensland
🔷 Geelong, Victoria
🔶 Port Lincoln, South Australia
🔷 Tennant Creek, Northen Territory
🔶 Goomalling, Western Australia
🔷 Launceston, Tasmania

A national test of AusAlert will take place on 27 July 2026.

During the national test, everyone with a compatible mobile device will receive an alert.

Follow National Emergency Management Agency for updates about AusAlert.

Find more information, including times and dates for all tests, at: http://www.ausalert.gov.au/

27/02/2026

☀️ Summer ends this weekend but the fire season does not.

It’s very dry so be careful and keep an eye out. If you see smoke or fire call 000 immediately 🚒

WA, it’s been a spicy summer… and we’re not out of the woods yet 🔥

In the last four months alone, our crews have responded to more than 3,000 bushfires across the state, fuelled by hot, dry and windy conditions.

The latest AFAC Autumn Outlook indicates that warm and dry weather is likely to persist, with increased bushfire risk continuing into autumn — particularly across the South West, Lower South West and Great Southern, where heavy fuel loads will make fires harder to control.

That’s why we’ve extended the Large Air Tanker through to the end of March, with access to additional firefighting resources if required ✈️💙

Our crews are ready, but we need you to be ready too! Create your emergency plan on the Emergency WA app so you know when you’ll leave, where you’ll go and what you’ll take. Set up custom watch zones to receive instant life-saving notifications for your chosen area and stay up to date as incidents happen 📲

📹 Shane Howlett

25/02/2026

Wednesday 25 February 2026 - SHIRE OF MUNDARING (Swan Inland North)

🔥 Fire Danger Rating is EXTREME

⛔ DFES have declared a TOTAL FIRE BAN until 11:59pm unless extended.
On a Total Fire Ban day, it is illegal to light an open-air fire or conduct any activity that could start a fire. You can find a full list of prohibited activities here -
https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/hazard-information/bushfire/total-fire-ban

⚠️Shire of Mundaring has declared a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban between 10am-3pm

The following are examples of activities that are not allowed during a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban:
❌Any “hot works” (e.g. welding, grinding, cutting, heating etc) in the “open air” are not permitted
❌Use or operation of any engine, vehicle, plant, equipment or machinery in the area likely to cause a bush fire or contribute to the spread of a bush fire (eg motor bikes, quad bikes or other motorised vehicles in bush or off-road areas, including paddocks).

🛑 In the interests of community safety, if you have planned to carry out an activity that may pose a fire risk, even if it is not explicitly prohibited by a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban, please postpone the activity until conditions have improved and the restrictions have been lifted.

For up-to-date information about Fire Danger Ratings, Total Fire Bans, Vehicle & Harvest Movement Bans, and other relevant information, including how to sign up for the Shire of Mundaring free SMS service
https://www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/fire-safety-rangers/bush-fires-and-fire-management/bushfire-information-sms-tool/sms-info-tool.aspx

Please stay vigilant and report ALL smoke/fire to ☎000.
Report suspicious activity to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 00