Darlington Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade

The ComCen will page our members who are on duty.

For general Brigade enquiries please ring 9299 7217. Station hours: Saturday 9am-10:30am.

Web: darlingtonfire.org.au • Facebook: Darlington Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade • Instagram: dvbfb_

Next meeting: Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at the Darlington Fire Station.

Unfortunately there is no way to predict when and where a fire will start, so preparedness and vigilance are the key. So what can you as individuals do?

• Consider joining, or starting a Bushfire Ready Group in your street.

• Prepare your own property by maintaining fire breaks, trimming trees (including removing branches up to 2 metres above ground), removing built up leaf litter, creating a 20m protection zone around buildings, and cleaning out gutters.

• Encourage your neighbours to do the same things.

• Immediately report any sightings of smoke or fire to 000 in circumstances that is likely to set fire to the bush, including by throwing it from a vehicle, could face a costly fine of $25,000 and/or 12 months in jail. If you see someone carelessly dispose of a cigarette you can report it to Keep Australia Beautiful WA.

• Note and report any suspicious activity to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

If you notice that fire breaks and emergency access tracks are being blocked with unauthorised objects such as boulders, tree stumps, or other obstructions, please take the following in to account. Whilst we appreciate that reckless trail bike and 4wd use damages the environment and causes a nuisance, those tracks also provide vital access for emergency services. Unauthorised and unknown blocking of tracks could prevent timely access during an emergency to protect life and property, or cause injury to emergency services personnel trying to clear the obstruction. If you have concerns about unauthorised track usage or blocking of tracks, please contact the Shire of Mundaring or the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to discuss management options.

When hearing fire crews reporting the causes of fires, a common reason is “discarded cigarette butt”. Please be aware that discarding cigarette butts is not only an offence, it has the potential to start fires that could cause damage, loss of property and loss of life. You can help minimise the likelihood of fires by disposing of cigarette butts responsibly and encouraging others do the same. Ensure your cigarette butt is fully extinguished before disposing of it and never throw a cigarette butt from a vehicle. Throwing away a cigarette butt can attract a fine of $200. In particular, during a Total Fire Ban, any person who disposes of burning tobacco, or a burning cigarette, cigar or match

Most people regularly use social media sites to get information about warnings and active fires, and most Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades, Darlington included, have public Facebook pages or groups for information. But be aware that during a fire these pages may not be updated as the volunteers are attending the incident. There are also a number of community Facebook groups, such as ‘Perth Hills Fire Chat’ and ‘EASE WA’. Whilst social media sites can provide quick updates, please be mindful that they are not always accurate and some of the information can be conflicting, misleading or completely false. We strongly encourage community members to use the www.emergency.wa.gov.au website for official information on alerts and warnings, Fire Danger Ratings, and Total Fire Bans, and register for the Shire of Mundaring’s free SMS service advising of; Fire Danger Ratings on days of High or above, Total Fire Bans, Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans, cancellation of burning permits, and other fire information.

The Darlington Brigade regularly has trainees and probationary firefighters moving through the ranks, but the community will always benefit from having more volunteers in its local brigade. These new members will spend the coming ‘off season’ completing their theoretical training, practical training, attending hazard reduction burns and brigade meetings, getting ready to be active firefighters next summer. If you’ve ever thought about joining the Darlington Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade come and visit us at the station on a Saturday morning between 9am and 10.30am to have a chat and obtain a membership pack.

“Firefighting – one of the few professions left that still makes house calls.” ~ Author unknown

Ricky Harvey

The idyllic vistas and unique landscapes of the Perth Hills have played muse to artists of all disciplines over the decades.

From the sweeping beauty of the rolling forested hills and valleys to the abundance of native species great and small, the Hills continue to produce, and beckon, many great artists.

There is always something special, something intangible yet very real, about the connection you feel to art from your connection to the beauty around you.

Many residents will know that I am a keen supporter of local arts, especially artists in the Hills and foothills of Perth. We have such an amazing array of talent right here at our doorstep.

I have been travelling to Canberra as the member for Hasluck for nine months now, and I am disappointed to see West Australian art and artists are underrepresented in our nation’s capital.

We need to see more of our artists represented in our national galleries, and in Parliament House itself, and across our screens and airwaves.

Western Australia has both a strong legacy, with artists such as Robert Juniper and, closer to home, William Bosseivain.

There are many artists with vibrant studios all over the Hills and beyond with useful supports like the Midland and Mundaring Arts Centres and regular festivals like Darlington Arts and the Arts Trail.