Neighbour burning off.

Iggypoppin' · 19-12-2011, 11:59 PM

The other day the neighbour two houses down on our left was setting fire to his weeds and letting it burn, then putting out the embers with a hose. The smoke was quite bad as he had lots of long weeds that had died as well as plenty that where green, so the smoke was pretty bad. The embers where picked up by the breeze, and floated around a bit.
This was on a 30 odd degree day, and my old man was a bit concerned. He wanted to ring the police but he was in a rush and asked me to do it. I forgot too. Then I smelled smoke today and he wad doing it again. My question is, is this legal? Can you burn off in your front yard?

Geez Louise · 20-12-2011, 12:03 AM

Was it a fire ban day?

I don't know how it works in S.A but in Vic you can burn off grass etc with these conditions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFA Website

Check and follow local regulations or laws set down by CFA or your local council
Notify neighbours at least two hours before starting the burn
Notify VicFire on 1800 668 511
Check the weather forecast for the day of the burn and a few days afterwards
Check the fuel moisture conditions
Establish a fire break of no less then three metres cleared of all flammable material
Made sure there are enough people to monitor, contain and extinguish the burn safely and effectively

Iggypoppin' · 20-12-2011, 12:05 AM

The thing is, we aren't rural. It was in the suburbs. Which is why I'm confused if it's even a law or not?

Geez Louise · 20-12-2011, 12:07 AM

I just looked at the CFS website.

http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/bushfi...urning_off.jsp

This may help.

EDIT: Looks like it keeps referring you to local council rules and regulations. Without knowing what council you come under..that is about as much help as i can offer

Cúl-Báire · 20-12-2011, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

The thing is, we aren't rural. It was in the suburbs. Which is why I'm confused if it's even a law or not?

It will depend on your council bylaws; I'd be getting in touch with the police to put a stop to the imediate threat of potential fire; and then the local council if it continues.

My poor XF · 20-12-2011, 12:08 AM

Im fairly certain total a fire ban is in place statewide. Cant even use angle grinders during certain conditions.

JC · 20-12-2011, 12:08 AM

Not legal - causes air pollution and goes towards depleting the ozone or some such crap.....

Geez Louise · 20-12-2011, 12:14 AM

Looking at the EPA burning policy it would seem it is illegal. He would need to seek a permit from council.

http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/.../1994.-.UN.PDF

Iggypoppin' · 20-12-2011, 12:15 AM

If he does it again I guess I'll just tell the old man...I'm not really in the spirit of "dobbing". And he's actually pretty cool, for an old Armenian guy with an odd wife. If the old man decides to tell the police, that's his choice...

loosey · 20-12-2011, 12:17 AM

Next time call the firebrigade and just say there's smoke in the area, depending where you are you will get a couple trucks roll up and then when they find out where the smoke has come from you will see the police turn out (you will remain anonymous that way). In rural areas you can only burn with a permit and it's before either 2 or 3 (i can't remember which) and right now there's fire bans.

svo supporter · 20-12-2011, 12:21 AM

Don't call the police. Call the fire brigade. They're the ones who have the final say over this sort of stuff.

Jim Goose · 20-12-2011, 12:28 AM

Most councils dont allow burn offs, especially in ones yard in suburbia!
Talk to the local council and get them to pay him a visit if your worried he may do it again in the future... maybe his mower is broke!

Iggypoppin' · 20-12-2011, 12:33 AM

He's just lazy. He let the weeds grow and then just torched the whole lot. Standing there with a hose and a beer is easier than pulling out thorny weeds by hand. Or so is his apparent thought process.

pottery beige · 20-12-2011, 01:45 AM

only allowed to light a fire in your backyard if you are cooking on it.... said a fireman to me over the fence.. after pulling up in his big red fire engine.......

pottery beige · 20-12-2011, 01:47 AM

/drinking beer and burning the remains of a 40ft pine tree.....

JC · 20-12-2011, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pottery beige

only allowed to light a fire in your backyard if you are cooking on it.... said a fireman to me over the fence.. after pulling up in his big red fire engine.......

In that case, if the old dude in the OPs post puts a grille in the middle of the weeds with a sausage on it, he may be legal!

TheSneakiness · 20-12-2011, 12:26 PM

I know in NSW where my inlaws are you need a permit from the fire authority to burn off.

Call the fire bridge and see what happens.

Iggypoppin' · 20-12-2011, 02:44 PM

I was just over the road at my other neighbours, and it turns out they are moving. So it won't be happening again anyway, as the house is getting destroyed and replaced with town houses.
I'm actually not too happy about that, I hate those tiny homes on a single block....oh well.

XR6_661 · 20-12-2011, 03:18 PM

Challenge him to pistols at dawn.

protd · 20-12-2011, 03:26 PM

why when somebody does something someone does not like they instantly have to have a cry to police or such athorities, would'nt it be easier to go and see the guy and let him know your concerns?

Feathers · 20-12-2011, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pottery beige

only allowed to light a fire in your backyard if you are cooking on it.... said a fireman to me over the fence.. after pulling up in his big red fire engine.......

We tried that line when burning off timber from our old house in what was left of the laundry while demolishing it.

I suppose 30ft flames were possibly a bit excessive for the tiny hotplate we had the snags on.
The firies were alright though. Had a chuckle, and then told us to put it out. Also to keep the flames down a bit next time.

zdcol71 · 20-12-2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by protd

would'nt it be easier to go and see the guy and let him know your concerns?

My thoughts exactly, and if that doesn't work, put the amplifier out the window and crank your Marshall up to eleven and ask him if he understands the concept of getting on with his neighbours.

Stefan · 20-12-2011, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by protd

why when somebody does something someone does not like they instantly have to have a cry to police or such athorities, would'nt it be easier to go and see the guy and let him know your concerns?

What, you mean talk to someone....that's just plain crazy.

Iggypoppin' · 20-12-2011, 04:48 PM

By all means, I'd talk to him about it, but i doubt it would do much. He's a 50 something Armenian who would probably laugh at me, a skinny 22 year old asking him to not burn off his grass. The old man is such a hippy, he'd probably just knock him one(which isn't the right thing to do but thats my dad for you) to simplify things.

The Yeti · 20-12-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loosey

Next time call the firebrigade and just say there's smoke in the area, depending where you are you will get a couple trucks roll up and then when they find out where the smoke has come from you will see the police turn out (you will remain anonymous that way). In rural areas you can only burn with a permit and it's before either 2 or 3 (i can't remember which) and right now there's fire bans.

O yea this is laugh a minuet stuff for the fireys they love nothing more than getting involved with neighbor hood squabils

If its an issue call the council its the job of their rangers

Calling in smoke in the vasinity is a bs call

Of course if property is at risk or it's a fire ban 000 it all the way but for petty illegal burring leave it to the rangers

Falcman0o7 · 20-12-2011, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

He's just lazy. He let the weeds grow and then just torched the whole lot. Standing there with a hose and a beer is easier than pulling out thorny weeds by hand. Or so is his apparent thought process.

I had a good ol chuckle when i read this.
Throw some smoke bombs his way.

svo supporter · 20-12-2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pottery beige

only allowed to light a fire in your backyard if you are cooking on it.... said a fireman to me over the fence.. after pulling up in his big red fire engine.......

Salisbury Council told me I could have a bonfire in a drum. They informed me, if I saw flashing lights, make sure I had a hot plate ready to chuck on top of it.

So I had the hot plate at the ready, but no flashing lights. (Upset me that did)

And yes, you're right

AU Mont · 20-12-2011, 07:57 PM

I had a large-ish furnace made from corrogated iron sheets bent into a U-shape that i would fill up with dead branches.

Would light it up once every 5-6 weeks and would make a bit of a smell i guess for 60mins.......... was alot easier than taking the crap down to the dump, and once every 6 weeks isnt that horrible for the neighbours to put up with.

I could understand it being something to report if it was more frequent like ******* chimneys in winter........

Road_Warrior · 20-12-2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

He's just lazy. He let the weeds grow and then just torched the whole lot. Standing there with a hose and a beer is easier than pulling out thorny weeds by hand. Or so is his apparent thought process.

pottery beige · 20-12-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Salisbury Council told me I could have a bonfire in a drum. They informed me, if I saw flashing lights, make sure I had a hot plate ready to chuck on top of it.

So I had the hot plate at the ready, but no flashing lights. (Upset me that did)

And yes, you're right

lols.. we were just off waterloo corner rd near caltex....

*sirens* wow must be a fire somewhere.....

*fire engine pulls into street* wow must be heaps close...

*fire engine throws u bolt and pulls up at side fence*..................