The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) is encouraging farmers to be alert and alarmed over the next week as temperatures soar.
Farmers will experience very high temperatures and strong northerly winds over the coming days, particularly in the south and north of the state. These are near perfect conditions for outbreaks of fire. Hot and windy conditions are rapidly drying out heavy vegetation and fuel loads from a very wet spring, and any bushfire could have devastating results.
TFGA chief executive, Jan Davis, said farmers were always concerned with respect to fire risk and generally are well prepared coming into the summer months. However, it was timely to remind people of some of the precautions that should be taken on farm when conditions become hot and windy.
Farmers need to:
Ensure crop residues on machines are kept to an absolute minimum, particularly in areas of high risk such as exhausts and engines.
Maintain a regular maintenance program to ensure all machinery is in good working order.
Ensure that firefighting equipment is on hand during harvesting and other operations that could produce ignition sources such as slashing.
Ensure that a mobile phone or radio is available, and that batteries are fully charged.
Where possible, maintain fire breaks around harvest operations.
Reduce potential static electricity build up during harvesting.
In extreme hot, dry and windy conditions cease harvesting and or slashing until conditions improve and the extreme risk of fire has passed.
On days of total fire bans, farmers are reminded that, where at all possible, they should not use any machinery that may cause a spark that could ignite a blaze.
“That includes harvesters or other machinery that could strike a rock in the ground and create a spark,” Ms Davis said.
“Under the declaration of a total fire ban, it can be a criminal offence to use machines or apparatus that may cause a spark or flame in the open air.
“This includes grinding, cutting and welding, and any other hot work practice, but we are advised it also applies to machines in the field,” Ms Davis said.
“The ban revokes any permit farmers may have to operate such machines.
“I know our farmers respect the bans when they are declared.”
“Tasmania has experienced more than its fair share of fires over the last couple of years and we are all aware of the consequences of not being vigilant,” said Ms Davis.
“It is incumbent upon the community as a whole to ensure that the risk of fire is reduced during extreme weather conditions; and farmers are doing their part in ensuring that the community does not experience another bushfire season like that last year,” Ms Davis said
TFGA chief executive Jan Davis
