Total fire ban for the Shire of East Pilbara

A total fire ban has been implemented for the Shire of East Pilbara following a weekend of bushfires.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services declared the ban for the rest of the day earlier this afternoon.

Under the ban, people are not permitted to light, maintain or use a fire in he open air or carry out any activity that could start a fire.

This includes all open fires the for purpose of cooking or camping and hot work such as metal work, grinding, welding, soldering, gas cutting or similar unless an exemption has been given.

If breached, a person could be fined up to $25,000 and/or face jail for 12 months.

A harvest and vehicle movement ban has not been implemented meaning pastoralists are still able to harvests or move vehicles across paddocks for agricultural purposes.

For more information on the ban visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au/totalfirebans or www.emergency.wa.gov.au/#totalfirebans.