Monaro Team Rural Fire Service

4 days ago

Temperatures in the Snowy Monaro are dropping and as the fireplaces and wood heaters get going for 2022, we’re asking residents to be careful with their ashes.

Wood ash can stay hot for a long time and must be completely cold before being wrapped and disposed of in kerbside bins.

Damage caused to bins by improperly disposed of hot ash can be a costly mistake.

If a bin is damaged due to hot ash, organising a replacement from Council is the financial responsibility of the resident. You’ll need to pay for a new bin.

Back in 2019, hot ash from a household rubbish bin caused a large fire in the back of one of Council’s waste collection trucks. This incident was thankfully brought under control by the driver and emergency services quickly, but the costs of repairs and collection delays were substantial.

To avoid burns and fires remember to:
✔️ Put hot ash in a suitable metal container with a lid
✔️ Only half-fill your ash containers, allowing them to cool efficiently
✔️ Make sure the lid is secure to starve smouldering ashes of oxygen, plus prevent sparks and embers escaping
✔️ Regularly check and stir the ash container, adding water over the course of a few days to ensure any fire is fully extinguished
🚫 Do not empty the ash container into the bin until 100% sure the ashes are cold
✔️ Put your cold ashes in a bag before disposing of them into the red bin

For residents with a green thumb, wood ash can be used as a nutrient booster for compost and soil, as it contains a large amount of lime and potassium. Always exercise caution and restraint, and do your research beforehand, as wood ash does affect the alkalinity of both soil and compost. ... See MoreSee Less

Monaro Team Rural Fire Service

1 month ago

🟩🟨 AUSTRALIAN FIRE DANGER RATING SYSTEM UPDATE - SIGNAGE CONCEPT APPROVED 🟧🟥
Fire danger ratings are changing – and here’s your first glimpse of what they’ll look like.
As part of a national project, led by the NSW RFS, the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System will be rolled out in September.
The new system has four levels led by science and community research – 🟩 Moderate, 🟨 High, 🟧 Extreme and 🟥 Catastrophic. It’s designed to be more accurate and reliable, and simpler for the community to use.
The rollout will be supported by new signs and a public education campaign.
Over the next few months, we’ll be providing regular updates and opportunities to learn more about the new system. ... See MoreSee Less