Rural Fires Act 1997.

Subject

Forestry

Keyword

Forest fires Institution Offences/penalties Cultural heritage

Geographical area

Asia and the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Indian Ocean, Oceania, South Pacific

Entry into force notes

This Act enters into force on 1 September 1997.

Abstract

This Act provides for: (a) the prevention, mitigation and suppression of bush and other fires in local government areas (or part of areas) and other parts of the State constituted as rural fire districts; (b) the coordination of bush fire fighting and bush fire prevention throughout the State; (c) the protection of persons from injury or death, and property from damage; (d) the protection of the environment. Part 2 provides for the establishment of the NSW Rural Fire Service, and states its composition, functions and management. The Service is to be managed and controlled by the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service. The Commissioner shall be responsible for issuing the Service Standards, which are the guidelines in respect of the standard operating procedures to be followed by members of the Service, and shall determine the duties of certain members of the Service (staff of the Service and the fire control officers and deputy fire control officers). The fire control officers and deputy fire control officers shall be appointed by the competent local authorities and shall be responsible, among other matters, for the supervision and direction of functions exercised by or under the Act by rural fire brigades. According to the provisions of Part 3 the Commissioner is responsible also for the control and coordination of the action to be taken by persons and bodies involved in the prevention, mitigation or suppression of bush fires. Furthermore, the Part provides for the establishment of the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee, the principal responsibility of which is to plan for bush fire prevention and for coordinated bush fire fighting. The Bush Fire coordinating Committee is required to constitute Bush Fire Management Committees for rural fire districts and may constitute them for other parts of the State. These committees are responsible for the preparation of bush fire management plans for the areas for which they are constituted. Part 4 deals with the prevention and minimisation of the spread of bush fires throughout the State. It provides for the reduction of bush fire hazard, for the limitation of the lighting of fires without a permit during bush fire danger periods and the imposition of total fire bans. It imposes responsibilities on the owners and occupiers of land and public authorities in relation to these and other connected matters. The local government councils and insurance companies are to contribute, along with the State Government, to the costs of rural fire brigade expenditure, on the basis of estimated expenditure. A New South Wales Rural Fire Fighting Fund is established (part 5). Part 6 provides for the establishment of the Rural Fire Service Advisory Council and provides for its composition, functions and procedure. Miscellaneous provisions concern the liability of councils, councillors and employees of councils, the powers of authorized officers of a fire fighting authority affecting land near certain bush fires, and the proceedings for offences. The Act is completed by four Schedules: (1) Constitution and procedure of Advisory Council and Bush Fire Coordinating Committee; (2) Contributions of insurance companies; (3) Savings and transitional provisions; (4) Amendment of other laws.

Full text

English

Website

www6.austlii.edu.au

References - Legislation

Implemented by

Rural Fires Regulation 2013.

Legislation | Australia | 2013 (2014)

Keyword: Forest fires, Authorization/permit, Institution, Offences/penalties, Forest management/forest conservation, Forest service/forest officers, Forestry protection measures

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Rural Fires Regulation 1997.

Legislation | Australia | 1997 (2001)

Keyword: Forest fires, Authorization/permit, Institution, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Rural Fires Regulation 2002.

Legislation | Australia | 2002 (2007)

Keyword: Forest fires, Authorization/permit, Institution, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Rural Fires Regulation 2008.

Legislation | Australia | 2008

Keyword: Forest fires, Authorization/permit, Institution, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Rural Fires Regulation 2013.

Legislation | Australia | 2013 (2017)

Keyword: Forest fires, Authorization/permit, Institution, Offences/penalties, Forest management/forest conservation, Forest service/forest officers, Forestry protection measures, Indigenous peoples

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Rural Fires Regulation 2022.

Legislation | Australia | 2022

Keyword: Forest fires, Forest management/forest conservation, Forest service/forest officers, Forestry protection measures, Institution, Offences/penalties, Authorization/permit, Risk assessment/management

Source: FAO, FAOLEX