News

Burn blankets Deni in smoke

By Zoe McMaugh

May 17, 2024

A thick smoke blanketed parts of Deniliquin on Tuesday.

Parts of Deniliquin were blanketed with smoke on Tuesday evening after what Deniliquin Fire + Rescue NSW has confirmed were non-registered pile burns.

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A property owner south of Deniliquin reportedly set fire to multiple small piles of green matter.

Deniliquin FRNSW Deputy Captain Les Booth said after recent rain, the materials produced a thicker than normal smoke.

He said this resulted in the brigade receiving several calls from residents, who reported the smoke was entering their homes.

Dep Capt Booth said while the pile burns themselves were contained, they were not permitted and so were extinguished by firefighters.

“It was actually seven individual pile burns at once and the property owner did not have a permit,” Dept Capt Booth said.

“Within the Denilqiuin township, you must first apply to Edward River Council for a permit.

“That permit then needs to be registered with our brigade, to either Captain Martin Smith or myself, and we will conduct an inspection before signing off.”

In rural areas, all burns must be preregistered using the NSW Rural Fire Service ‘Notify Us’ tool at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify.

Strict rules and regulations apply to permits issued by either authority, and can carry severe penalties if not adhered to.