Fire Brigades Act 1942

CrestWestern Australia

Fire Brigades Act 1942

Western Australia

Fire Brigades Act 1942

Contents

Part I — Preliminary

1. Short title and commencement 2

2. Terms used 2

Part II — Fire districts

5. Fire districts 5

5A. Application of Act 6

Part VI — General powers and duties of Minister and FES Commissioner

24. Power to purchase property for stations etc. 7

25. Functions of FES Commissioner 8

25A. FES Commissioner may require certain fire fighting appliances 8

26. Formation of brigades etc. 9

26A. Further powers of FES Commissioner 10

27. FES Commissioner’s proposals to be submitted to local government 12

Part VII — Officers and members of brigades and others

30. Approval of members of volunteer brigade 13

31. Brigades are under control of FES Commissioner 13

32. General duties and powers of FES Commissioner and authorised persons 13

33A. Duties and powers of FES Commissioner and authorised officers in relation to public buildings 15

34. Duties and powers of FES Commissioner and others at fires 20

34A. Powers concerning persons exposed to hazardous material 23

Part VIII — Regulations

35. Power to make regulations 25

35A. Minister may declare permanent brigade districts 27

Part X — Miscellaneous

48. FES Commissioner to provide information to Chief Health Officer 28

49. Brigades to be registered etc. 28

50. Restriction as to establishment of salvage corps 28

51. Rewards to brigades 29

52. Penalty for soliciting contributions for brigades without authority 29

53. Turncocks to attend fires 30

54. Disconnection of gas or artificial light 30

55. Police and others to aid FES Commissioner 30

56. Penalties for interference, damage etc. 31

57. Removal of persons not members of recognized fire brigades from burning premises 31

58. Rights to water for extinguishing fires and for practice etc. 32

59. Failure to deliver up any premises in occupation by officer or member of brigade 33

60. Detention of property of Department 33

61. Penalty for offences 34

Second Schedule — Fire districts

Notes

Compilation table 40

Other notes 46

Defined terms

Western Australia

Fire Brigades Act 1942

An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the prevention and extinguishing of fires, the confining and ending of hazardous material incidents and the protection of life and property from fire, hazardous material incidents and accidents.

[Long title amended: No. 52 of 1994 s. 4.]

Part I — Preliminary

[Heading inserted: No. 19 of 2010 s. 43(3)(a).]

1. Short title and commencement

This Act may be cited as the Fire Brigades Act 1942 and shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

[2. Deleted: No. 10 of 1998 s. 76.]

[Heading deleted: No. 19 of 2010 s. 43(3)(b).]

[3. Deleted: No. 38 of 2002 s. 43.]

4. Terms used

(1) In this Act, unless inconsistent with the subject‑matter or context, the following words shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them (that is to say) —

brigade includes all fire brigades, whether permanent or volunteer, or private;

Department has the meaning given in the FES Act section 3;

district means a fire district constituted by or under this Act;

employed in the Department means employed or engaged in the Department in accordance with the FES Act section 20(1);

FES Act means the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1998;

FES Commissioner has the meaning given in the FES Act section 3;

hazardous material means anything that, if it escapes while being produced, stored, moved, used or otherwise dealt with, may cause personal injury or death, or damage to property or the environment;

hazardous material incident means an actual or impending spillage or other escape of hazardous material that causes or threatens to cause injury or death, or damage to property or the environment;

inflammable matter includes all substances capable of ignition or combustion by the application of heat or by means of sparks or flame or by spontaneous causes;

owner means and includes any person, whether as beneficial owner, trustee, or executor, mortgagee in possession, or as agent or attorney for any person or otherwise for the time being in actual receipt of, or entitled to receive, the rents and profits of the lands or buildings in connection with which the word is used, or who, if such land or buildings were let to a tenant, would be entitled to receive the rents and profits thereof;

permanent fire brigade means a fire brigade established and maintained by the FES Commissioner, the services of whose members are wholly at the disposal of the FES Commissioner;

premises includes any building, structure, erection, vessel, wharf, jetty, land or other premises;

private fire brigade means any association of persons authorised by the FES Commissioner and formed for the purpose of the prevention and extinguishing of fires and the protection of life and property from fire within the boundaries of property owned or used by any person, if the carrying out of the purpose of such association is not the sole or principal calling or means of livelihood of such persons or of a majority of them;

property of the Department means property vested in the Minister that is under the control of the FES Commissioner;

rescue operation means the rescue and extrication of any person or property endangered as a result of an accident, explosion or other incident;

vessel means any ship, steamship, barge, punt, boat, or other floating vessel used for storing or carrying goods or for carrying passengers;

volunteer fire brigade means any association of persons authorised by the FES Commissioner and formed for the purpose of the prevention and extinguishing of fires and the protection of life and property from fire, if the carrying out of the purpose of such association is not the sole or principal calling or means of livelihood of such persons or of a majority of them.

[(2) deleted]

[Section 4 amended: No. 34 of 1963 s. 4; No. 3 of 1964 s. 2; No. 42 of 1966 s. 3; No. 27 of 1971 s. 2; No. 28 of 1982 s. 3; No. 51 of 1985 s. 3; No. 51 of 1986 s. 46(2); No. 49 of 1992 s. 29; No. 52 of 1994 s. 5; No. 14 of 1996 s. 4; No. 42 of 1998 s. 18; No. 38 of 2002 s. 44; No. 42 of 2002 s. 19; No. 22 of 2012 s. 71 and 94.]

Part II — Fire districts

5. Fire districts

(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), the local government districts and parts thereof constituted as fire districts prior to the coming into operation of the Fire Brigades Act Amendment Act 1971, as set out in the Second Schedule, are for the purposes of this Act fire districts under the respective names as set out in the Schedule.

(2) For the purposes of this Act the Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette —

(a) constitute as a fire district all or part of a district under the Local Government Act 1995 which is not a fire district under subsection (1); and

[(b) deleted]

(c) subject to subsection (5) unite any 2 or more fire districts the areas of which are contiguous, into one fire district; and

(d) adjust the boundaries of a fire district; and

(e) abolish a fire district; and

(f) assign a name to, or alter the name of a fire district; and

(g) include or remove, as the case may be, the name of a fire district or local government district in or from Part II, III, or IV of the Second Schedule; and

(h) transfer the name of a fire district from one Part to another Part of the Second Schedule; and

(i) vary or revoke a notice under this subsection.

[(3) deleted]

(4) The local government districts and parts thereof mentioned in Parts I and II of the Second Schedule are united into one fire district under the name of the Metropolitan Fire District.

(5) Before a notice is made under the provisions of subsection (2)(c), the Minister shall give to the local governments whose districts or portion thereof are to be the subject of the notice, at least 30 days’ notice of intention to make the notice.

(6) Any vessel lying in any river, harbour, or other water within or adjacent to any district shall be subject to this Act in the same manner as if it were premises within a district. But this subsection shall not apply to any of Her Majesty’s vessels of war or to any vessel which belongs to the Government of any foreign State (not being an enemy).

[Section 5 amended: No. 41 of 1951 s. 3(3); No. 34 of 1959 s. 2; No. 34 of 1963 s. 5; No. 27 of 1971 s. 3; No. 14 of 1996 s. 4; No. 38 of 2002 s. 45(1)‑(3).]

5A. Application of Act

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this Act applies to all fire districts.

(2) This Act applies to —

(a) hazardous material incidents that occur anywhere in the State; and

(b) rescue operations that occur anywhere in the State.

[Section 5A inserted: No. 52 of 1994 s. 6; amended: No. 38 of 2002 s. 46.]

[Parts III (s. 6), IV (s. 7‑17) and V (s. 18‑22) deleted: No. 42 of 1998 s. 19.]

Part VI — General powers and duties of Minister and FES Commissioner

[Heading amended: No. 42 of 1998 s. 20; No. 22 of 2012 s. 72.]

[23. Deleted: No. 42 of 1998 s. 21.]

24. Power to purchase property for stations etc.

(1) The Minister may, under the FES Act section 8, purchase, take on lease, or otherwise acquire buildings or land, and all such apparatus and plant and other property as the Minister may think requisite for carrying into effect the purposes of this Act, and may from time to time, under that section, sell or exchange or let any property acquired by or vested in the Minister for the purposes of this Act.

(2) All moneys resulting from the sale, exchange, or letting of any property by the Minister shall be applied in the purchase of property for the Department or the improvement of the property of the Department.

(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), any real property acquired by the Minister or the former Authority, or a body corporate to which the former Authority was a successor, from a local government without pecuniary consideration, if no longer required for the purposes of this Act, shall revest in the local government, subject to the payment by the local government to the Minister of the value of the improvements (if any) effected thereon after such acquisition.

(4) In subsection (3) —

former Authority means the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia established by the FES Act section 4, as in force immediately before the commencement of the Fire and Emergency Services Legislation Amendment Act 2012 section 7.

[Section 24 amended: No. 14 of 1996 s. 4; No. 42 of 1998 s. 22 and 37; No. 19 of 2010 s. 51; No. 22 of 2012 s. 73.]

25. Functions of FES Commissioner

Subject to this Act, the functions of the FES Commissioner under this Act are —

(a) to take, superintend and enforce all necessary steps for preventing and extinguishing fires and protecting and saving life and property from fire; and

(b) to take all practicable measures —

(i) for protecting and saving life and property endangered by hazardous material incidents; and

(ii) for confining and ending such an incident; and

(iii) for rendering the site of such an incident safe;

and

(c) to take and superintend all necessary steps in rescue operations; and

(ca) to promote the safety of life and property from fire, hazardous material incidents, accidents, explosions or other incidents requiring rescue operations; and

(d) to have the general control of all fire brigade premises and fire brigades; and

(e) to perform such other duties as are entrusted to the FES Commissioner by the Minister.

[Section 25 inserted: No. 52 of 1994 s. 15; amended: No. 42 of 1998 s. 23; No. 38 of 2002 s. 47; No. 22 of 2012 s. 74 and 94.]

25A. FES Commissioner may require certain fire fighting appliances

(1) The FES Commissioner may by notice in writing addressed to the owner or occupier of any premises direct him to install and provide within the time specified in the notice, such —

(a) water taps, water pipes, connections, fittings and equipment in respect thereof; and

(b) equipment, apparatus or appliances for the purpose of —

(i) preventing the outbreak of or extinguishing fire; or

(ii) preventing injury or damage to persons or property by fire;

in or upon the premises and in such positions as the FES Commissioner directs in the notice.

(2) In this section the expression, premises does not include premises which consist of a private dwelling house designed for the use and occupation of one family.

(3) The occupier of the premises shall keep and maintain in good working order and fit for immediate use any equipment, apparatus, appliances, taps, pipes or connections installed on the premises under the provisions of this section.

(4) A person who is aggrieved by a direction of the FES Commissioner may apply to the State Administrative Tribunal for a review of the direction on the ground that the things directed to be installed and provided in or upon the premises are not reasonably required by the FES Commissioner for any of the purposes referred to in subsection (1)(b).

[Section 25A inserted: No. 34 of 1959 s. 5; amended: No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 55 of 2004 s. 366; No. 22 of 2012 s. 94.]

26. Formation of brigades etc.

The FES Commissioner may —

(a) take measures for the formation of permanent or volunteer or private fire brigades;

(b) amalgamate, or disband, or cancel the registration of, any fire brigade;

(c) determine the number of permanent and volunteer and private fire brigades necessary for the protection of any district, and also the apparatus and plant to be used by each brigade;

(d) establish and support schools of instruction, and issue certificates of qualification in fire‑extinction to members of fire brigades;

(e) provide and maintain fire‑alarms and apparatus and plant for the prevention and extinguishing of fires;

(f) provide and maintain telephonic or other communication between fire brigade premises and between any such premises and any other places.

[Section 26 amended: No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 22 of 2012 s. 94.]

26A. Further powers of FES Commissioner

(1) Without limiting sections 25 and 26, for the purpose of carrying out the FES Commissioner’s functions under this Act the FES Commissioner may, anywhere in the State, do any of the things it is authorised to do under subsection (2).

(2) Under this subsection the FES Commissioner may —

(a) establish and operate premises or mobile facilities for the dissemination of information, and sell or grant to any person the right to sell educational materials, souvenirs and refreshments on such premises or from such mobile facilities; and

(b) create and distribute educational materials in any medium; and

(c) utilise the apparatus, plant and other property of the Department and use the persons employed in the Department to promote public awareness of the functions of the FES Commissioner under this Act or to enhance the Department’s public image; and

(d) provide a maintenance and inspection service for fire and hazardous material detection and protection systems and equipment and rescue equipment, and deal in fire‑fighting, hazardous material control and rescue equipment to which such service relates; and

[(e) deleted]

(f) provide any service for which the equipment or skills under the control of the FES Commissioner are especially suited, and supply any specialist equipment under the control of the FES Commissioner to any person or body; and

(g) enter into financial arrangements with any other party, and receive payment under such arrangements, in relation to the exercise of any power conferred by this paragraph; and

(h) establish facilities or courses of instruction to provide training to any person not employed in the Department in the skills required to perform a function of the FES Commissioner; and

(i) receive gifts of money, by way of sponsorship or otherwise, towards the cost of, and accept by way of gift equipment and other property for use in, the performance of the FES Commissioner’s functions; and

(j) charge and receive the prescribed fees for —

(i) the examination of plans and specifications of buildings, and for related advisory and inspection services, where the examination is made for the purpose of ensuring the safety of life and property from fire or hazardous materials; and

(ii) the carrying out of rescue operations;

and

(k) do anything that is incidental to, or is necessary or convenient to be done for, the exercise of any power conferred on the FES Commissioner by this section.

[Section 26A inserted: No. 38 of 2002 s. 48; amended: No. 42 of 2002 s. 20; No. 22 of 2012 s. 75.]

27. FES Commissioner’s proposals to be submitted to local government

(1) The FES Commissioner shall submit any proposal in respect of the class of brigade, the method of fire protection and hazardous material incident control, and the rescue service to be established in each district to the local government before putting any such proposal into operation, and shall advise the local government of any intended change in the class of brigade, the method of fire protection and hazardous material incident control, and the rescue service, and any difference between the FES Commissioner and the local government on such matters shall be referred to the Minister for his decision.

(1A) Subsection (1) shall not apply when the districts of 2 or more local governments have been united into one fire district as provided for in section 5.

(2) Any local government may make representations to the FES Commissioner in regard to the class of brigade, the method of fire protection and hazardous material incident control, and the rescue service in its district, and may appeal to the Minister if dissatisfied with the action of the FES Commissioner, and the Minister may decide all matters in dispute between the local government and the FES Commissioner.

[Section 27 amended: No. 52 of 1994 s. 17; No. 14 of 1996 s. 4; No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 19 of 2010 s. 51; No. 22 of 2012 s. 94; No. 14 of 2025 s. 24.]

[28. Deleted: No. 98 of 1985 s. 3.]

Part VII — Officers and members of brigades and others

[Heading amended: No. 42 of 1966 s. 8; No. 22 of 2012 s. 76.]

[29. Deleted: No. 22 of 2012 s. 77.]

30. Approval of members of volunteer brigade

No election or appointment of the officers and members of any volunteer or private brigade shall have any force or effect until approved by the FES Commissioner.

[Section 30 amended: No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 22 of 2012 s. 94.]

31. Brigades are under control of FES Commissioner

Every brigade and all the officers and members of a brigade are under the immediate order and control of the FES Commissioner.

[Section 31 inserted: No. 22 of 2012 s. 78.]

[32. Deleted: No. 107 of 1972 s. 3.]

33. General duties and powers of FES Commissioner and authorised persons

(1) The FES Commissioner, or a person employed in the Department who is authorised by the FES Commissioner for the purposes of this section, is to perform or exercise, in addition to any other duties, the following general duties and powers —

(a) he shall cause a book to be kept containing the names, ages, occupations, and places of abode of all officers and members of every fire brigade;

(b) he shall summon once a month at the least all or as many of the officers and members of brigades as may be required for practice in order to render them fit and efficient for service;

(c) he shall from time to time inspect all fire brigades and, in the case of a person other than the FES Commissioner, report to the FES Commissioner on their state of efficiency and make such recommendations as to him may seem fit;

(d) he shall have the immediate charge and control of all apparatus and plant, and other property of the Department, and shall keep the same in a fit state for efficient service;

(e) he shall at all reasonable times have free access to any premises, and if in his opinion there exists in or on any premises any potential danger to life or property from fire or hazardous materials, he may direct or order the owner or occupier of such premises to abate such danger within reasonable time, as named in the requisition;

(f) he shall at all reasonable times have free access to all premises used or intended for purposes of public entertainment or of public assembly for the purpose of ascertaining whether the laws and regulations pertaining to the prevention of and escape from fire or hazardous material incidents are being observed;

(g) in the case of a person other than the FES Commissioner, the person is to make any inquiries and reports as directed by the FES Commissioner.

(2) Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of a requisition served under subsection (1)(e) shall be liable on conviction to a penalty not exceeding $2 500, and also to a further penalty not exceeding $100 for every day during which the offence continues after that conviction.

(3) Any person aggrieved by a requisition served under subsection (1)(e) may apply to the State Administrative Tribunal for a review of the requisition and no proceedings shall be instituted against such person pending the hearing of the application or an appeal under the State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004 section 105.

[Section 33 amended: No. 42 of 1966 s. 10; No. 52 of 1994 s. 20 and 34; No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 38 of 2002 s. 49(3) and 50; No. 55 of 2004 s. 367; No. 46 of 2009 s. 9; No. 22 of 2012 s. 79; No. 19 of 2016 s. 140.]

33A. Duties and powers of FES Commissioner and authorised officers in relation to public buildings

(1) If, after having inspected a public building, the FES Commissioner, or a person employed in the Department who is authorised by the FES Commissioner for the purposes of this section, considers that the safety of persons in the public building may be endangered in the event of fire or a hazardous material incident therein, he may —

(a) using such force as is reasonably necessary for the purpose, cause any aisle, corridor, door, gangway, lobby or passage connected with any exit or escape from the public building or any such exit or escape itself, the obstruction, closing or locking of which aisle, corridor, door, gangway, lobby, passage, exit or escape is or reasonably appears to be in breach of any requirement of any Act, or of any proclamation, regulation, rule, local law, by‑law, order, notice, resolution or other instrument —

(i) made under an Act or under any other such proclamation, regulation, rule, local law, by‑law, order, notice, resolution or instrument; and

(ii) having legislative effect,

to be cleared, opened or unlocked, as the case requires; or

(b) being satisfied that the safety of persons in the public building cannot reasonably be ensured by other means, order the occupier or presumed occupier of the public building forthwith to close the public building for such period not exceeding 48 hours as is specified in that order and as the FES Commissioner or person so authorised considers necessary for the alleviation of the danger in question; or

(c) if an order referred to in paragraph (b) cannot for any reason be given to the occupier or presumed occupier of the public building or if such an order, having been given to that occupier or presumed occupier, is not forthwith obeyed, himself, being satisfied that the safety of persons in the public building cannot reasonably be ensured by other means, close the public building for such period not exceeding 48 hours as he considers necessary for the alleviation of the danger in question, using such force as is reasonably necessary for the removal from the public building of persons therein without doing them bodily harm.

(2) The occupier or presumed occupier of a public building may in complying with an order given to him under subsection (1) use such force as is reasonably necessary for the removal from the public building of persons therein without doing them bodily harm.

(3) The FES Commissioner or authorised officer giving an order under subsection (1) shall do so —

(a) in writing served on the occupier or presumed occupier of the public building in question; or

(b) orally, in which case he shall as soon as is practicable thereafter serve on the occupier or presumed occupier of the public building in question confirmation in writing of the contents of that order and of the time and place at which that order was so given,

and shall cause a copy of that order or confirmation, as the case requires, to be affixed to that public building in a conspicuous position.

(4) The FES Commissioner or an authorised officer may, if he considers that the danger to which an order given under subsection (1) relates has been alleviated, rescind that order.

(5) The Commissioner of Police may, if requested by the FES Commissioner or an authorised officer to do so, assist the FES Commissioner or authorised officer in the exercise of any power conferred on the FES Commissioner or authorised officer by subsection (1).

(6) If the FES Commissioner or an authorised officer considers that a danger in relation to which he has exercised the power conferred on him by subsection (1)(b) or (c) cannot be, or has not been, alleviated within the period of 48 hours referred to in that paragraph, he shall, having given such prior notice of his intention to do so to the occupier of the public building in question as is practicable in the circumstances, apply to the Magistrates Court for an order directing that occupier to close or keep closed, as the case requires, that public building for such period as the Court considers necessary for the alleviation of that danger.

(7) On an application made under subsection (6), the Magistrates Court shall be constituted by a magistrate and may grant, subject to any conditions the Court thinks fit to impose, or refuse to grant, the order sought by the application.

(8) If an application is made under subsection (6) while —

(a) an order given under subsection (1) in relation to the public building in question is in force, that order continues in force; or

(b) the public building in question is closed under subsection (1)(c), that closure continues,

until the application is finally determined or is withdrawn.

(9) The FES Commissioner or an authorised officer or the owner or occupier of a public building to which an order granted under subsection (7) relates may apply to the Magistrates Court for that order to be rescinded.

(10) On an application made under subsection (9) the Magistrates Court shall be constituted by a magistrate and may rescind or refuse to rescind the order to which the application relates.

(11) The FES Commissioner shall exercise general supervision over the exercise or performance by an authorised officer of any power or duty conferred or imposed by this section on the authorised officer.

(12) A person shall —

(a) not hinder or obstruct a person to whom this subsection applies in the exercise of any power or the performance of any duty conferred or imposed on him by this section or by an order given or granted thereunder; or

(b) if he is the occupier of the public building in question, comply with an order given or granted under this section in respect of that public building.

Penalty: $50 000.

Daily penalty: $1 000.

(13) The occupier of a public building who fails to fulfil a contractual obligation is not liable for any consequences of that failure if —

(a) the failure resulted from the occupier complying with a requirement of this section or an order given or granted under this section; and

(b) the occupier could not have fulfilled the contractual obligation as well as complying with the requirement.

(14) Subsection (12) applies to —

(a) the FES Commissioner; and

(b) an authorised officer; and

(c) a member of the Police Force assisting the FES Commissioner or an authorised officer as a result of compliance by the Commissioner of Police with a request made under subsection (5); and

(d) the occupier or presumed occupier of a public building complying with an order given or granted under this section in respect of the public building.

(15) In this section —

alleviation means alleviation by compliance with the relevant requirements of any provision of an Act, or of a proclamation, regulation, rule, local law, by‑law, order, notice, resolution or other instrument —

(a) made under an Act or under any other such proclamation, regulation, rule, local law, by‑law, order, notice, resolution or instrument; and

(b) having legislative effect,

which provision relates to the prevention of fire or hazardous material incidents in public buildings or to ensuring the safety of persons in public buildings in the event of fire or hazardous material incidents therein, and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;

authorised officer means a person employed in the Department who is authorised by the FES Commissioner within the meaning of subsection (1);

occupier, in relation to a public building, means person in charge of, or having the control and management of, the public building;

presumed occupier, in relation to a public building, means person who appears to the FES Commissioner or to an authorised officer, as the case requires, to be the occupier of the public building;

public building —

(a) means a building or place or part of a building or place where persons may assemble for —

(i) civic, theatrical, social, political or religious purposes; or

(ii) educational purposes; or

(iii) entertainment, recreational or sporting purposes; or

(iv) business purposes;

and

(b) includes any building, structure, tent, gallery, enclosure, platform or other place or any part of a building, structure, tent, gallery, enclosure, platform or other place in or on which numbers of persons are usually or occasionally assembled; but

(c) does not include a hospital.

[Section 33A inserted: No. 28 of 1982 s. 20; amended: No. 52 of 1994 s. 21 and 34; No. 14 of 1996 s. 4; No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 38 of 2002 s. 49(3) and 51; No. 50 of 2003 s. 61(2); No. 59 of 2004 s. 141; No. 22 of 2012 s. 80; No. 19 of 2016 s. 141.]

34. Duties and powers of FES Commissioner and others at fires

For the purpose of extinguishing or controlling a fire, confining or ending a hazardous material incident or rendering the site of the incident safe, or carrying out a rescue operation, the FES Commissioner or the officer or any member of the brigade who for the time being is in charge, or a person employed in the Department who is authorised by the FES Commissioner for the purposes of this section, shall perform the following duties and may exercise the following powers (that is to say) —

(a) he shall, with all possible speed, proceed upon the first alarm to the place where the fire or hazardous material incident is or is reported to be or where the rescue operation is to be carried out, and shall endeavour by all practicable means to extinguish the fire, confine or end the hazardous material incident or carry out the rescue operation and save all property in jeopardy;

(b) he shall have the control and direction of any brigade or brigades present at any fire, hazardous material incident or rescue operation and of any persons who voluntarily place their services at his disposal;

(c) he may take and direct any measures which appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the protection of life and property, or for the control and extinguishing of fire, the confining or ending of a hazardous material incident or the carrying out of a rescue operation, and may cause any premises to be entered, taken possession of, pulled down wholly or partially, or otherwise destroyed for such purpose, or for preventing fire or a hazardous material incident or for preventing the spread of fire or confining or ending a hazardous material incident;

(d) he may cause water to be shut off from any main or pipe to obtain a greater pressure and supply of water for the purpose of extinguishing any fire or confining or ending a hazardous material incident; and no water supply authority shall be liable to any penalty or claim by reason of any interruption in the supply of water occasioned by compliance with the provisions of this section;

(e) he may cause gas, electricity, or other illuminant to be shut off or disconnected to or at any premises; and no person supplying gas, electricity, or other illuminant shall be liable to any penalty or claim by reason of any interruption in the supply occasioned by compliance with the provisions of this section;

(f) he may cause any street, private road, right‑of‑way, or thoroughfare in the vicinity of any fire, hazardous material incident or rescue operation to be closed against traffic during the continuance of any fire, hazardous material incident or rescue operation;

(g) he may remove or order any member of any fire brigade or any member of the police force to remove any person who or anything which interferes with the operations of the brigade;

(h) he may, at the time of a fire, hazardous material incident or rescue operation or thereafter, pull down or shore up any wall or building which may be damaged, or which in his opinion may be likely to be damaged, by fire, hazardous materials or the carrying out of the rescue operation, or which may be in the vicinity of any place where a fire, hazardous material incident or rescue operation has occurred, and which may in his opinion be, or may be likely to become, dangerous to life or property; and the expense of such pulling down and shoring up, as the case may be, shall be borne by the owner of such wall or building, and shall be paid by him to the FES Commissioner;

(i) he may cause the debris and also any premises where any fire, hazardous material incident or rescue operation has occurred, and every part of such premises, to be searched, and may remove and keep possession of any materials which may tend to prove the origin of such fire or hazardous material incident or the cause of the accident or incident which required the rescue operation;

(j) he may take such measures as he thinks proper for the protection and saving of life or property and for the control and extinguishing of a fire, the confining or ending of a hazardous material incident or the carrying out of a rescue operation.

[Section 34 amended: No. 52 of 1994 s. 22; No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 38 of 2002 s. 49(3) and 52; No. 22 of 2012 s. 81 and 94.]

34A. Powers concerning persons exposed to hazardous material

(1) Without limiting section 34, for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2), in a hazardous material incident an authorised officer may direct a person who has been exposed to hazardous material to do all or any of the following —

(a) to remain in an area specified by the authorised officer for such period as is specified by the authorised officer;

(b) to remain quarantined from other persons for such period, and in such reasonable manner, as is specified by the authorised officer;

(c) to submit to decontamination procedures within such reasonable period, and in such reasonable manner, as is specified by the authorised officer.

(2) A direction may be given under subsection (1) for the purpose of —

(a) ensuring that the hazardous material is contained; or

(b) ensuring that the person to whom the direction is given does not pose a serious risk to the life or health of others because of the hazardous material involved.

(3) An authorised officer other than the FES Commissioner must not specify a period of more than 3 hours under subsection (1)(a) or (b) unless the FES Commissioner has given written authorisation for a longer period to be specified in relation to the person exposed to the hazardous material.

(4) If a person does not comply with a direction under this section, an authorised officer may do all such things as are reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with the direction, using such force as is reasonable in the circumstances.

(5) An authorised officer may exercise a power under this section with the help, and using the force, that is reasonable in the circumstances.

(6) An authorised officer may revoke a direction given under this section at any time.

(7) A person shall not obstruct or hinder an authorised officer in the exercise of a power under this section.

Penalty: a fine of $50 000.

(8) A person given a direction under this section shall comply with the direction.

Penalty: a fine of $50 000.

(9) The regulations may limit the circumstances, and regulate the manner, in which the powers conferred by this section may be exercised.

(10) In this section —

authorised officer, in relation to a hazardous material incident, means the FES Commissioner or the officer or any member of the brigade who for the time being is in charge.

[Section 34A inserted: No. 15 of 2005 s. 104; amended: No. 22 of 2012 s. 82.]

Part VIII — Regulations

35. Power to make regulations

(1) The Governor may make regulations prescribing all matters that are required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed, or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), regulations may be made for all or any of the following purposes —

[(a)-(c) deleted]

(d) for the examination, appointment, suspension, and removal of officers and members of brigades and other persons employed or engaged for the purposes of this Act in accordance with the FES Act section 20(1)(b) or (c), and for regulating the duties and conduct of such officers and members and other persons;

(e) for the establishment and maintenance of brigades and for the payment of salaries or wages to officers and members of permanent brigades and other persons employed or engaged for the purposes of this Act in accordance with the FES Act section 20(1)(b) or (c);

(f) for the training of officers and members of brigades;

(g) for the payment of compensation in cases of accidents to officers and members of brigades and other persons employed or engaged for the purposes of this Act in accordance with the FES Act section 20(1)(b) or (c) or where death ensues therefrom to their dependants;

[(h) deleted]

(i) for paying gratuities in respect of voluntary or special services rendered;

(j) for permitting, when occasion requires any, portion of a brigade or its apparatus and plant to proceed or be taken beyond the limits of any district for the purpose of attending fires, hazardous material incidents or rescue operations, and for regulating the charges for such service;

(k) for dividing any district into subdistricts;

(l) for ensuring discipline and good conduct amongst officers and members of brigades, and generally for the maintenance of brigades in a due state of efficiency;

(m) for the registration of all brigades;

(n) for regulating and controlling the management of hazardous material incidents;

(na) for regulating and controlling rescue operations;

(o) for regulating and controlling demonstrations and competitions;

(p) for establishing and maintaining a salvage force, and for prescribing the charges to be levied for the services of such force;

(pa) for prescribing the fees to be charged pursuant to section 26A(2)(j), and the persons liable to pay such fees;

[(q) deleted]

(r) for prescribing the uniforms to be worn by officers and members of brigades when on duty;

(s) for regulating the storage and deposit of inflammable matter and hazardous materials;

[(t), (u) deleted]

(v) for the control and attendance of officers and members of brigades on duty in public buildings and premises, and prescribing fees and charges to be paid by the owner or occupier of any such building and premises for such service, and for the recovery thereof;

(w) for managing and regulating the distributing of all revenue received under the provisions of this Act;

(x) for altering the date prescribed by this Act for the doing or performance of any duty to any other date;

(y) for imposing penalties for breaches of regulations, the maximum penalty in any case not to be fixed at a greater sum than $2 500.

[Section 35 amended: No. 34 of 1959 s. 6; No. 34 of 1963 s. 8; No. 42 of 1966 s. 12; No. 28 of 1982 s. 21; No. 51 of 1985 s. 10; No. 87 of 1985 s. 34; No. 52 of 1994 s. 23 and 34; No. 14 of 1996 s. 4; No. 42 of 1998 s. 26 and 37; No. 38 of 2002 s. 53; No. 42 of 2002 s. 21; No. 22 of 2012 s. 83.]

35A. Minister may declare permanent brigade districts

The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette —

(a) declare any district to be a district served by a permanent fire brigade; and

(b) vary or revoke a notice published under paragraph (a).

[Section 35A inserted: No. 42 of 2002 s. 22.]

[Part IX (s. 36‑47) 2 deleted: No. 42 of 2002 s. 23.]

Part X — Miscellaneous

[47A. Deleted: No. 22 of 2012 s. 84.]

48. FES Commissioner to provide information to Chief Health Officer

(1) In this section —

Chief Health Officer has the meaning given in the Public Health Act 2016 section 4(1).

(2) The FES Commissioner must from time to time provide the Chief Health Officer with information and recommendations as to the requirements for the prevention of, and escape from, fire in premises used or intended for purposes of public entertainment or of public assembly.

[Section 48 inserted: No. 19 of 2016 s. 142.]

49. Brigades to be registered etc.

Volunteer and private brigades already established or hereafter to be established shall conform to the regulations affecting such brigades, and shall be registered in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the regulations, and shall be subject to inspection by any person employed in the Department who is authorised by the FES Commissioner for the purposes of this section.

[Section 49 amended: No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 22 of 2012 s. 85.]

50. Restriction as to establishment of salvage corps

It shall not be lawful for any person to constitute or maintain within any fire district to which this Act applies any salvage corps or fire brigade for the purpose of salvage of property at fires or of extinguishing fire outside of the premises or land owned or used by such person, or at or on which such person is employed, unless such corps or brigade is constituted by the FES Commissioner or is authorised by the FES Commissioner to act as a salvage corps or fire brigade.

[Section 50 amended: No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 22 of 2012 s. 94.]

51. Rewards to brigades

Upon the FES Commissioner being satisfied that efficient and valuable service has been rendered by any brigade or by any member thereof the FES Commissioner may, in his or her discretion, pay to such brigade by way of bonus or by way of subsidy for such time as the FES Commissioner thinks desirable such sum as the FES Commissioner may determine, and may likewise reward any individual member of any brigade.

[Section 51 amended: No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 38 of 2002 s. 49(3); No. 22 of 2012 s. 86.]

52. Penalty for soliciting contributions for brigades without authority

(1) Subject to the regulations, the FES Commissioner may grant an authority in writing or in print to any person to collect contributions or subscriptions for the purposes of any brigade, and may at any time call in or cancel such authority.

(2) Any person not duly authorised under subsection (1) by the FES Commissioner who solicits contributions or subscriptions for the purpose of any brigade shall on conviction thereof be guilty of an offence against this Act.

[Section 52 amended: No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 22 of 2012 s. 87.]

[53. Deleted: No. 42 of 1966 s. 21.]

[54, 55. Deleted: No. 25 of 2012 s. 213(2).]

56. Turncocks to attend fires

Every turncock employed by a water supply authority shall forthwith —

(a) on any fire occurring in a fire district within the area or part of the State allotted to him; or

(b) when so requested by the FES Commissioner, on any hazardous material incident occurring within the area or part of the State allotted to him,

proceed with all possible speed to the fire, or hazardous material incident and assist by all means in his power the ensuring of a copious supply and service of water.

[Section 56 amended: No. 52 of 1994 s. 25; No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 22 of 2012 s. 94.]

57. Disconnection of gas or artificial light

Every company or person supplying gas or electricity or other illuminant to any premises on fire in a fire district or to any premises where a hazardous material incident is occurring or a rescue is being carried out shall forthwith, when so requested by the FES Commissioner, send some competent person to shut off or disconnect the supply to such premises or any adjoining premises.

[Section 57 amended: No. 52 of 1994 s. 26; No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 22 of 2012 s. 94.]

58. Police and others to aid FES Commissioner

The authority of the FES Commissioner shall be recognized by all officers and members of the police force and other persons. It shall be the duty of officers and members of the police force to support the authority of the FES Commissioner and assist him in enforcing obedience to any orders given in pursuance of this Act or the regulations.

[Section 58 amended: No. 38 of 2002 s. 49(3); No. 22 of 2012 s. 89.]

59. Penalties for interference, damage etc.

Any person who —

(a) wilfully interferes with any officer or member of any brigade in the discharge of his duty;

(b) wilfully damages or interferes with any water plug, fire hydrant, fire alarm, or other property of the Department;

(c) wilfully gives a false alarm of fire, a hazardous material incident or an accident or incident requiring a rescue operation;

(d) drives a vehicle over a fire hose;

(e) drives a vehicle within such proximity to the scene of a fire, hazardous material incident or rescue operation as to occasion interference,

shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding $2 500 and shall also be liable for and may be ordered to pay the estimated damage.

[Section 59 amended: No. 42 of 1966 s. 22; No. 51 of 1992 s. 16(1); No. 52 of 1994 s. 27 and 34; No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 50 of 2003 s. 61(3); No. 19 of 2010 s. 51; No. 22 of 2012 s. 90.]

60. Removal of persons not members of recognized fire brigades from burning premises

(1) Any person who is not a member of a fire brigade, or who is not acting under the control or direction of any officer or member of a brigade, may be ordered by any officer or member of a brigade or by any member of the police force to withdraw from —

(a) any premises then burning or which are threatened by fire; or

(b) any premises at which there is a hazardous material incident or the threat of such an incident; or

(c) any premises at which a rescue operation is being carried out,

and thereupon that person shall withdraw from the premises.

(2) If such person neglects or refuses to so withdraw, he may be forcibly removed.

[Section 60 amended: No. 42 of 1966 s. 23; No. 52 of 1994 s. 28.]

61. Rights to water for extinguishing fires and for practice etc.

(1) In this section —

water services licensee means a licensee as defined in the Water Services Act 2012 section 3(1).

(2) The FES Commissioner, the officers and members of brigades and any brigade registered under this Act shall have the use of all water mains, fire hydrants, water plugs, valves, and pipes vested in or belonging to any water services licensee and of all water therein or in any well or tank, free of charge, for the purpose of extinguishing any fire or confining or ending a hazardous material incident, or for the purpose of drills, competitions, and practice conducted under the authority of the FES Commissioner.

[Section 61 amended: No. 52 of 1994 s. 29; No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 22 of 2012 s. 94; No. 25 of 2012 s. 213(3) and (4)(b).]

[62. Deleted: No. 42 of 2002 s. 24.]

[63. Deleted: No. 2 of 1996 s. 61.]

[64. Deleted: No. 42 of 1998 s. 34.]

[65. Deleted: No. 42 of 2002 s. 25.]

66. Failure to deliver up any premises in occupation by officer or member of brigade

Where any officer or member of a brigade, or other person who has been employed in the Department for the purposes of this Act in any capacity, and has resigned or been discharged continues to occupy any premises of the Department, or to the possession whereof the FES Commissioner may be entitled, after notice in writing from the FES Commissioner to deliver up possession thereof, it shall be lawful for any Justice of the Peace, on the oath of one witness stating such notice to have been given, by warrant under his hand, to order any police constable to enter into such premises, and to remove such officer or member of a brigade, or person, and his family and servants therefrom, and afterwards to deliver the possession thereof to the FES Commissioner as effectually to all intents and purposes as the sheriff having jurisdiction within the place where such premises are situate might lawfully do by virtue of a writ of possession.

[Section 66 amended: No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 22 of 2012 s. 91.]

67. Detention of property of Department

(1A) In this section —

authorised officer means —

(a) the FES Commissioner; or

(b) a person employed in the Department, or an agent of the FES Commissioner, who is authorised in writing by the FES Commissioner for the purposes of this section.

(1) An authorised officer may enter, and, if necessary, break into any place where any property of the Department is detained contrary to the order of the FES Commissioner, and may remove that property.

(2) Any person hindering or obstructing an authorised officer in so entering or breaking into any such place shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.

[Section 67 amended: No. 42 of 1998 s. 37; No. 38 of 2002 s. 49(3); No. 22 of 2012 s. 92.]

[68. Deleted: No. 42 of 2002 s. 26.]

[69. Deleted: No. 42 of 2002 s. 27.]

[70. Deleted: No. 42 of 2002 s. 28.]

[71. Deleted: No. 42 of 1998 s. 35.]

72. Penalty for offences

Any person disobeying or failing to comply with any provisions of this Act or the regulations or failing to do that which by or under this Act he is required or directed to do shall be guilty of an offence, and, if no penalty be specially provided therefor, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding $1 000 and to a further penalty of not more than $100 for each day such offence is continued after any conviction therefor.

[Section 72 amended: No. 5 of 1961 s. 2; No. 42 of 1966 s. 25; No. 52 of 1994 s. 34.]

[73. Deleted: No. 22 of 2012 s. 93.]

[The First Schedule deleted: No. 38 of 2002 s. 60.]

Second Schedule — Fire districts

[s. 5]

[Heading amended: No. 19 of 2010 s. 4.]

[The Second Schedule inserted: No. 27 of 1971 s. 4; amended: No. 38 of 1993 s. 34; No. 14 of 1996 s. 4; No. 57 of 1997 s. 60; amended: Gazette 21 Jan 1972 p. 74; 4 Feb 1972 p. 213‑14; 23 Jun 1972 p. 2029‑30; 4 Aug 1972 p. 2923; 20 Oct 1972 p. 4152; 27 Oct 1972 p. 4208; 25 May 1973 p. 1617; 26 Oct 1973 p. 4050; 28 Jun 1974 p. 2233‑4; 30 Aug 1974 p. 3236; 28 Feb 1975 p. 721‑2; 7 Dec 1979 p. 3772; 27 Mar 1981 p. 1039‑40; 20 May 1983 p. 1523‑4; 16 Mar 1984 p. 701; 14 Aug 1987 p. 3163‑6; 3 Mar 1989 p. 675; 29 Jun 1990 p. 3147; 16 Jul 1993 p. 3889; 19 Dec 1995 p. 6145; 17 Jan 1997 p. 407; 24 Apr 1997 p. 2068; 27 Jun 1997 p. 3094; 2 Oct 1998 p. 5513; 29 Jun 1999 p. 2832; 1 Jul 1999 p. 2911; 1 Aug 2000 p. 4133; 28 Mar 2002 p. 1762; 6 Sep 2002 p. 4488; 28 Jun 2005 p. 2919; 29 Nov 2005 p. 5782‑3; 14 Dec 2012 p. 6214; 25 Jul 2017 p. 4075.]

[The Third Schedule deleted: No. 38 of 2002 s. 61.]

[The Fourth Schedule deleted: No. 42 of 2002 s. 29.]

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Notes

This is a compilation of the Fire Brigades Act 1942 and includes amendments made by other written laws 3, 4, 5. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table.

Compilation table

Other notes

1 Footnote no longer applicable.

2 The Fire and Emergency Services Legislation (Emergency Services Levy) Amendment Act 2002 s. 36, which gives effect to Sch. 1, reads as follows:

36. Transitional provisions

Schedule 1 has effect.

Schedule 1 reads as follows:

Schedule 1 — Transitional provisions

[s. 36]

Division 1 — Definitions

1. Definitions

In this Division —

Authority means the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia established by section 4 of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia Act 1998;

commencement day means the day on which this Schedule comes into operation;

FESA Account means the Fire and Emergency Services Authority Account established under section 30 of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia Act 1998;

insurance company has the same meaning as it has in the FB Act;

levy means the emergency services levy determined under Part 6A of the FESA Act and imposed under the Emergency Services Levy Act 2002;

Minister has the same meaning as it has in the FESA Act;

the FB Act means the Fire Brigades Act 1942, as in force immediately before the commencement day;

the FESA Act means the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia Act 1998, as amended by this Act;

the ICA means the Insurance Council of Australia Limited;

the 2003 period means the period that begins on the commencement day and ends on 30 June 2003;

the 2004 year means the year that ends on 30 June 2004.

Division 2 — Savings and transitional provisions relating to Part IX of the Fire Brigades Act 1942

2. Application

This Division has effect despite the repeal by section 23 of Part IX of the Fire Brigades Act 1942.

3. Section 36

Section 36 of the FB Act continues to have effect for the 2003 period.

4. Section 37

(1) Section 37 of the FB Act continues to have effect for the 2003 period.

(2) Section 37 of the FB Act also continues to have effect for the 2004 year as if —

(a) after “in respect of each district” in subsection (1) were inserted —

“ served by a permanent fire brigade ”;

(b) subsection (1)(a) and (b) of that section were deleted;

(c) subsection (2) of that section were repealed and the following subsections inserted instead —

“

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the insurance companies shall contribute the specified percentage of the amount of the estimated expenditure for the year ending 30 June 2004.

(2aa) In subsection (2) —

***the specified percentage*** means the percentage specified by the Minister by notice published in the *Gazette*.

”;

(d) subsections (4) and (5) of that section were repealed.

(3) Despite subsection (3) of section 37 of the FB Act, the contributions in relation to the year that ends on 30 June 2004 required from insurance companies under that section, as continued by this clause, are to be paid at the times, and in the instalments, specified by the Minister by notice published in the Gazette.

5. Section 38

Section 38 of the FB Act continues to have effect for the 2003 period.

6. Section 39

Section 39 of the FB Act continues to have effect for the 2003 period for the purposes of requiring insurance companies to give to the Authority not later than 31 March 2003 a return and a declaration, within the meaning of that section, in respect of the year that ends on 31 December 2002.

7. Section 40

Section 40 of the FB Act continues to have effect for the period that begins on the commencement day and ends on 30 June 2004.

8. Section 42

Section 42 of the FB Act continues to have effect for the 2003 period for the purposes of the return and the declaration referred to in clause 6.

9. Section 43

(1) Section 43 of the FB Act continues to have effect for the 2003 period.

(2) Section 43 of the FB Act also continues to have effect for the 2004 year as if that section were amended —

(a) by deleting each reference to “local government”;

(b) by making any other modification necessary for the purposes of paragraph (a).

10. Section 44

Section 44 of the FB Act continues to have effect for the 2003 period.

11. Section 45

(1) Subject to subclause (2), section 45 of the FB Act continues to have effect for the purposes of the amount of the contributions, within the meaning of that section, received by the Authority for the year that ends on 30 June 2003.

(2) If, for that year, there is a deficit or excess, within the meaning of that section, in respect of the contributions of a local government or the Treasurer —

(a) an amount equal to the deficit is to be paid to the Authority by the local government or the Treasurer, as the case requires, not later than 31 December 2003; or

(b) an amount equal to the excess is to be paid by the Authority to the local government or the Treasurer, as the case requires, not later than 31 December 2003.

(3) Subject to subclause (4), section 45 of the FB Act also continues to have effect for the purposes of the amount of the contributions, within the meaning of that section, received by the Authority for the 2004 year from insurance companies.

(4) If, for that year, there is a deficit or excess, within the meaning of that section, in respect of the contributions of an insurance company —

(a) an amount equal to the deficit is to be paid to the Authority by the insurance company not later than 31 December 2004; or

(b) an amount equal to the excess is to be paid by the Authority to the insurance company not later than 31 December 2004.

12. Section 46

Moneys borrowed by the Authority under section 46 of the FB Act and not repaid before the commencement day are taken to have been borrowed under Part 6 of the FESA Act.

13. Section 46A

Amounts that, immediately before the commencement day, are standing to the credit of a replacement fund established under section 46A of the FB Act are taken to be amounts standing to the credit of a reserve fund established under section 35A of the FESA Act.

Division 3 — Arrangements with insurance companies

14. Arrangements with insurance companies

(1) The Minister, after consultation with the ICA, is to take all reasonable steps to enter into arrangements with insurance companies that provide for the Minister to be given sufficient information by the companies to satisfy the Minister that, as a result of the introduction of the levy, the companies have appropriately reduced, or have given appropriate refunds in relation to, the premiums payable for policies of insurance.

(2) In subclause (1) —

policies of insurance means policies of insurance within the meaning of the FB Act.

15. Report by Minister

(1) Within 18 months after the commencement day, the Minister is to prepare a report on the arrangements referred to in clause 14 and the information given to the Minister in accordance with those arrangements.

(2) The Minister may omit from the report any matter that the Minister considers to be of a commercially sensitive nature.

(3) As soon as practicable after the report is prepared the Minister is to cause it to be laid before each House of Parliament.

Division 4 — Regulations

16. Further transitional regulations may be made

(1) If there is no sufficient provision in this Schedule for any matter or thing necessary or convenient to give effect to the purposes of this Schedule, that provision may be made by regulations under section 40 of the FESA Act.

(2) Without limiting subclause (1), regulations referred to in that subclause may provide for any matter or thing necessary or convenient —

(a) to assist the Minister to enter into the arrangements referred to in clause 14; or

(b) to give effect to the purposes of entering into those arrangements.

(3) Any such regulation may be made so as to have effect on or after the day on which this clause comes into operation.

(4) To the extent that any such regulation has effect on a day that is earlier than the day of its publication in the Gazette, the regulation does not operate so as —

(a) to affect, in a manner prejudicial to any person (other than the State or the Authority), the rights of that person existing before the day of its publication; or

(b) to impose liabilities on any person (other than the State or the Authority), in respect of anything done or omitted to be done before the day of its publication.

3 Marginal notes in the Fire Brigades Act 1942 referring to legislation of other jurisdictions have been omitted from this compilation.

4 Marginal notes in the Fire Brigades Act 1942 referring to sections of the Fire Brigades Act 1916 have been omitted from this compilation.

5 The amendments in the Fire Brigades Amendment Act (No. 2) 1982 are not included in this compilation because, before it came into operation, that Act was repealed by the Fire and Emergency Services Legislation Amendment Act 2002.

6 The Fourth Schedule was inserted by the Metric Conversion Act Amendment Act 1975.

7 The Fire Brigades Amendment Act 1982 s. 18(2) is a savings provision that is of no further effect.

8 The Fire Brigades Amendment Act 1985 s. 11(2) reads as follows:

(2) Section 38 of the principal Act as amended by subsection (1) shall have effect on and after 1 July 1985.

9 The Fire Brigades Superannuation Act 1985 s. 36 is a transitional provision that is of no further effect.

10 The Acts Amendment (Financial Administration and Audit) Act 1985 s. 4 is a savings and transitional provision that is of no further effect.

11 The State Government Insurance Commission Act 1986 s. 47 is a savings, validation and transitional provision that is of no further effect.

12 The Acts Amendment (Public Service) Act 1987 s. 6(2) and (3), 19(2) and (3), 20(2) and (3), 25(2), 26(2) and 28(2) are transitional, validation and savings provisions that are of no further effect.

13 The Fire Brigades Amendment Act 1994 s. 35 is a validation provision that is of no further effect.

14 The Water Agencies Restructure (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 1995 Pt. 14 are transitional provisions that are of no further effect.

15 The Fire and Emergency Services Legislation Amendment Act 2002 s. 45(4) and 54(3) read as follows:

45. Section 5 amended, and transitional

(4) An order made by the Governor under section 5 of the Fire Brigades Act 1942 that is in force immediately before the day on which this section comes into operation, continues in force on and after that day, subject to the Fire Brigades Act 1942 (as amended by this Act), as if it were a notice made by the Minister under that section as amended by this Act.

54. Section 35A amended and transitional

(3) An order made by the Governor under section 35A of the Fire Brigades Act 1942 that is in force immediately before the day on which this section comes into operation, continues in force on and after that day, subject to the Fire Brigades Act 1942 (as amended by this Act), as if it were a notice made by the Minister under that section as amended by this Act.

16 The Courts Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 Sch. 2 cl. 18 was repealed by the Criminal Law and Evidence Amendment Act 2008 s. 77(13).

17 The State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 Pt. 5, the State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004 s. 167 and 169, and the State Administrative Tribunal Regulations 2004 r. 28 and 42 deal with certain transitional issues some of which may be relevant for this Act.

18 The Water Services Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2012 s. 213(4)(a) was repealed by the Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2025 s. 3(i).

Defined terms

[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]

Defined term Provision(s)

alleviation 33A(15)

authorised officer 33A(15), 34A(10), 67(1A)

brigade 4(1)

Chief Health Officer 48(1)

Department 4(1)

district 4(1)

employed in the Department 4(1)

FES Act 4(1)

FES Commissioner 4(1)

former Authority 24(4)

hazardous material 4(1)

hazardous material incident 4(1)

inflammable matter 4(1)

occupier 33A(15)

owner 4(1)

permanent fire brigade 4(1)

premises 4(1), 25A(2)

presumed occupier 33A(15)

private fire brigade 4(1)

property of the Department 4(1)

public building 33A(15)

rescue operation 4(1)

vessel 4(1)

volunteer fire brigade 4(1)

water services licensee 61(1)

© State of Western Australia 2025.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0). To view relevant information and for a link to a copy of the licence, visit www.legislation.wa.gov.au.

Attribute work as: © State of Western Australia 2025.

By Authority: GEOFF O. LAWN, Government Printer