Part VI — General powers and duties of Minister and FES Commissioner
Power to purchase property for stations etc. 7
Functions of FES Commissioner 8
25A. FES Commissioner may require certain fire fighting appliances 8
Formation of brigades etc. 9
26A. Further powers of FES Commissioner 10
FES Commissioner’s proposals to be submitted to local government 12
Part VII — Officers and members of brigades and others
Approval of members of volunteer brigade 13
Brigades are under control of FES Commissioner 13
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
Duties and powers of FES Commissioner and others at fires 20
34A. Powers concerning persons exposed to hazardous material 23
Part VIII — Regulations
Power to make regulations 25
35A. Minister may declare permanent brigade districts 27
Part X — Miscellaneous
FES Commissioner to provide information to Chief Health Officer 28
Brigades to be registered etc. 28
Restriction as to establishment of salvage corps 28
Rewards to brigades 29
Penalty for soliciting contributions for brigades without authority 29
Turncocks to attend fires 30
Disconnection of gas or artificial light 30
Police and others to aid FES Commissioner 30
Penalties for interference, damage etc. 31
Section 1 - Fire Brigades Act 1942 - Fire Brigades Act 1942 | Zoe
Removal of persons not members of recognized fire brigades from burning premises 31
Rights to water for extinguishing fires and for practice etc. 32
Failure to deliver up any premises in occupation by officer or member of brigade 33
Detention of property of Department 33
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.]
Fire district
Local government district or part thereof constituting fire district
Part I
Metropolitan Fire District
Perth
Part II
Metropolitan Fire District
Armadale
Fremantle
Melville
Nedlands
South Perth
Stirling
Subiaco
Wanneroo
Joondalup
Cambridge
Canning
Claremont
Cockburn
Cottesloe
East Fremantle
Mosman Park
Victoria Park
Vincent
Bassendean
Bayswater
Belmont
Gosnells
Kalamunda
Mundaring
Peppermint Grove
Swan
Rockingham
Kwinana
Part III
Coolgardie Fire District
Coolgardie
Cue Fire District
Cue
Kalgoorlie‑Boulder Fire District
Kalgoorlie‑Boulder
Kambalda Fire District
Coolgardie
Laverton Fire District
Laverton
Leonora Fire District
Leonora
Meekatharra Fire District
Meekatharra
Mount Magnet Fire District
Mount Magnet
Norseman Fire District
Dundas
Southern Cross Fire District
Yilgarn
Part IV
Albany Fire District
Albany (Town)
Augusta Fire District
Augusta‑Margaret River
Ballidu Fire District
Wongan‑Ballidu
Beverley Fire District
Beverley
Boyup Brook Fire District
Boyup Brook
Bridgetown Fire District
Bridgetown‑Greenbushes
Brookton Fire District
Brookton
Broome Fire District
Broome
Brunswick Junction Fire District
Harvey
Bunbury Fire District
Bunbury
Busselton Fire District
Busselton
Carnarvon Fire District
Carnarvon
Collie Fire District
Collie
Corrigin Fire District
Corrigin
Cowaramup Fire District
Augusta‑Margaret River
Cunderdin Fire District
Cunderdin
Dalwallinu Fire District
Dalwallinu
Denham Fire District
Shark Bay
Denmark Fire District
Denmark
Derby Fire District
West Kimberley
Dongara‑Port Denison Fire District
Irwin
Donnybrook Fire District
Donnybrook‑Balingup
Dumbleyung Fire District
Dumbleyung
Dunsborough Fire District
Busselton
Dwellingup Fire District
Murray
Eaton‑Australind Fire District
Image unavailable in extracted text
Dardanup<br>Harvey
Esperance Fire District
Esperance
Exmouth Fire District
Exmouth
Falcon Fire District
Mandurah
Geraldton‑Greenough Fire District
Image unavailable in extracted text
Geraldton<br>Greenough
Gingin Fire District
Gingin
Goomalling Fire District
Goomalling
Harvey Fire District
Harvey
Jurien Fire District
Dandaragan
Kalamunda Fire District
Kalamunda
Kalbarri Fire District
Northampton
Karratha Fire District
Roebourne
Katanning Fire District
Katanning
Kellerberrin Fire District
Kellerberrin
Kojonup Fire District
Kojonup
Kulin Fire District
Kulin
Kununurra Fire District
Wyndham
Lake Grace Fire District
Lake Grace
Lancelin Fire District
Gingin
Mandurah Fire District
Mandurah
Manjimup Fire District
Manjimup
Margaret River Fire District
Augusta‑Margaret River
Merredin Fire District
Merredin
Moora Fire District
Moora
Mount Barker Fire District
Plantagenet
Mullewa Fire District
Mullewa
Mundaring Fire District
Mundaring
Nannup Fire District
Nannup
Narrogin Fire District
Narrogin (Town)
Newman Fire District
East Pilbara
Northam Fire District
Northam (Town)
Northampton Fire District
Northampton
Northcliffe Fire District
Manjimup
Onslow Fire District
Ashburton
Pemberton Fire District
Manjimup
Pingelly Fire District
Pingelly
Pinjarra Fire District
Murray
Port Hedland Fire District
Port Hedland
Quairading Fire District
Quairading
Ravensthorpe Fire District
Ravensthorpe
Roebourne Fire District
Roebourne
Roleystone Fire District
Armadale
Secret Harbour Fire District
Rockingham
Tammin Fire District
Tammin
Toodyay Fire District
Toodyay
Wagin Fire District
Wagin
Wallcliffe Fire District
Augusta‑Margaret River
Walpole Fire District
Manjimup
Waroona Fire District
Waroona
Wickham Fire District
Roebourne
Williams Fire District
Williams
Witchcliffe Fire District
Augusta‑Margaret River
Wongan Hills Fire District
Wongan‑Ballidu
Wundowie Fire District
Northam (Shire)
Wyalkatchem Fire District
Wyalkatchem
Wyndham Fire District
Wyndham
Yallingup Fire District
Busselton
Yanchep Fire District
Wanneroo
York Fire District
York
[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.]
dline
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
Short title
Number and year
Assent
Commencement
Fire Brigades Act 1942
35 of 1942
23 Dec 1942
17 May 1943 (see s. 1 and Gazette 14 May 1943 p. 463) Proc. published 9 Apr 1943 p. 345 revoked (see Gazette 14 May 1943 p. 463)
Fire Brigades Act Amendment Act 1949
31 of 1949
25 Oct 1949
25 Oct 1949
Acts Amendment (Fire Brigades Board and Fire Hydrants) Act 1951 s. 3
41 of 1951
20 Dec 1951
4 Apr 1952 (see s. 2 and Gazette 4 Apr 1952 p. 799‑800)
Fire Brigades Act Amendment Act 1959
34 of 1959
30 Oct 1959
30 Oct 1959
Reprint of the Fire Brigades Act 1942 approved 12 Jul 1960 (not in a Vol.) (includes amendments listed above)
Fire Brigades Act Amendment Act 1961
5 of 1961
10 Oct 1961
10 Oct 1961
Fire Brigades Act Amendment Act 1963
34 of 1963
19 Nov 1963
14 Feb 1964 (see s. 2 and Gazette 14 Feb 1964 p. 643)
Fire Brigades Act Amendment Act 1964
3 of 1964
2 Oct 1964
2 Oct 1964
Fire Brigades Act Amendment Act 1966
42 of 1966
4 Nov 1966
4 Nov 1966
Fire Brigades Act Amendment Act 1971
27 of 1971
1 Dec 1971
1 Dec 1971
Untitled order (Northcliffe Fire District) published in Gazette 21 Jan 1972 p. 74
21 Jan 1972
Untitled order (Pinjarra Fire District) published in Gazette 4 Feb 1972 p. 213‑14
4 Feb 1972
Reprint of the Fire Brigades Act 1942 approved 16 Feb 1972 (includes amendments listed above)
Untitled order (Augusta Fire District) published in Gazette 23 Jun 1972 p. 2029‑30
23 Jun 1972
Untitled order (Koolyanobbing Fire District) published in Gazette 4 Aug 1972 p. 2923
4 Aug 1972
Untitled order (Laverton Fire District) published in Gazette 20 Oct 1972 p. 4152
20 Oct 1972
Untitled order (Williams Fire District) published in Gazette 27 Oct 1972 p. 4208
27 Oct 1972
Metric Conversion Act 1972
94 of 1972 (as amended by No. 19 and 83 of 1973, 42 of 1975)
4 Dec 1972
Relevant amendments (see Fourth Sch.6) took effect on 19 Dec 1975 (see s. 4(2) and Gazette 19 Dec 1975 p. 4577)
Fire Brigades Act Amendment Act 1972
107 of 1972
6 Dec 1972
23 Dec 1972 (see s. 2 and Gazette 22 Dec 1972 p. 4755)
Untitled order (Kulin Fire District) published in Gazette 25 May 1973 p. 1617
25 May 1973
Untitled order (Kununurra Fire District) published in Gazette 26 Oct 1973 p. 4050
26 Oct 1973
Untitled order (Wickham Fire District) published in Gazette 28 Jun 1974 p. 2233‑4
28 Jun 1974
Untitled order (Onslow Fire District) published in Gazette 30 Aug 1974 p. 3236
30 Aug 1974
Untitled order (Mullewa Fire District) published in Gazette 28 Feb 1975 p. 721‑2
28 Feb 1975
Acts Amendment and Repeal (Valuation of Land) Act 1978 Pt. VI
76 of 1978
20 Oct 1978
1 Jul 1979 (see s. 2 and Gazette 11 May 1979 p. 1211)
Fire Brigades Act Amendment Act 1978
85 of 1978
27 Oct 1978
27 Oct 1978
Fire Brigades Act Amendment Act 1979
63 of 1979
12 Nov 1979
7 Dec 1979 (see s. 2 and Gazette 7 Dec 1979 p. 3769)
Untitled order (Roebourne Fire District) published in Gazette 7 Dec 1979 p. 3772
7 Dec 1979
Fire Brigades Act Order (No. 2) 1981 — (Wyndham Fire District) published in Gazette 27 Mar 1981 p. 1039‑40
27 Mar 1981 (see cl. 2)
Fire Brigades Amendment Act 1982 7
28 of 1982
27 May 1982
30 Jun 1982 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Jun 1982 p. 2261)
Fire Brigades Act Order 1983 — (Newman Fire District) published in Gazette 20 May 1983 p. 1523‑4
20 May 1983 (see cl. 2)
Fire Brigades Act Order 1984 — (Koolyanobbing Fire District) published in Gazette 16 Mar 1984 p. 701
16 Mar 1984 (see cl. 2)
Fire Brigades Amendment Act 1985 8
51 of 1985
23 Oct 1985
s. 1 and 2: 23 Oct 1985; s. 11: 3 Jan 1986 (see s. 2 and Gazette 3 Jan 1986 p. 9); s. 3‑8: 8 Aug 1986 (see s. 2 and Gazette 8 Aug 1986 p. 2815); s. 9 and 10: 5 Aug 1988 (see s. 2 and Gazette 5 Aug 1988 p. 2583)
Fire Brigades Superannuation Act 1985 s. 34 9
87 of 1985
4 Dec 1985
3 Nov 1986 (see s. 2 and Gazette 24 Oct 1986 p. 3938)
Acts Amendment (Financial Administration and Audit) Act 1985 s. 3 10
98 of 1985
4 Dec 1985
1 Jul 1986 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Jun 1986 p. 2255)
State Government Insurance Commission Act 1986 s. 46(2) 11
51 of 1986
5 Aug 1986
1 Jan 1987 (see s. 2 and Gazette 19 Dec 1986 p. 4859)
Reprint of the Fire Brigades Act 1942 as at 18 Sep 1986 (includes amendments listed above except those in the Fire Brigades Amendment Act 1985 s. 9‑10, Fire Brigades Superannuation Act 1985 and the State Government Insurance Commission Act 1986)
Fire Brigades (Dongara‑Port Denison Fire District) Order 1987 published in Gazette 14 Aug 1987 p. 3163‑4
14 Aug 1987
Fire Brigades (Denham Fire District) Order 1987 published in Gazette 14 Aug 1987 p. 3164
14 Aug 1987
Fire Brigades (Falcon Fire District) Order 1987 published in Gazette 14 Aug 1987 p. 3164‑5
14 Aug 1987
Fire Brigades (Yanchep Fire District) Order 1987 published in Gazette 14 Aug 1987 p. 3165‑6
14 Aug 1987
Acts Amendment (Public Service) Act 1987 s. 32 12
113 of 1987
31 Dec 1987
16 Mar 1988 (see s. 2 and Gazette 16 Mar 1988 p. 813)
Fire Brigades (Jurien Fire District) Order 1989 published in Gazette 3 Mar 1989 p. 675
3 Mar 1989
Fire Brigades (Kalgoorlie‑Boulder) Amendment Order 1990 published in Gazette 29 Jun 1990 p. 3147
29 Jun 1990
SGIO Privatisation Act 1992 s. 29
49 of 1992
9 Dec 1992
7 Jan 1993 (see s. 2(3) and 4(2) and Gazette 7 Jan 1993 p. 15)
Criminal Law Amendment Act (No. 2) 1992 s. 16(1)
51 of 1992
9 Dec 1992
6 Jan 1993
Fire Brigades (Kambalda Fire District) Order 1993 published in Gazette 16 Jul 1993 p. 3889
16 Jul 1993
Financial Administration Legislation Amendment Act 1993 s. 12
6 of 1993
27 Aug 1993
1 Jul 1993 (see s. 2(1))
City of Perth Restructuring Act 1993 s. 34
38 of 1993
20 Dec 1993
1 Jul 1994 (see s. 3(1) and 34(2))
Acts Amendment (Public Sector Management) Act 1994 s. 3(2)
32 of 1994
29 Jun 1994
1 Oct 1994 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Sep 1994 p. 4948)
Fire Brigades Amendment Act 1994 13
52 of 1994
2 Nov 1994
s. 1 and 2: 2 Nov 1994; Act other than s. 1 and 2: 10 Dec 1994 (see s. 2 and Gazette 9 Dec 1994 p. 6647)
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 1994 s. 4
73 of 1994
9 Dec 1994
9 Dec 1994 (see s. 2)
Fire Brigades (Mundaring Fire District) Order 1995 published in Gazette 19 Dec 1995 p. 6145‑6
19 Dec 1995
Water Agencies Restructure (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 1995 s. 188 14
73 of 1995
27 Dec 1995
1 Jan 1996 (see s. 2(2) and Gazette 29 Dec 1995 p. 6291)
Sentencing (Consequential Provisions) Act 1995 s. 147
78 of 1995
16 Jan 1996
4 Nov 1996 (see s. 2 and Gazette 25 Oct 1996 p. 5632)
Coroners Act 1996 s. 61
2 of 1996
24 May 1996
7 Apr 1997 (see s. 2 and Gazette 18 Mar 1997 p. 1529)
Reprint of the Fire Brigades Act 1942 as at 17 Jun 1996 (includes amendments listed above except those in the Sentencing (Consequential Provisions) Act 1995 and the Coroners Act 1996)
Local Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 1996 s. 4
14 of 1996
28 Jun 1996
1 Jul 1996 (see s. 2)
Fire Brigades (Gingin Fire District) Order 1996 published in Gazette 17 Jan 1997 p. 406‑7
17 Jan 1997
Fire Brigades (Lancelin Fire District) Order 1997 published in Gazette 24 Apr 1997 p. 2068‑9
24 Apr 1997
Fire Brigades (Secret Harbour Fire District) Order 1997 published in Gazette 27 Jun 1997 p. 3094‑5
27 Jun 1997
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 1997 s. 60
57 of 1997
15 Dec 1997
15 Dec 1997 (see s. 2(1))
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act (No. 2) 1998 s. 35 and 76
10 of 1998
30 Apr 1998
30 Apr 1998 (see s. 2(1))
Fire Brigades (Onslow Fire District) Order 1998 published in Gazette 2 Oct 1998 p. 5513
2 Oct 1998
Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia (Consequential Provisions) Act 1998 Pt. 3
42 of 1998
4 Nov 1998
1 Jan 1999 (see s. 2 and Gazette 22 Dec 1998 p. 6833)
Fire Brigades (Roleystone Fire District) Order 1999 published in Gazette 29 Jun 1999 p. 2832‑3
29 Jun 1999
Fire Districts (Adjustment of Boundaries) Order 1999 published in Gazette 1 Jul 1999 p. 2911‑13
1 Jul 1999
Reprint of the Fire Brigades Act 1942 as at 18 Feb 2000 (includes amendments listed above)
Fire Brigades (Dunsborough Fire District) Order 2000 published in Gazette 1 Aug 2000 p. 4133‑4
1 Aug 2000
Fire Brigades (Kalbarri Fire District) Order 2001 published in Gazette 28 Mar 2002 p. 1761‑2
28 Mar 2002
Fire Brigades (Dwellingup Fire District) Order 2002 published in Gazette 6 Sep 2002 p. 4487‑8
6 Sep 2002
Fire and Emergency Services Legislation Amendment Act 2002 Pt. 4 15
38 of 2002
20 Nov 2002
30 Nov 2002 (see s. 2 and Gazette 29 Nov 2002 p. 5651‑2)
Fire and Emergency Services Legislation (Emergency Services Levy) Amendment Act 2002 Pt. 3 2
42 of 2002
11 Dec 2002
1 Jan 2003 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Dec 2002 p. 6635)
Reprint 6: The Fire Brigades Act 1942 as at 7 Mar 2003 (includes amendments listed above)
Sentencing Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2003 s. 61
50 of 2003
9 Jul 2003
15 May 2004 (see s. 2 and Gazette 14 May 2004 p. 1445)
1 Jan 2004 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Dec 2003 p. 5723)
Courts Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 s. 141 16
59 of 2004 (as amended by No. 2 of 2008 s. 77(13))
23 Nov 2004
1 May 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 31 Dec 2004 p. 7128)
State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 Pt. 2 Div. 48 17
55 of 2004
24 Nov 2004
1 Jan 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 31 Dec 2004 p. 7130)
Fire Brigades (Fire Districts) Notice 2005 published in Gazette 28 Jun 2005 p. 2918‑19
28 Jun 2005
Emergency Management Act 2005 s. 104
15 of 2005
27 Sep 2005
24 Dec 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 23 Dec 2005 p. 6244)
Fire Brigades (Fire Districts) Notice (No. 2) 2005 published in Gazette 29 Nov 2005 p. 5782‑3
29 Nov 2005
Reprint 7: The Fire Brigades Act 1942 as at 2 Jun 2006 (includes amendments listed above)
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2009 s. 9
46 of 2009
3 Dec 2009
4 Dec 2009 (see s. 2(b))
Standardisation of Formatting Act 2010 s. 4, 43(3) and 51
19 of 2010
28 Jun 2010
11 Sep 2010 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 10 Sep 2010 p. 4341)
Fire and Emergency Services Legislation Amendment Act 2012 Pt. 4
22 of 2012
29 Aug 2012
1 Nov 2012 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 31 Oct 2012 p. 5255)
Water Services Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2012 s. 213 (other than s. 213(4)(a)) 18
25 of 2012
3 Sep 2012
18 Nov 2013 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 14 Nov 2013 p. 5028)
Fire Brigades (Fire Districts) Notice (No. 2) 2012 published in Gazette 14 Dec 2012 p. 6213-14
14 Dec 2012
Reprint 8: The Fire Brigades Act 1942 as at 24 Jan 2014 (includes amendments listed above)
Public Health (Consequential Provisions) Act 2016 Pt. 3 Div. 13
19 of 2016
25 Jul 2016
24 Jan 2017 (see s. 2(1)(c) and Gazette 10 Jan 2017 p. 165)
Fire Brigades (Northampton Fire District) Notice 2017 published in Gazette 25 Jul 2017 p. 4075
26 Jul 2017 (see cl. 2(b))
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2025 s. 24
14 of 2025
25 Sep 2025
26 Sep 2025 (see s. 2(b))
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:
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:
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.
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.]
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