Councils around Tasmania are clamping down on property owners who have not made their land bushfire-ready as a dangerous season looms. Bushfires have already broken out and claimed homes in Tasmania this spring. On Sunday, November 26, a fire broke out on Ocean Beach Road, at Strahan. Strahan, Zeehan and Queenstown brigades joined forces and managed to save a house and vital communications infrastructure. There is expected to be continued, contained fire activity in the coming days, particularly on the road to Zeehan from Strahan. Local government authorities are now working to reduce the threat to their communities. To do this they are swooping on properties and are ready to fine those not prepared to do the right thing. The Waratah-Wynyard Council warned property owners this week it would be conducting fire abatement inspections soon. A spokesperson said the council issued more than 180 fire abatement notices annually and the vast majority were complied with. "We do have powers to issue infringement notices if required under s.200 of the Local Government Act 1993 for a total infringement of up to 20 penalty units ( one penalty unit is $195)," the said. The council said it wanted the owners of vacant land within the municipality to keep grass and vegetation short - under 100 millimetres high - for the entire summer. "If you own a larger parcel of land that borders onto a residential area, you might be required to slash a firebreak along the adjoining property boundary to act as a barrier," it said. The Burnie City Council said in response to a question on notice for its November 28 meeting it was taking fire abatement very seriously. The question pertained to residents' concerns about a large property they considered a fire hazard. "Yet again this property has been left to be overgrown and is now a fire hazard. Is it possible for the council to either fine the property owner for neglect?" the resident asked. "Or can the council maintain it and send the owner the bill, or do residents have to be worried every year and ratepayer resources have to be wasted year after year chasing the property owner up to do the basics so residents don't have to live in fear of a fire?" General manager Simon Overland said the responsibility for maintenance of private properties rested with the owner and/or occupiers. "In relation to fire abatement, the council has statutory responsibilities and powers and takes this responsibility seriously, understanding the risks to our community," he said. "For instance, because of the adverse long-range weather forecast this year, the council has already issued abatement notices to property owners. "If the fire risk on properties is not properly abated the council does have powers to intervene but must do so in accordance with the relevant legislation and regulations. This can include the council conducting the work and billing the landowner, however this is only after the processes set out in legislation have been followed, which takes time." In August, the West Coast Council invited expressions of interest in removing vegetation where property owners have not complied with fire hazard abatement notices. The West Coast has had several bushfires in recent years, including one last December that destroyed the Mount Black Lodge at Rosebery and threatened the Rosebery Mine and the town's health centre. People who do not comply with the abatement notices, leading to contractors being called in, also get a hefty council fine. The council issued 303 abatement notices in 2022-23 and 89 were not complied with and contractors engaged.