| Can I Or Cant I? |
Fire Danger Period |
Total Fire Ban Days |
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Can I have a barbecue,
light a campfire or
light a fire for
warmth or comfort?
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Yes (Fire Danger Period)
But only if:
The wind is not more than 10 kph
The fire is lit in a properly constructed fireplace or in a trench at least
30 centimetres deep
The area within a distance of 3 metres from the outer perimeter of the barbecue is clear of flammable material
The fire does not occupy an area in excess of 1 square metre and the size and dimensions of solid fuel used are the minimum necessary for the purpose
A person is in attendance at all times while the fire is alight and has the capacity and means to extinguish the fire
The fire is completely extinguished before the person leaves.
Note that in accordance with the CFA Act, a “properly constructed fireplace” means a fireplace that is constructed of stone, metal, concrete or any other non-flammable material so as to contain the perimeter of the fire.
A commercially produced barbecue would be considered a properly constructed fireplace.
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Yes (Total Fire Ban)
Barbecues that are fixed appliances:
fired by gas or electricity, being permanently fixed structures built of stone, metal, concrete or another non-flammable material designed exclusively for meal preparation
or that use only gas or electricity, are designed and commercially manufactured exclusively for meal preparation (including portable barbecues), and when alight are placed in a stable position, provided that:
the area within a distance of 3 metres from the outer perimeter of the barbecue is clear of flammable material
you have either a hose connected to a water supply or a vessel with at least 10 litres of water for immediate use
an adult is there at all times when the fire is alight who has the capacity and means to extinguish the fire
the fire is completely extinguished before the adult leaves.
No. (Total Fire Ban Days)
Campfires, fires for warmth or personal comfort are banned during Total Fire Ban Days. Solid and liquid fuel barbecues and ovens are also banned during Total Fire Ban Days
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I run a meal preparation
business (eg. catering),
or am a community/
charitable/fundraising
or similar organisation.
Can I set up and light
a fire to operate a
barbecue or a spit
at outdoor functions?
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Yes (Fire Danger Period)
But only if:
The wind is not more than 10 kph
The fire is lit in a properly constructed fireplace or in a trench at least
30 centimetres deep
The area within a distance of 3 metres from the outer perimeter of the appliance (barbecue or spit) is clear of flammable material
The fire does not occupy an area of more than 1 square metre and the size and dimensions of solid fuel used are the minimum necessary for the purpose
A person is in attendance at all times while the fire is alight and has the capacity and means to extinguish the fire
The fire is completely extinguished before the person leaves
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Yes (Total Fire Ban) But only if you have a written permit issued by CFA or MFB and you comply with the conditions of that permit.
A community organisation, a charitable organisation or an organisation involved in fundraising (for example, a school or sporting group involved in fundraising) may apply for permission to light a fire to prepare meals for other people in the course of their business. These permits are issued by – and at the discretion of – local CFA District offices, CFA Headquarters or MFB Zone offices.
Municipal Fire Prevention Officers cannot issue these permits.
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Can I light a fire in
the open air for
burning off grass,
stubble, weeds,
undergrowth or
other vegetation?
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Yes (Fire Danger Period). But only if:
You have a written permit issued by a
Fire Prevention Officer of a public authority, the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer or by the CFA District office
You comply with the conditions of that permit
A person is in attendance at all times while the fire is alight and has the capacity and means to extinguish the fire
The fire is completely extinguished before the person leaves.
Many councils ban burning off on smog alert days or within certain locations or times within their municipalities. Check with the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer. |
No (Total Fire Ban)
All fires in the open air for burning off grass, scrub, stubble or rubbish are banned during Total Fire Ban Days.
Any permits issued by Municipal Fire Prevention Officers are suspended for the duration of any Total Fire Ban Days.
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Can I drive a
vehicle in places
where the vehicle
will be in contact
with crops, grass,
stubble, weeds,
undergrowth or
other vegetation?
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Yes (Fire Danger Period)
But only if the vehicle is fitted with an efficient silencing device (eg. muffler) that takes all of the exhaust from the engine through the silencing device.
You should avoid driving vehicles through dry vegetation in hot and dry conditions, even if it is not a Total Fire Ban Day, due to the risk posed by the hot exhaust system.
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Yes (Total Fire Ban)
But only if the vehicle is fitted with an efficient silencing device (eg. muffler) that takes all of the exhaust from the engine through the silencing device.
This should be avoided wherever possible, due to the extreme fire danger posed by dry vegetation and very hot exhaust systems.
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Can I use a chainsaw,
plant or grass trimmer
or lawn mower?
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Yes (Fire Danger Period)
Chainsaws, plant or grass trimmers or lawn mowers may be used in green vegetation without limitation.
But, for use in vegetation that is not green, chainsaws, plant or grass trimmers or lawn mowers must be:
Free from faults and mechanical defects
that could cause an outbreak of fire
Fitted with an efficient spark arrester
Have an area of at least 3 metres around
the machine cleared of flammable material.
Further, the operator of the machine, who must be in attendance at all times the machine is being used, must carry either of the following
fire suppression equipment:
at least one knapsack spray pump, in working order, fully charged with water,
with a capacity of not less than 9 litres
at least one water (stored pressure) fire extinguisher, in working order, fully charged with water and maintained at the correct pressure, with a capacity of not less than 9 litres.
Note that the spark arrester, the knapsack spray pump and the water fire extinguisher referred to above must comply with the applicable Australian Standards
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Yes (Total Fire Ban)
As for the Fire Danger Period.
However, if possible, postpone this work as the risk of starting fires is extremely high.
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Can I carry out
activities including:
welding, grinding,
charring, soldering
or gas cutting
relocating bees
extracting honey
rail maintenance
heating bitumen?
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Yes (Fire Danger Period)
But only if:
A fire-resistant shield or guard is in place to stop sparks, hot metal or slag from the fire
An area at least 1.5 metres from the operation is clear of flammable material or wetted down sufficiently to prevent the spread of fire
You have a reticulated water supply or water spray knapsack containing at least 9 litres
of water
All cut-offs and hot materials from the operation are placed in fire-proof receptacles
A person is in attendance at all times while the fire is alight and has the capacity and means to extinguish the fire
The fire is completely extinguished before the person leaves.
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No (Total Fire Ban)
Activities such as:
welding, grinding, charring, soldering or gas cutting, relocating bees, extracting honey, rail maintenance, heating bitumen
are banned on Total Fire Ban Days without special permits that apply to these days. These are called Section 40 permits.
In limited circumstances, CFA or MFB may issue a permit on Total Fire Ban Days to:
community organisations, charitable organisations, fundraising organisations
statutory corporations, councils
industrial or trade operations
for the purpose of carrying out their work, or for the purpose of public entertainment, or for religious or cultural purposes.
These permits must come from CFA District offices, CFA Headquarters or MFB Zone offices, and cannot be issued by Municipal Fire Prevention Officers
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| Can I use an incinerator? |
Yes (Total Fire Ban)Provided that:
1. You check with council about any local laws that might prescribe conditions or restrict or prohibit incinerator use (eg. bans on smog alert days, certain areas, certain times)
2. And the following requirements are met:
The fire is effectively restricted within the incinerator
The wind is not more than 10 kph
The ground and air space within 3 metres from the outer perimeter of the incinerator are clear of flammable material
A supply of water adequate to extinguish
the fire is available at all times when the fire is burning
A person is in attendance at all times while the fire is alight and has the capacity and means to extinguish the fire
The fire is completely extinguished before the person leaves.
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No (Total Fire Ban).
Incinerator use is banned during Total Fire Ban Days.
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Can I use self-propelled
farm machinery, tractors, slashers, earth-moving, excavating or
road-making machines propelled by a
heat engine within
9 metres of any crops, grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation?
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Yes (Fire Danger Period)
But only if the machinery:
Is free from faults and mechanical defects that could cause an outbreak of fire
Is fitted with a spark arrester in working
order (unless it is fitted with a turbocharger or an exhaust aspirated air-cleaner)
Carries fire suppression equipment comprising either:
at least one knapsack spray pump, in working order, fully charged with water,
with a capacity of not less than 9 litres
at least one water (stored pressure)
fire extinguisher, in working order, fully charged with water and maintained at
the correct pressure, with a capacity
of not less than 9 litres.
Note that the spark arrester, the knapsack spray pump and the water fire extinguisher referred to above must comply with the applicable Australian Standards.
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Yes As for the Fire Danger Period.
However, if possible, postpone this work as the risk of starting fires is extremely high. |
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