What can't I do during Fire Danger Periods and Total Fire Bans
Find out what you can and can't do during declared Fire Danger Periods, and on days of Total Fire Ban, when fires in the open air are legally restricted.
Click on the icons in each box to find out more details.
You can also download the Can I Can't I brochure (PDF 1000k)
Fire Danger Period
CFA declares the Fire Danger Periods by municipality at the onset of warmer weather. These are in place until 1 May unless revoked or varied.
BBQ / Campfires
Commercial Catering
Burning off
Driving Vehicles
Chainsaw / Lawn mower
Hot work / Bees / Others
Incinerator
Farm / Road Machinery
Total Fire Ban
Total Fire Bans are declared by CFA on days where fires are likely to spread rapidly and be difficult to control.
BBQ / Campfires
Commercial Catering
Burning off
Driving Vehicles
Chainsaw / Lawn mower
Hot work / Bees / Others
Incinerator
Farm / Road Machinery
clear float
Download
Download the Can I, Can't I brochure - pdf 1203k | Text version only - doc 53k
Can I have a barbecue, light a campfire or light a fire for warmth or comfort?
During the 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.
On Total Fire Ban Days
Barbecues that are fixed appliances:
- fired by gas or electricity, being permanently fixed structures built of stone, metal, concrete or another non-flammable materialdesigned 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.
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.
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?
During the 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.
On Total Fire Ban Days
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.
Can I light a fire in the open air for burning off grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation?
During the 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.
On Total Fire Ban Days
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.
Can I drive a vehicle in places where the vehicle will be in contact with crops, grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation?
During the 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.
On Total Fire Ban Days
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.
Can I use a chainsaw, plant or grass trimmer or lawn mower?
During the 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.
On Total Fire Ban Days
As for the Fire Danger Period.
However, if possible, postpone this work as the risk of starting fires is extremely high.
Can I carry out activities including: welding, grinding, charring, soldering or gas cutting / relocating bees / extracting honey / rail maintenance / heating bitumen?
During the 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.
On Total Fire Ban Days
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:
- 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.
Can I use an incinerator?
During the Fire Danger Period
Provided that:
- 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)
- 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.
On Total Fire Ban Days
Incinerator use is banned during Total Fire Ban Days.
Can I use self-propelled farm machinery, tractors, slashers, earth-moving, excavating or roadmaking machines propelled by a heat engine within 9 metres of any crops, grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation?
During the 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.
On Total Fire Ban Days
As for the Fire Danger Period.
However, if possible, postpone this work as the risk of starting fires is extremely high.