Welding, hot work (such as soldering or grinding) and bee keeping
In order to do these activities during the fire danger period, you must have:
- a fire-resistant shield or guard in place to stop sparks, hot metal or slag from the fire
- an area at least 1.5 metres from the operation clear of flammable material or wetted down sufficiently to prevent the spread of fire
- a hose connected to a reticulated water supply or water spray knapsack containing at least nine litres of water
- all cut-offs and hot materials from the operation placed in fire-proof containers
- a person in attendance at all times while the fire is alight who has the capacity and means to extinguish the fire
The fire must also be completely extinguished before the person leaves.
Farm machinery with a heat engine
Tractors, slashers, earth-moving, excavating or road making machines can't be used within nine metres of any crops, grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation during the fire danger period, unless they are:
- free from faults and mechanical defects that could cause an outbreak of fire
- fitted with a spark arrester in working order, a turbocharger or exhaust aspirated air cleaner
- carrying either:
- a fully charged, working knapsack spray pump, with a capacity of at least nine litres or
- a working, fully charged fire extinguisher, with a capacity of at least nine litres.
Slashers, mowers, brushcutters and chainsaws
If you need to use these tools during the fire danger period on non-green vegetation, they must:
- be free from faults and mechanical defects that could cause an outbreak of fire
- be fitted with an efficient spark arrestor
- have an area of at least three metres around the machine cleared of flammable material
The person using the equipment must carry either:
- A fully charged, working knapsack spray pump, with a capacity of at least nine litres or
- A working, fully charged fire extinguisher, with a capacity of at least nine litres
Someone must be in attendance at all times (unless there is a special exemption in place).
Vehicles, motorbikes and quadbikes
You aren't allowed to drive a vehicle with a combustion engine in places where it will be in contact with crops, grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation during the fire danger period.
The only exception is when an efficient silencing device (for example, a muffler), which takes all of the exhaust from the engine through the silencing device, has been fitted to the vehicle.
You should avoid driving vehicles through dry vegetation in hot and dry conditions, even if it's not a Total Fire Ban Day, because of the risk posed by the hot exhaust system.