Can I or can't I?

Summary

What you can and can’t do during the Fire Danger Period
Guidance for common activities like barbecues, burn-offs and machinery use
Activities that may need a permit
Rules for days of Total Fire Ban
When restrictions change based on fire risk

Select one of the two boxes below to find the right information:

🟡 Fire Danger Period: for everyday restrictions during the declared Fire Danger Period

🔴 Total Fire Ban: for stricter rules that apply on Total Fire Ban days

To view restrictions, select 'Fire Danger Period (FDP)' or 'Total Fire Ban (TFB)' option above.

Fire Danger Period (FDP) Restrictions

Can I light a fire in the open air to burn off grass, stubble, weeds, scrub, undergrowth or other vegetation?

NO unless:

you have a Fire Danger Period permit issued by CFA, FRV or a Municipal Fire Prevention Officer, depending on the location of the activity
you have a written permit issued by a Fire Prevention Officer of a public authority if planning to burn on land under their jurisdiction
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 have local laws that ban burning off on certain days or within certain locations or at certain times within their municipalities. Check with the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer.

Can I barbecue?

NO unless:

The wind is less than 10 km/h. This means that leaves on trees are gently moving around in the breeze but branches are not moving.
The area 3 metres around and above the fire must be clear of anything that can burn.
The area within a distance of 3 metres from the outer perimeters of the fire and the uppermost point of the fire is clear of flammable material
Never leave the fire or BBQ alone. A person who can put out the fire must always stay by the fire.
The BBQ must be turned off or the fire completely put out when finished.

Can I cook outside using a spit roast, pizza oven, or food smoker that uses heat beads, wood, or other solid fuel?

NO unless:

the wind is not more than 10km/h. This can be observed if leaves on trees are gently moving around in the breeze but branches are not moving.
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 fire and the uppermost point of the fire 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

* The CFA Act 1958 defines a properly-constructed fireplace as a fireplace that is constructed of stone, metal, concrete or any other non-flammable material that contains the perimeter of the fire. A commercially-produced spit roast, outdoor cooker or BBQ is considered a properly-constructed fireplace.

Note: that this section does not apply if you are an organisation, charity, club or commercial caterer. You will need to comply with the rules listed under Commercial Catering below.

Can I light a fire for warmth or comfort in a fire pit, brazier or chiminea?

NO unless:

the wind is not more than 10km/h. If leaves and small twigs on trees are in constant motion the wind is more than 10km/h.
the fire is lit in a properly-constructed fireplace. A commercially produced fire pit, chiminea or brazier is considered to be a properly-constructed fireplace.
the area within a distance of 3 metres from the outer edges of the fire and the uppermost point of the fire 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.

Can I light a campfire?

NO unless:

The wind is less than 10 km/h. This means that leaves on trees are gently moving around in the breeze but branches are not moving.
The campfire must be lit in:

a properly-constructed fireplace of stone, metal or concrete, or
a trench at least 30cm deep.

The campfire must be no larger than 1 metre by 1 metre.
The area 3 metres around and above the campfire must be clear of anything that can burn.
Never leave the fire alone. A person who is able to put out the fire, and has the means to do so, must always stay by the fire.
The campfire must be put out completely using water before you leave.

*Note that if you are in a State Forest or National Park, there might be other rules you need to know about.

Can I carry out activities including: welding, grinding, charring, soldering, using abrasive cutting discs or gas cutting / relocating bees with a bee smoker / extracting honey using heat or flame / rail maintenance / heating bitumen?

NO unless:

a fire-resistant shield or guard is in place to stop sparks, hot metal or slag from the fire, and
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, and
you have a hose connected to a reticulated water supply or water spray knapsack containing at least 9 litres of water, and
all cut-offs and hot materials from the operation are placed in fire-proof containers
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.

Download the Guidance for Beekeepers during FDP and TFB Days brochure (pdf 218k)

Can I drive a vehicle in places where the vehicle will be in contact with crops, grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation?

NO unless:

the vehicle is fitted with an efficient silencing device (eg. muffler) that takes all of the exhaust from the engine through the silencing device.

Note: You should avoid driving vehicles through dry vegetation in hot and dry conditions, even if it is not a Total Fire Ban day, because of the risk posed by the hot exhaust system.

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, cooker or hotplate at outdoor functions?

NO unless:

The wind is not more than 10km/h. This means that leaves on trees are gently moving around in the breeze but branches are not moving.
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 perimeters and uppermost point of the fire is clear of flammable material
The fire does not occupy an area of more than 1 square metre and the size and dimensions of 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 the CFA Act 1958 defines a properly-constructed fireplace as a fireplace that is constructed of stone, metal, concrete or any other non-flammable material that contains the perimeter of the fire. A commercially-produced BBQ, cooker or portable gas stove is considered a properly-constructed fireplace.

If you cannot meet these conditions you will need to apply for a permit on the Fire Permits Victoria website or from a CFA or FRV district office depending on the location of the activity. Find out more in the Fire Permits section.

Can I use a chainsaw, plant or grass trimmer or lawn mower?

NO unless:

the chainsaw, plant or grass trimmer or lawn mower complies with the following when used in vegetation that is not green (that is dry vegetation):
- 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

Also, a person must be in attendance at all times the machine is being used, and must carry at least one of the following fire suppression equipment items:

one knapsack spray pump, in working order, fully charged with water, with a capacity of not less than 9 litres, or
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

Work undertaken in GREEN vegetation is permitted, however CFA suggests maintaining equipment and carrying fire suppression equipment as described above.

*Note that the spark arrester, the knapsack spray pump and the water fire extinguisher referred to above must comply with the applicable Australian Standards.

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?

NO unless the machinery is:

free from faults and mechanical defects that could cause an outbreak of fire, and
fitted with a spark arrester in working order, a turbocharger or exhaust aspirated air cleaner, and
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, or
- 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.

Can I use an incinerator?

NO unless:

You check with council about any local laws that might prescribe conditions or restrict or prohibit incinerator use (eg bans on certain days, in certain areas or during certain times)
And the following requirements are met:
- the fire is effectively restricted within the incinerator which means that sparks, embers or coals cannot escape from the top, side or bottom of the incinerator
- the wind is not more than 10km/h. This means that leaves on trees are gently moving around in the breeze but branches are not moving.
- 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.

*Note that the CFA Act 1958 defines an incinerator as a structure or device which is used, or may be used, for the destruction or disposal of unwanted materials by burning and is:

constructed from non-flammable material, and
fitted with a shield or guard of non-flammable material to prevent the emission of sparks, embers or other burning material

Total Fire Ban (TFB) Restrictions

Can I light a fire in the open air to burn off grass, stubble, weeds, scrub, undergrowth or other vegetation?

All fires in the open air for burning off grass, scrub, stubble or rubbish are banned during Total Fire Ban Days.

All Fire Danger Period permits issued by CFA, FRV, a Municipal Fire Prevention Officer or a Fire Prevention Officer of a public authority are suspended for the duration of any Total Fire Ban day.

Any existing fires, including those that were allowed under an exemption or permit for the Fire Danger Period, are prohibited and must be completely extinguished before the Total Fire Ban begins.