The Fire Danger Period is declared when the fire risk increases in a given municipality. Once declared, open air burning is prohibited anywhere in the municipality unless you have a permit issued by CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) or a Municipal Fire Prevention Officer.
The resources below help explain what activities people can and can’t do and the rules associated with each activity during Fire Danger Period.
These resources are also available in other languages.
Total Fire Ban
Key Messages
- Total Fire Bans are declared by CFA on days when fires are likely to spread rapidly and be difficult to control.
- As well as the Fire Danger Rating, the Chief Officer also considers other factors such as current fires in the landscape, resource commitment and increased likelihood for fires when declaring Total Fire Bans.
- On days of Total Fire Ban there are legal restrictions in force to reduce the likelihood of fires starting. All fires are banned.
- Anyone who breaches a Total Fire Ban declaration is subject to heavy legal penalties including up to 2 years in prison or more than $46,000 in fines or both
More information is available on CFA’s website: www.cfa.vic.gov.au/firebans
Fire Pits
Key messages
- Fire pits can start a fire in your backyard and spread to surrounding vegetation
- Check local fire restrictions before lighting a fire pit, chimenea, brazier or any other type of outdoor fire for personal warmth
- The outside of fire pits and chimeneas get very hot
- Set up your fire pit, chimenea or brazier on a flat, non-flammable surface
- Always be present when a fire pit is burning, particularly when children are around. Do not leave your fire pit alight and go inside or walk away
- The best way to put out a fire pit is by using water
- Fire pits, chimeneas and braziers are subject to the same rules as campfires during the Fire Danger Period
- The lighting of fire pits, chimeneas and braziers is banned on Total Fire Ban days.
Outdoor cooking and BBQs
Key messages
- Gas BBQ fires can be extremely dangerous and cause severe burns.
- Check the LP gas cylinder before you turn it on. A cylinder must not be refilled if it hasn’t been tested for more than 10 years or if the cylinder has been damaged. The best way to ensure this is to use a reputable cylinder exchange service.
- From April 2022 all newly manufactured barbecues and cylinders are fitted with a new, safer design connection to prevent gas from being released if the connection is not properly fitted. Check the hose to make sure it has not deteriorated.
- Check the connections to make sure they are tight and that the O rings are in good condition and have not cracked or split.
- Check for gas leaks by spraying soapy water on the connections and hoses. Bubbles will appear if there is a leak when you turn on the gas.
- Use your barbecue in a clear space and ensure there is adequate clearance from walls, fences, and other property.
- Never use a barbecue indoors or in a confined space. Besides the fire risk, there is also a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from using an LPG barbecue or one that uses coals or heat beads indoors.
- Do not use barbecues in windy conditions as the burners may blow out, risking a gas leak.
- There are rules for using any BBQ during the Fire Danger Period and on Total Fire Ban days. These rules also apply to any outdoor cooking appliance including spit roast, pizza ovens and food smokers.
- Using cookers that use solid fuels such as wood, heat beads or coals is banned on Total Fire Ban days.
Burning off
Campfire
Travelling
Hot works
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