Can I or Can't I?

  Fire Danger Period (FDP) Restrictions

Burning off

Can I light a fire in the open air to burn off grass, stubble, weeds, 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.

Barbecue

Can I barbecue?

NO unless:

• The wind is less than 10 km/h. This means that leaves are moving around in the wind.
• 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.

*Note that in accordance with the CFA Act, a commercially-produced barbecue or portable gas stove is considered a properly-constructed fireplace.

Solid Fuel BBQ

Can I have a spit style rotisserie fired by heat beads, wood or other solid fuel?

NO unless:

• the wind is not more than 10km/h (this can be observed if leaves and small twigs are in constant motion)
• 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

Campfire

Can I light a campfire?

NO unless:

• The wind is less than 10 km/h. This means that leaves are moving around in the wind.
• The campfire must be lit in:
• A properly built 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 can put out the fire 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.

Welding / Hot work /Beekeeping

Can I carry out activities including: welding, grinding, charring, soldering 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
• 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 hose connected to 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 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) | Word version (doc 176k)

Driving vehicles

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.

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.

Commercial Catering

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 can be observed if leaves and small twigs are in constant motion)
• 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

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.

Chainsaw / Lawn

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

Farm / Road Machinery

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:

• is free from faults and mechanical defects that could cause an outbreak of fire
• is fitted with a spark arrester in working order, a turbocharger or 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, 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.

Incinerator

Can I use an incinerator?

NO unless:

1. 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)
2. 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 can be observed if leaves and small twigs are in constant motion)
   • 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.

Wildlife scare gun

Can I use a gas-powered wildlife scaring gun?

NO unless:

• you have a fire danger period (Schedule 14) permit issued by CFA or FRV, depending on the location of the activity; and comply with all permit conditions