The fire danger period starts next week and restrictions around fires will be in force in the Ballarat and surrounding regions from Monday.
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The fire danger period will begin in the Hepburn, Moorabool and Pyrenees Shires as well as the City of Ballarat from Monday November 27 and will continue until May 1, 2018.
Types of fires, certain types of work and use of certain machinery will face strict conditions during the fire danger period.
The fire danger period is not the same as a day of total fire ban as tougher restrictions are imposed on days of total fire ban.
Check our list from the CFA below to find out what you can and can’t do during the fire danger period:
Barbecues and Campfires including spit style rotisserie fired by heat beads, wood or other solid fuel:
During the fire danger period, camp fires and barbecues that require a flame are not to be used unless:
- The wind is not more than 10km/h.
- 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 of the fire and the uppermost point of the fire is clear of flammable material
- The fire is no larger than one 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 and the fire is completely extinguished before the person leaves.
Gas-powered wildlife scaring guns:
These guns are not to be used unless the user holds a section 14 permit
Burning off:
Fires lit for the purpose of burning grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation are not to be lit unless:
- 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 fir and the fire is completely extinguished before the person leaves.
Vehicles in high fire danger areas:
Driving a vehicle in places where the vehicle will be in contact with crops, grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation is not permissible unless:
- The vehicle is fitted with an efficient silencing device that takes all of the exhaust from the engine through the silencing device.
Chainsaws, plant or grass trimmers and lawn mowers:
Use of this equipment should be avoided as much as possible during the fire danger period but can be used on green vegetation if:
- The equipment is free from faults and mechanical defects that could cause an outbreak of fire
- The equipment is fitted with an efficient spark arrester
- There is an area of at least 3 metres around the machine cleared of flammable material.
- A person is in attendance at all times the machine is being used, and must carry 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.
Hot Work:
Work including welding, grinding, charring, soldering and gas cutting, relocating bees with a bee smoker or extracting honey using heat or flame, rail maintenance and heating bitumen is not recommended during the fire danger period but can be carried out 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 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 and the fire is completely extinguished before the person leaves.
Incinerators:
Using an incinerator during the fire danger period is not recommended but you can check with your council about any local laws that might prescribe conditions or restrict or prohibit incinerator use along with these conditions from the CFA:
- The fire is effectively restricted within the incinerator.
- The wind is not more than 10km/h.
- 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 and the fire is completely extinguished before the person leaves.
Farm and road machinery:
Self-propelled farm machinery including tractors, slashers, earth-moving, excavating or roadmaking machines propelled by a heat engine can only be used within nine metres of any crops, grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation under the following conditions:
- The machinery is free from faults and mechanical defects that could cause an outbreak of fire.
- The machinery is fitted with a spark arrester in working order, a turbocharger or exhaust aspirated air cleaner.
- The machinery is fitted with fire suppression equipment comprising at least one knapsack spray pump, in working order, fully charged with water, with a capacity of not less than nine 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 nine litres.
Please refer to the CFA website for restrictions imposed on days of total fire ban.
