Burning off on Private Land

The following information about burning off on private land is affected by whether or not it is the Fire Season. The Fire Season is activated when the Fire Danger Period and the Prohibited Period are formally declared. These are announced in the local paper.

Burning During the Fire Season

Fire Danger Period

The Fire Danger Period for each municipality is declared by CFA when the risk of bushfires is high due to hot weather and dry vegetation. The start and end of the period will vary across Victoria as influenced by weather conditions.

During this period you must apply for a permit at your local municipal office if you wish to burn any rubbish or vegetation. Your municipality may have other burning restrictions - find out before lighting up.

It is illegal to light a fire or leave alight a fire when a CFA Total Fire Ban is in force in that area!

Prohibited Period

The Prohibited Period is declared by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). This period only applies to any land within 1.5 kilometres of a State forest, national park or land classed as protected public land. The DSE seasonal Prohibited Period enforced over adjoining land, only applies in the following municipalities:

North East	Gippsland
Alpine	Baw Baw
Benalla City	East Gippsland
Indigo	Latrobe
Mansfield	Wellington
Mitchell
Murrindindi
Strathbogie
Towong
Wangaratta
Wodonga City

If you live within these areas, a DSE permit may be required. Check at your local DSE office.

It is illegal for anyone other than the DSE with involvement from the networked emergency organisations to Burn Off on any Public Land!

Burning outside the Fire Season

Even when a permit is not required, the following steps must be followed

Fire breaks
Clear at least 3 metres around the area to be burnt to create a bare earth perimeter to reduce the risk of the fire escaping.

Notification
Notify all neighbours at least 2 hours prior to burning, including CFA and DSE, to avoid confusion from visible smoke. Notify VicFire as well (1800 668 511) to avoid your authorised burn being mistaken for a bushfire.

Weather
Before burning - check weather conditions for the next 48 hours. Only burn if the conditions are within parameters specified on the permit. Avoid windy conditions or periods of weather change.
Supervision
Most fires escape when no one is present as fuels can smoulder without being obvious. Supervise your burn off.

Be prepared
Accidents do occur. Have firefighting equipment and a good water supply available for immediate use. Remember, you can be held responsible for any damage caused by your burn.

See Burning Off Regulations - Frequently asked questions for further information.

Remember, if it's cool to touch, then it's safe to leave.... and your burn can't go bush!

Fire prevention on public land

The DSE conducts fire prevention work in National and State parks, State forests and other protected public land. Fire prevention works include construction and maintenance of fire breaks and, reducing fuel loads (e.g. leaves, bark, shrubs) by burning or slashing.

This reduces the intensity, speed and spread of any fire. Fuel management burns are planned and carried out in accordance with Fire Management Plans.

Your local DSE Fire Management Officer can provide advice on safe burning off practices.

The cost of letting your burn go bush

Don't let your burn escape into the bush. It could turn your burn into bad news for you, your family and your neighbours. You may even be liable to meet the cost of extinguishing any "escape" fire into public land.

If you think that the bush needs a good burn speak to a DSE officer.

Help prevent bushfires

CALL the emergency services by dialling Triple Zero (000) to report;

any fire that you see in a State forest or National park
anyone acting suspiciously near a fire.

An early alert results in a quick response.