2019-20 Fire Danger Period to begin next week

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The fire danger period for the Northern Grampians Shire will begin on Monday, 18 November 2019 and will continue until Friday, 1 May 2020.

Fire restrictions come into force next Monday which means you cannot light a fire in the open air unless you have a permit or comply with certain requirements within the Northern Grampians Shire area.

If you are found to be lighting open air fires without a permit, you could be breaking the law and may be prosecuted.

The CFA declares the fire danger period for each municipality in Victoria at different times in the lead up to the fire season. The period changes year-to-year and depends on the amount of rain, grassland curing rate, and other local conditions.

The fire danger period is not the same thing as a Total Fire Ban, although the two declarations share similar restrictions.

During the fire danger period, it is illegal to:

  • light a fire or use a coal-burning barbeque unless certain conditions are met and with the correct permit.
  • use any gas-powered guns, chainsaws or lawn mowers, or conduct hot work (including grinding, soldering, bee smoking etc) unless with the correct permits and under specific conditions
  • burn off grass, stubble or undergrowth before obtaining a permit and complying with the conditions of that permit
  • drive a vehicle or use self-propelled farm machinery where it is in contact with crops, grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation unless fitted with the correct safety equipment
  • use an incinerator unless certain conditions are met and adhered to

Visit the CFA website here for more detail on what you can and cannot do during the fire danger period and total fire ban days.

Visit council’s website here

/Public Release. View in full here.