Fire restrictions and regulations are in place in Victoria to reduce the risk of bushfire and the chances it could damage or destroy life or property.
Restrictions apply under the Forests (Fire Protection) Regulations 2025. This webpage is a summary only. For full details, please review the Regulations.
Restrictions may differ depending on where you live and what time of year it is. It is important to know what restrictions apply to you before you choose to light a fire, such as a campfire or barbeque, if you need to use machinery or equipment that may spark a fire, or if you are burning-off on private property.
What are fire restrictions in Victoria
Total Fire Ban Days
Total Fire Bans are declared by CFA on days of heightened fire danger to reduce the risk of a fire starting. Total Fire Ban days may apply to the whole state or to specific districts.
What should I do?
Check the CFA website to find out what you can do on a Total Fire Ban Day.
Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating Days
A Catastrophic Fire Danger Ratings Day signals the worst possible conditions for when grass and bushfire conditions are forecast and lives may be lost.
Catastrophic Fire Danger is forecast by fire ban district or the whole state.
What should I do?
State forests and national parks will be closed. It is not safe to enter or stay in these spaces when a Catastrophic Fire Danger Day is forecast.
Find out about forest and road closures.
Listen to local media and authorities to find out what you need to do for your safety.
Prohibited Period
The Prohibited Period restricts the use of fire (lighting fires or other activities that might lead to fire) on public land year-round.
Seasonal Prohibited Period
During the Seasonal Prohibited Period, fire restrictions are in force within 1.5 kilometres of some public land in certain municipalities in Gippsland, Northeast Victoria and Alpine Resorts.
These restrictions are only in place for some parts of the year. Seasonal Prohibited Period restrictions in these areas apply instead of the Fire Danger Period.
What should I do?
Restrictions apply to burn-offs on affected private land.
- Find fire restriction dates and municipalities
- Apply for a permit to burn off on your private land.
Outside of the Seasonal Prohibited Period you should still follow existing regulations in place, including those by the local council and CFA.
Fire Danger Period
The Fire Danger Period is when CFA restricts use of fire in the community. The Fire Danger Period is applied at a municipal (shire or council) level.
What should I do?
Check the CFA website to find out when the Fire Danger Period is for your municipality.
Campfire safety rules
Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) works with the Conservation Regulator to patrol State forests and make sure people are following campfire safety rules.
What should I do?
Read and follow the rules: Campfires, stoves and BBQs.
What activities are affected by fire restrictions
Burning Off
Fire restrictions apply to burning off on private land in Victoria. Burning-off is prohibited on Total Fire Ban Days.
Burning-off within 1.5 kilometres of state forests, national parks and protected public land in the following municipalities and alpine resorts requires a permit during the Seasonal Prohibited Period.
- Gippsland – Baw Baw Shire, East Gippsland Shire, Latrobe City, Wellington Shire
- Northeast – Alpine Shire, Benalla Rural City, Indigo Shire, Mansfield Shire, Mitchell Shire, Murrindindi Shire, Strathbogie Shire, Towong Shire, Wangaratta Rural City, Wodonga City
- Alpine Resorts – Falls Creek, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham.
To burn-off in these areas during the Seasonal Prohibited Period, you should:
- Refer to the Seasonal Prohibited Period fire restriction dates
- Apply for a permit to burn off on private land.
Check the CFA website for information about burning off outside the Seasonal Prohibited Period.
Campfires and barbeques
Forest Fire Management Victoria works with the Conservation Regulator to patrol state forests to make sure people are following the rules when lighting campfires or barbeques in state forests.
Different restrictions apply on private land, in national parks and in State forests and depending on the time of year. Make sure you have checked the rules where you are before lighting a campfire or barbeque.
Check out our Can I or Can’t I? fact sheet on campfire and barbeque rules on public land.
Leaving a campfire unattended is an offence and penalties may apply.
Commercial activities and equipment use
Fire restrictions and permits or authorisations apply to various commercial and industrial activities, including use of machinery and equipment and apiary (beekeeping).
Sparks from equipment (such as welders, grinders, soldering irons, gas cutters) and machinery (tractors, slashers, chainsaws) can cause bushfires. On days of high fire danger be aware of the risks your machinery and equipment can cause.
Permits may be required for necessary commercial activities and equipment use. This includes:
- welding, cutting and/or grinding
- heating and spreading of bitumen and like substances
- use of blow lamps or gas torches
- use of a safety fuse in blasting operations
- use of emergency flares at civil and military aerodromes
- use of a flare at a petroleum fractionation plant, a gas plant or any plant of a like nature
- industrial heat testing
- use of fire for loading, unloading or working bees (apiarists)
- use of a fire in the open air for the cooking of food by a caterer
- light a fire for the purpose of Public Entertainment (for example, fireworks)
- sawmill waste and refuse burners
- use of LPG burners for Hot Air Ballooning.
Where possible, avoid working when weather is hazardous, such as when there is strong, dry wind or warm to hot temperatures.
Compliance with regulations does not relieve a person of all responsibility for bushfires caused by that person's equipment and machinery. It is essential to take steps to prevent uncontrolled fires. Burning off in state forests, national parks and on protected public land is the responsibility of the relevant public land manager.
A motor driven pump, generator or other stationary engine can be used in the open air or in a temporary structure or in any circumstances where the exhaust discharges in the open air, only under the following conditions:
- the exhaust pipe is fitted with a spark arrestor which is in proper working order and which complies with AS 1019-2000 and
- the space immediately around and above the engine is clear of all flammable material for a distance of at least 1.5 metres and
- in circumstances where the weather conditions in the area are such that there is a reasonable possibility of the spread of fire there is available for immediate use:
- reticulated water supply or
- a knapsack water spray pump fully charged with at least 9 litres of water (it must be in proper working order and comply with AS 1687-1991) or
a dry chemical fire extinguisher that is in proper working order and that complies with AS/NZS 1841.1:1997 and AS/NZS 1841.5:1997.
The use of machinery such as tractors, slashers or chainsaws should be postponed if possible, as the risk of starting a fire is extremely high.
If you intend to use a chain saw, vehicle or other non-stationary engine so that it is in contact with any crop, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation you must:
- check that the machinery has:
- a spark arrester (approved by Standards Australia) and it is free of mechanical defects that could start a fire; or
- a turbo charger or an exhaust aspirated air cleaner.
- have water at hand, being:
- a reticulated water supply or
- a knapsack water spray pump fully charged with at least 9 litres of water (it must be in proper working order and comply with As 1687-1991) or
a dry chemical fire extinguisher that is in proper working order and that complies with AS/NZS 1841.1:1997 and AS/NZS 1841.5:1997.
When carrying out welding, grinding, soldering or gas cutting, you must:
- place a shield or guard of fire resistant material to prevent emission of sparks, hot pieces of metal or slag from where you are working
- keep the space immediately around and above the appliance clear of all flammable material for a distance of at least 3 metres
- place all cut-offs, electrode stubs and hot materials from the operation directly in a fireproof receptacle
- have water at hand, being:
- a reticulated water supply or
- a knapsack water spray pump fully charged with at least 9 litres of water (it must be in proper working order and comply with As 1687-1991) or
a dry chemical fire extinguisher that is in proper working order and that complies with AS/NZS 1841.1:1997 and AS/NZS 1841.5:1997.
Lighting, kindling, maintaining or using a fire in the open air for the purpose of extracting honey or relocating bees is permitted provided that the person in charge:
- uses a smoker which is placed on an area of ground which is clear of all flammable material for a distance of 1.5 metres and
- the smoker is placed in a fireproof receptacle when not in use and
- in circumstances where the weather conditions in the area are such that there is a reasonable possibility of the spread of fire, there is available for immediate use at least
- a knapsack spray pump with a tank capacity of not less than 9 litres which is fully charged with water, is in proper working order and complies with AS 1687–1991 and
a rake, hoe or similar implement capable of removing grass, shrubs, vegetation and other flammable material from the area of the fire.
An authorisation (permit) is required to use a safety fuse, fuse lighter or splitting gun in a fire protected area during the months of November, December, January, February, March or April at any time other than between sunrise and 9.30 am.
Page last updated: 21/10/25