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. For a summary of fire restrictions and affected activities on and around public land, check out our ‘Can I or can’t I?’ fact sheet and the guidance on this page:
For full details, please review the Regulations and the Forests Act 1958.
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
You should listen to all available media and authorities to understand what you need to do for your safety on total fire ban days, catastrophic fire danger days and during prohibited periods.
Total Fire Ban Days
Total Fire Bans are declared by Country Fire Authority (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.
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.
Burning off in State forests, national parks and on protected public land is the responsibility of the relevant public land manager.
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 and around public land, as well as important information on other restricted activities:
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 from the Fire Permits Victoria website 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 (e.g. 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.
The text boxes below outline the restrictions in the Regulations for commercial activities and the use of equipment. For more information, see our Can I or Can’t I? fact sheet.
A motor driven pump, generator or other stationary engine cannot be used if the engine is in the open air (e.g. when it is contained in a temporary structure) or in any circumstances where its exhaust discharges in the open air, unless all the following conditions apply:
- the exhaust pipe is fitted with a spark arrestor that is in proper working order and compliant with AS 1019-2000
- the space immediately around and above the engine is clear of all flammable material for a distance of at least 1.5 metres
- you have immediately on hand a hose connected to an ‘adequate water supply’ (as defined in the Regulations)
- If this water supply is not available, you have immediately on hand either:
- a knapsack water spray pump fully charged with at least 9 litres of water, in proper working order and compliant with AS 1687-1991
- a water (stored pressure) fire extinguisher fully charged with at least 9 litres of water, maintained at the correct pressure, in proper working order and compliant with AS/NZS 1841.1:2007 and AS/NZS 1841.2:2007.
- If this water supply is not available, you have immediately on hand either:
There is an extremely high risk of fire from using non-stationary machinery such as vehicles, tractors, chainsaws and slashers, and you should exercise caution. If you intend to use a non-stationary engine so that it is in contact with any crop, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation, you must:
- check that the engine has either:
- a spark arrester that is in proper working order and compliant with AS 1019–2000
- a turbo charger or an exhaust aspirated air cleaner.
- have immediately on hand a hose connected to an ‘adequate water supply’ (as defined in the Regulations)
- If this water supply is not available, you must have immediately on hand either:
- a knapsack water spray pump fully charged with at least 9 litres of water, in proper working order and compliant with AS 1687-1991
- a water (stored pressure) fire extinguisher fully charged with at least 9 litres of water, maintained at the correct pressure, in proper working order and compliant with AS/NZS 1841.1:2007 and AS/NZS 1841.2:2007.
- If this water supply is not available, you must have immediately on hand either:
When carrying out welding, grinding, soldering or gas-cutting, you must:
- place a shield or guard of fire-resistant material to prevent the emission of sparks, hot pieces of metal or slag from where you are working
- keep an area of at least 3 metres around and above the appliance clear of all flammable material or wetted down sufficiently to prevent the spread of fire
- place all cut-offs, electrode stubs and hot materials directly in a fireproof container
- have immediately on hand a hose connected to an ‘adequate water supply’ (as defined in the Regulations)
- If this water supply is not available, you must have immediately on hand either:
- a knapsack water spray pump fully charged with at least 9 litres of water, in proper working order and compliant with AS 1687-1991
- a water (stored pressure) fire extinguisher fully charged with at least 9 litres of water, maintained at the correct pressure, in proper working order and compliant with AS/NZS 1841.1:2007 and AS/NZS 1841.2:2007.
- If this water supply is not available, you must have immediately on hand either:
When lighting, kindling, maintaining or using a fire in the open air for the purposes of a bee farming operation, you must:
- use a smoker placed on an area of ground that is clear of all flammable material for a distance of 1.5 metres around and above each beehive
- Note that ‘flammable material’ do not include a standing tree or the beehive to which the smoker is being applied.
- place the smoker in a fireproof container when not in use
- in circumstances where the weather conditions in the area are such that there is a reasonable possibility of the spread of fire (i.e. during the Prohibited Periods), have immediately on hand a hose connected to an ‘adequate water supply’ (as defined in the Regulations)
- If this water supply is not available, you must have immediately on hand either:
- a knapsack water spray pump fully charged with at least 9 litres of water, in proper working order and compliant with AS 1687-1991
- a rakehoe or similar tool capable of removing grass, shrubs, vegetation and other flammable material from the area.
- If this water supply is not available, you must have immediately on hand either:
From November to April each year, you can only use a safety fuse or fuse lighter between sunrise and 9:30 am, unless you have applied for and received a permit from the Fire Permits Victoria website. There are no restrictions on using this equipment from May to October.
Page last updated: 20/11/25