Total Fire Bans

From the CFA (Victoria)

Can I have a barbecue, light a campfire, or light a fire for warmth or comfort?

No.-Campfires, fires for warmth or personal comfort, and solid and liquid fuel barbeques and ovens are banned during TFBs.

Jason

Not sure about other states there is considerable agreement on standards from state to state generated through AFAC but I am not sure how much the states have taken on board. In NSW on total fire ban days there is a schedule of exemptions.

It is a long list and I can't be bothered looking it up right now but here is what I do know.

The only cooking fires allowed on Total Fire Ban days are gas or electric powered bar-b-qs in a council approved area or withing 20m of home where there is a means of applying a constant stream of water and the b-b-q is supervised by a responsible adult.

What that actually means is you can use those built in electric or gas b-b-q's you find in parks. You know the ones put the coin in the slot or push the button and look for the red light. Or you can use a gas or electric b-b-q at home provided you have a garden hose handy and your not drunk.

Duncs

There is quite a bit of variation between states, and even within states, re what you can do with fire under a given set of weather conditions. Frequently declarations of TFBs are done at the local government level. Worth checking on an individual state's requirements rather than getting caught out.

Cheers,

Val

GC

It would be great if you can give a review on the Oz Pig, when you can use it.

I saw one at the Emerald show and thought it was great, but decided to wait until the end of this Summer before buying one.

As a volunteer rural fire fighter in Queensland my humble opinion is just done use it. The risks of a fire starting during a total fire ban are extremely high and the consequences are great, for you, the environment, the people whose property you put at risk and the poor buggers like me who give up their time to put them out.

I have been involved in a number of fires this summer and not one of them has been started by nature. Most have been accidental such as using an angle grinder in the wrong place and the rest have been deliberately lit by someone.

I know that this does not answer your question as to what the rules are but sometimes the rules just aint strong enough.



.

Green Camper.............Your answer in NSW in NO NO NO NO..............
You cannot use it on TFB Days at all. Even in your backyard at home.
I have just got home from 2 fires this afternoon and 1 was lit by a cigerette but out the window...........arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. And the other one by a guy slashing his paddock and hit a rock in the long grass, we were very lucky to get that one out.

You can use a gas BBQ on TFB days, but there has to be a hose or some sort of continuous running water with in 20 meters.

And I think even in some NP's you cannot use a gas BBQ either on TFB days.

Karen
:-)

G`day Green Camper,
Mate as an ex fire brigade captain of 22 years and a member of the CFA for the last 50 years I am wondering why would you want to have a fire on a day of TOTAL, repeat, TOTAL FIRE BAN anyway ?
A TFB is a rotten day weather wise most times.
I have been a camper/fisherman most of my life and have never starved while camping.
I know that it`s nice to have a camp and be able to cook on the fire, or in your case on the PIG but surely you can organise your meals , coffee/tea hot water so that a fire is not necessary.

I, like others here, have seen the worst of the worst, fires from heat beads emptied out onto the ground after use, camp fires left going, gas bar-b-q blown over, etc. etc.
The three main causes of fires are Men,Women & Children. Lightening is the only cause(I think) sent by nature.

I have not answered your question I know,others have done that,and please excuse the sermon.

I will hop out of the pulpit now,
cheers,
Scrubby

Thanks, I want to do the right thing, now that I know for certain that they are banned on TFDs I'll make sure its stays in the bag.
Cheers

South Australia

http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/fire_restrictions/what_can_i_do.jsp

Total Fire Ban days you can

use a gas or electric barbecue

providing you are;

within 15 metres of a domestic premises or,
on a coastal foreshore.
Providing you have;

a 4-metre cleared space around and above the barbecue.
a responsible person in attendance at all times.
an adequate agent to extinguish the fire is at hand.

An interesting point about fire bans in Victoria - they apply on rivers and lakes, and out to sea for 3 nautical miles, or about 6km. So even 5 km off the coast you can't light a fag on deck!

Am I the only one that is amazed that this question was even asked?

Are we that disconnected from the environment in which we live and play that we have to rely on the fine print, Government direction, or the fear of legal punishment to determine our actions?

A TFB is implemented because some people are not capable of recognizing that given a certain set of weather conditions (high temperatures, high winds, low humidity, dry fuel load) that the application of flame or heat can both cause ignition, and, once alight, cause a fire to quickly get out of control.

As Scrubcat said (above) “A TFB is a rotten day weather wise most times”.

I don’t profess to be a bushman or understand the ‘spirit of the land’, but there are days when you can ‘feel’ that a gas barbeque within 2 metres of a 10000 litre water tank is too dangerous. There are also days which are not a TFB where the application of flame or heat in certain environments could ensure an ensuing conflagration

would just ask which part of TOTAL is not understood

Thanks everyone, your advice to this green camper has been truly appreciated.
I am now looking forward to my very first camping trip, in the knowledge that I'll be doing the right thing.

To those very few, who didn't read the question, but felt they needed to add their comment.Well what can I say???