Stay Informed

The lighting of any fires in the open air and any other activities that may start a fire are prohibited, including:

• All open air fires for the purpose of cooking or camping - wood fuel barbeques, candles and pizza ovens
• Incinerators, welding, grinding, soldering or gas cutting, angle grinders and lawnmowers

Exemptions may be granted by DFES and must be requested in writing.

The use of engines, vehicles, plant and machinery are prohibited, in order to mitigate the associated risk of causing or contributing to the spread of a bushfire. 

The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) Program is redesigning the forecasting of fire danger in Australia. The AFDRS is a project of national significance being developed collaboratively by each state and territory, and the Commonwealth government. It aims to improve public safety, reduce the impacts of bushfires and better support the community with nationally consistent ratings and messaging. The AFDRS will be implemented on 1 September 2022 across Australia.

Catastrophic 100+
Unsafe for firefighters and community. Without initial attack success, likelihood of very large fire development is very high. High probability of loss of life and property.

Extreme 50 - 99
Defensive suppression strategies. High levels of threat to life/property. Safety of firefighters and community paramount. 

High 24 - 49
Initial attack success critical to prevent large fire development. Defensive suppression strategies.

Moderate 12 - 23 
Most bushfires in this category. Fires typically suppressed with direct, parallel or indirect attack.

The current Fire Danger Rating System is largely based on 60-year-old science applied on a large scale. New technology and research have greatly improved our ability to more accurately predict fire behaviour and the potential threat to the community.