Here is a summary of the activities allowed and prohibited during the Fire Danger Season and on Total Fire Ban days in South Australia, based on the information from the SA Country Fire Service.
| Activity | Fire Danger Season | Total Fire Ban Day |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting a fire without a permit | Not Permitted | Not Permitted |
| Burning off on your property | Not Permitted unless you have a Schedule 9 Permit from your local council. Check with your local council for conditions. | Not Permitted |
| Burning rubbish or grass clippings | Not Permitted. For any burning of rubbish or vegetation clippings, a Schedule 9 Permit is required from your local council. Some councils have totally prohibited the use of incinerators and open fires for waste disposal on domestic premises. Check with your local council for compliance with Environment Protection Authority restrictions. | Not Permitted. The lighting of incinerators is banned. You must check with your local council for compliance with Environment Protection Authority restrictions. Some councils have totally prohibited the use of incinerators and open fires for waste disposal on domestic premises. |
| Campfires, bonfires, or fires for cooking, warmth, or comfort | Permitted under strict conditions: the fire must be in a 30 cm deep trench and no more than one square metre in area; you must have a 4-metre cleared space around and above the fire; a responsible person must be in attendance at all times with water and/or an appropriate extinguisher. Check with your local council before lighting a comfort fire, as Council by-laws may prohibit or impose further restrictions on comfort fires in some circumstances. Please note that only charcoal is allowed to be burnt for comfort fires within a metropolitan area or within township boundaries by the EPA Legislation. The use of above ground fires such as chimineas, fire drums, braziers are only permitted with the use of permits. | Not Permitted unless you have a Schedule 10 Permit from your local council. These permits are generally only issued for emergency purposes. |
| Fires in forest reserves | Not Permitted. No fires, including barbecues and campfires, are permitted in forest reserves between November 30 to April 30 each year. However, gas barbecues may be permitted in designated areas in Mount Lofty Ranges forest under certain conditions. For enquiries, contact ForestrySA. | Not Permitted |
| Fires in National Park reserves | Not Permitted unless in accordance with strict regulations. Many National Parks and Wildlife Reserves have total bans on the use of wood fires. Fires may be permitted in some National Parks and Wildlife Reserves. Find out what is allowed and when. | Not Permitted |
| Use of gas or electric barbecues or cooking appliances | Permitted providing: the barbecue/cooking appliance is clear of all flammable vegetation to a distance of at least 4 metres; a person who is able to control the fire is present at the site of the fire until it is extinguished; an appropriate extinguisher is at hand. | Permitted if: within 15 metres of a domestic or commercial premises, OR on a coastal foreshore; providing: the barbecue/cooking appliance is clear of all flammable vegetation to a distance of at least 4 metres; a person who is able to control the fire is present at the site of the fire until it is extinguished; an appropriate extinguisher is at hand. Some local councils allow gas or electric barbecues in caravan parks or cleared picnic areas. Look for signs or contact the council for advice. |
| Use of solid fuel (wood/charcoal) kettle barbecues | Permitted provided that: the barbecue is clear of all flammable vegetation to a distance of at least 4 metres; a person who is able to control the fire is present at the site of the fire until it is extinguished; an appropriate extinguisher is at hand. | Not Permitted. A solid fuel burning kettle barbecue (one that uses fuel such as wood, charcoal or heat beads) cannot be used unless you get a Schedule 10 Permit from your local council. These permits are generally only issued for emergency purposes. A gas-fired kettle barbecue can be used if used within 15 metres of a domestic or commercial premises or on a coastal foreshore, providing that: the barbecue is clear of all flammable vegetation to a distance of at least 4 metres; a person who is able to control the fire is present at the site of the fire until it is extinguished; an appropriate extinguisher is at hand. |
| Use of pizza ovens | Permitted if gas or electric. If wood-fired, it should comply with the CFS Code of Practice and must be in a properly constructed fireplace, have a 4-metre clearance from flammable vegetation, someone in attendance while it is lit, and an adequate extinguishing agent at hand. | Not Permitted unless it is gas or electric, or you have a Schedule 10 Permit from your local council. |
| Use of chainsaws, brush cutters, mowers, or slashers | Permitted providing: a shovel or rake and portable water spray are at hand; all engine exhaust exits through the exhaust system, and the system prevents the escape of burning material; heated parts of the system are prevented from coming into contact with flammable material/vegetation; the system is in good working order. | Permitted under the same conditions as during the Fire Danger Season. |
| Use of angle grinders, welders, metal cutting tools, or any other tools that produce sparks outside | Permitted providing you have a 10-metre cleared space around the area, and water or an appropriate extinguisher is at hand. | Not Permitted unless you have a Schedule 10 Permit from your local council. These permits are generally only issued for emergency purposes. |
| Use of fireworks | Not Permitted. Private use of fireworks is banned. Licensed pyrotechnicians may conduct public fireworks displays providing they have a Schedule 9 Permit from CFS. | Not Permitted. Private use of fireworks is banned. Licensed pyrotechnicians may conduct public fireworks displays providing they have a Schedule 10 Permit from CFS. |
| Smoking cigarettes | Permitted but: you must not smoke within 2 metres of flammable bush or grass outside of a township (Penalty: $1250); you must not throw a cigarette butt from a vehicle (Penalty: $500); you must not drop or throw a cigarette butt where it will come into contact with flammable vegetation | Permitted but: you must not smoke within 2 metres of flammable bush or grass outside of a township (Penalty: $1250); you must not throw a cigarette butt from a vehicle (Penalty: $500); you must not drop or throw a cigarette butt where it will come into contact with flammable vegetation |
For all the latest restrictions and updates on the rules, head to https://cfs.sa.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/restrictions/what-can-i-do-what-cant-i-do/
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