UPDATE – Monday, 06th November 2023: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) has extended a local fire ban for Far Northern Region residents for a further seven days. The local fire ban will be in place until 2359hrs on Monday, 13th November 2023.
UPDATE – Monday, 30th October 2023: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) has extended a local fire ban for Far Northern Region residents for a further seven days. The local fire ban will be in place until 2359hrs on Monday, 06th November 2023.
UPDATE – Monday, 23rd October 2023: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) has extended a local fire ban for Far Northern Region residents for a further seven days. The local fire ban will be in place until 2359hrs on Monday, 30th October 2023.
Prohibition on the lighting, maintenance and use of fires in the open.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 86A and Section 86E of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990, and with due regard to fire conditions and the weather forecasts issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, a Local Fire Ban is hereby imposed as described below.
A prohibition on lighting fires in the open applies for the period 00:01am on Thursday 19 October 2023 to 23:59pm on Monday 23 October 2023 in the fire ban area(s) specified hereunder:
Within the whole of the Local Government Areas of:
- Aurukun Shire Council
- Cairns Regional Council
- Cook Shire Council
- Douglas Shire Council
- Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council
- Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council
- Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council
- Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council
- Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council
- Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council
- Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council
- Torres Shire Council
- Torres Strait Regional Council
- Weipa Town Authority
- Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council
- Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
- Cassowary Coast Regional Council
- Mareeba Regional Council
- Tablelands Regional Council
- Croydon Shire Council
- Etheridge Shire Council
All current Permits to Light Fire issued for the local fire ban area are hereby cancelled subject to the following exemptions.
The following exemptions apply:
- Fires lit for the purpose of cooking, that are:
a. within a properly constructed receptacle such as a barbeque, gas or wood fired and pizza oven, and
b. where the fire cannot escape or cause embers to drift, and
c. there must be a fire extinguishing device available (e.g. garden hose or fire extinguisher)
are permitted provided they are not left unattended. - Fires lit for the purpose of providing warmth that are:
a. lit within a properly constructed receptacle, such as fire pits and braziers, and
b. that are used in suburban back yard, and
c. no larger than 1m x 1m x 0.5m, and
d. there is a fire extinguishing device available (e.g. garden hose or fire extinguisher), and
e. the area is cleared of vegetation and embers cannot drift from the fire, and
f. provided they are not left unattended
are permitted between 1800 hrs to 0600 hrs. (6pm to 6am). This exemption does not include bon fires. NB. Check with your Local Council By-laws - Fires lit for the purpose of disposal of animal carcasses are permitted, subject to the issue of a permit by the local Fire Warden.
- Fires lit for commercial necessity are permitted subject to the issue of a permit to light fire by the Chief Fire Warden.
- Fires lit in accordance with the provisions of Section 86A of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990, Part 6 Sections 53 Powers of authorised officer in dangerous situations and 55 Powers of authorised fire officer for preventative or Investigative purposes.
- Burning can be undertaking in line with the Notification for Sugar Cane Burning between the hours of 1800 and 0500 (6pm to 5am).
Superintendent Lawrence Laing
Regional Manager, Far Northern Region
Rural Fire Service
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (As Delegate for the Commissioner)
Information on Fire Bans and the exemptions that can apply to a ban of the lighting of fires in the open can be found on the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services website.
Note: Power tools including lawn mowers and mechanical slashers may be used, however the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services encourages people to use these with extreme care and to ensure that adequate equipment is available to extinguish any fire that may start. This could include having a person available to watch out for any ignitions that occur.