Fire Danger Period & Total Fire Ban tip 9 - Hot work / Bees

Did you know that there are conditions and restrictions on carrying out activities such as welding, grinding, charring, soldering or gas cutting / relocating bees with a bee smoker / extracting honey using heat or flame / rail maintenance / heating bitumen during the Fire Danger Period and days of total Fire Ban?

Lets run through the facts of Fire Danger Period and Total Fire Ban conditions and restrictions.

During the Fire Danger Period can I carry out activities including: welding, grinding, charring, soldering or gas cutting / relocating bees with a bee smoker / extracting honey using heat or flame / rail maintenance / heating bitumen?

Yes as long as you adhere to these strict conditions:

• A fire-resistant shield or guard is in place to stop sparks, hot metal or slag from the fire

• An area at least 1.5 metres from the operation is clear of flammable material or wetted down sufficiently to prevent the spread of fire

• You have a hose connected to a reticulated water supply or water spray knapsack containing at least 9 litres of water

• All cut-offs and hot materials from the operation are placed in fire-proof containers

• A person is in attendance at all times while the fire is alight and has the capacity and means to extinguish the fire

• The fire is completely extinguished before the person leaves.

Can I carry out activities including: welding, grinding, charring, soldering or gas cutting / relocating bees with a bee smoker / extracting honey using heat or flame / rail maintenance / heating bitumen on a day of Total Fire Ban?

These activities are banned on Total Fire Ban Days. In limited circumstances, CFA, MFB or DELWP may issue a Section 40 permit on Total Fire Ban Days. These permits are issued by CFA district offices, CFA headquarters, MFB district or DELWP offices. They cannot be issued by Municipal Fire Prevention Officers.