Fire Danger Season dates & permits

The CFS Chief Officer has declared the Fire Danger Season dates for 2023/2024 for all fire ban districts in South Australia.

They are published in the Government Gazette before the declared date. Restrictions on fires under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 will apply throughout South Australia from the dates listed, until midnight on the finish date.

Fire Ban District Start Finish
Adelaide Metropolitan 15 November 2023 30 April 2024
Eastern Eyre Peninsula 1 November 2023 15 April 2024
Flinders 16 October 2023 15 April 2024
Kangaroo Island 15 November 2023 30 April 2024
Lower Eyre Peninsula 15 November 2023 15 April 2024
Lower South East 22 November 2023 30 April 2024
Mid North 1 November 2023 30 April 2024
Mount Lofty Ranges 15 November 2023 30 April 2024
Murraylands 1 November 2023 15 April 2024
North East Pastoral 16 October 2023 31 March 2024
North West Pastoral 16 October 2023 31 March 2024
Riverland 1 November 2023 15 April 2024
Upper South East 15 November 2023 15 April 2024
West Coast 16 October 2023 15 April 2024
Yorke Peninsula 1 November 2023 30 April 2024

 

Fire on Government Reserves

Department for Environment and Water

Fire bans

  • All open fires, liquid fuel and gas stoves are banned in all parks on Total Fire Ban days as declared by the CFS and broadcast on the radio. Parks may be closed to visitors on Total Fire Ban days.

Fire restrictions

Prescribed burns

DEW conducts prescribed burns as part of its fire management program. Prescribed burning is the controlled use of fire to a particular area of landscape. The aim is to strategically reduce fire fuel hazards in areas of South Australia's parks and reserves.

ForestrySA

Fire restrictions and bans

  • The lighting of fires is prohibited on ForestrySA Forest Reserves between 1 November and 30 April in any year. These dates may be extended where high fire danger persists.
  • ForestrySA Forest Reserves are closed for public access on days of Total Fire Ban as declared by the CFS and broadcast on the radio. Daily Fire Ban information is posted on the CFS website and Facebook page.

Residue and prescribed burns

  • ForestrySA conducts plantation forest residue burning and prescribed burning of native vegetation as part of its fire management program to strategically reduce fire fuel hazards for community protection.
  • For more information visit ForestrySA.

Fires and activities without a permit

Some activities are permitted to be undertaken during the Fire Danger Season provided that strict conditions are complied with. These activities include: using gas appliances for cooking, electric welders and angle grinders, and fires for cooking and personal comfort.

The use of above ground fires, such as chimineas, fire drums, braziers, are only permitted with the use of permits and compliance with conditions.

Wood Fire Pizza Ovens

  • Outside - requires Schedule 10 Permit
  • Inside dwelling (fully enclosed four walls and a roof, with spark arrester) - OK to use

Types of permits

There are two types of permits that can be issued by an Authorised Officer:

  • Schedule 9 Permit - may be issued for fires or activities on days during the Fire Danger Season that are not Total Fire Ban days.
  • Schedule10 Permit - may be issued for fires or activities on days that are Total Fire Bans - these are intended for emergency use only.

To find your nearest Authorised Officer contact your local council.

You can apply to an Authorised Officer for a permit either in person, by mail, email, over the phone or via radio. The Authorised Officer will assess your permit application before issuing a permit.

The Authorised Officer is required to assess the permit application to ensure that:

  • they are satisfied that the lighting and maintaining of the fire is in all circumstances justified
  • adequate precautions will be taken to prevent the spread of fire.

Once the Authorised Officer is satisfied they will issue you with a permit and a permit number. The conditions that you must comply with are included in the permit.

For any theatrical fire effects or pyrotechnic (fireworks) displays the only authority that can issue a Permit to light or maintain a fire is the CFS.

Conditions

You must comply with the conditions included in the permit.

In particular, not less than 2 hours before you light or intend to light the fire, you must notify:

  • all adjoining neighbours
  • an officer of the local council
  • the person in charge of any nearby government reserve.

Conditions may vary from area to area depending on the time of year and season.

Full details will be provided on the permit by the Authorised Officer of the Council. For further information contact your local council.

Councils

Some councils have limited staff and Authorised Officers may not be available due to leave or other commitments.

Council Type Authorised Officer
Adelaide, City of Metro Council No
Adelaide Hills Council Regional Council Yes
Adelaide Plains Council Regional Council Yes
Alexandrina Council Regional Council Yes
Barossa Council, The Regional Council Yes
Barunga West Council Regional Council Yes
Berri Barmera Council Regional Council Yes
Burnside, City of Metro Council Yes
Campbelltown City Council Metro Council Yes
Ceduna, District Council of Regional Council Yes
City of Charles Sturt Metro Council No
Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council Regional Council Yes
Cleve, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Coober Pedy, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Coorong District Council Regional Council Yes
Copper Coast Council Regional Council Yes
Elliston, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Flinders Ranges Council, The Regional Council No
Franklin Harbour, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Gawler, Town of Regional Council Yes
Goyder, Regional Council of Regional Council Yes
Grant, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Holdfast Bay, City of Metro Council No
Kangaroo Island Council Regional Council Yes
Karoonda East Murray, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Kimba, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Kingston District Council Regional Council Yes
Light Regional Council Regional Council Yes
Lower Eyre Peninsula, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Loxton Waikerie, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Marion, City of Metro Council Yes
Mid Murray Council Regional Council Yes
Mitcham, City of Metro Council Yes
Mount Barker District Council Regional Council Yes
Mount Gambier, City of Regional Council Yes
Mount Remarkable, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Murray Bridge, Rural City of Regional Council Yes
Naracoorte Lucindale Council Regional Council Yes
Northern Areas Council Regional Council Yes
Norwood, Payneham and St Peters, City of Metro Council No
Onkaparinga, City of Metro Council Yes
Orroroo Carrieton, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Peterborough, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Playford, City of Metro Council Yes
Port Adelaide Enfield, City of Metro Council Yes
Port Augusta City Council Regional Council Yes
Port Lincoln, City of Regional Council Yes
Port Pirie Regional Council Regional Council No
Prospect, City of Metro Council No
Renmark Paringa Council Regional Council Yes
Robe, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Roxby Downs, Municipal Council of Regional Council Yes
Salisbury, City of Metro Council Yes
Southern Mallee District Council Regional Council Yes
Streaky Bay, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Tatiara District Council Regional Council Yes
Tea Tree Gully, City of Metro Council Yes
Tumby Bay, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Unley, City of Metro Council No
Victor Harbor, City of Regional Council Yes
Wakefield Regional Council Regional Council Yes
Walkerville, Town of Metro Council No
Wattle Range Council Regional Council Yes
West Torrens, City of Metro Council No
Whyalla, City of Regional Council Yes
Wudinna District Council Regional Council Yes
Yankalilla, District Council of Regional Council Yes
Yorke Peninsula Council Regional Council Yes

CFS Permit Requests for councils without authorised officers – cfs.permits@eso.sa.gov.au