On days of extreme fire danger the Chief Fire Control Officer, Bushfires NT and Director, NTFRS declare fire bans in nominated areas of the Northern Territory. Fire bans are normally for 24 hours, but may be extended daily as long as the danger persists. They are usually announced the previous evening in time for TV news bulletins. Changing weather conditions can mean bans being announced at any time of the day.

Announcements are made on TV, radio and daily newspapers to publicise fire bans. They are also announced over the BFNT radio network.

When a fire ban has been declared:

·     No fires are to be lit in the open unless they are for cooking or boiling water with the nearest flammable matter to the fire not less than 4 metres distant from the fire.

·     All Permits to Burn are immediately suspended.

·     All existing fires, burning log piles, etc. must be thoroughly extinguished. If they are unable to be extinguished you must, without delay, inform a Fire Control Officer or Fire Warden of the fact. The FCO or Warden will then give directions to control the fire, which must be complied with.

·     You must not use electric or gas welding or cutting equipment in the open in a fire protection zone or during a fire danger period or fire ban day within 4m of bush or flammable material and unless there is a readily available fire extinguishing device in good working order, appropriate to the type of equipment being used and the potential fire hazard.

You should also take the following precautions:

-     Don’t get out the tractor and slasher, ride-on mower or push lawn mower to trim that area you’ve been meaning to clear up for the last couple of months. One spark from a metal blade on a stone or in sand is sufficient to start a runaway wildfire.

-     Carelessly discarded cigarette butts are a common cause of bushfires.

When on call on fire ban days, especially weekends, many firies put on yellow PPE overalls and fire ground boots first thing in the morning. The cold water bottle is refilled and put in the Grass Fire Unit. This speeds response time to any call-out to a fire. Experience has taught to do this.

Unfortunately, it is on such days that people do get out their mowers or slashers. Fire bans are declared on days when the bush is tinder dry with low humidity, high temperature and strong winds. Fires in these conditions travel long distances before fire units arrive on scene. The September 2006 Darwin River fire (photo right) started on a fire ban day, allegedly from a ride-on mower.

Take care; it could be your home or assets, as well as your neighbours’ that may be destroyed.