Douglas Fire Ban Extended

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 has been extended and now applies until 2359hrs on Monday 20 November 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 Shire 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:
  1. within a properly constructed receptacle such as a barbeque, gas or wood fired and pizza oven, and
  2. where the fire cannot escape or cause embers to drift, and
  3. 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:

1. lit within a properly constructed receptacle, such as fire pits and braziers, and
2. that are used in suburban back yard, and
3. no larger than 1m x 1m x 0.5m, and
4. there is a fire extinguishing device available (e.g. garden hose or fire extinguisher), and
5. the area is cleared of vegetation and embers cannot drift from the fire, and
6. provided they are not left unattended

are permitted between 1800 hrs to 0600 hrs. (6pm to 6am). This exemption does not include bon fires.

1. 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).

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. www.qfes.qld.gov.au

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