Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Country Fire Authority Act 1958 - SECT 39

Prohibited actions near fires

39. Prohibited actions near fires

In the country area of Victoria (not including any land within a fire
protected area) during a fire danger period-

   (a)  a person who has lit a fire in the open air or who has been left in
        charge of a fire in the open air shall not leave the place of the fire
        unless-

   (i)  he leaves another person in charge of the fire; or

   (ii) he completely extinguishes the fire before leaving;

   (b)  a person shall not in the open air throw down or drop any lighted
        tobacco, cigarette, cigar or match or any other burning material or
        thing;

   (c)  a person shall not knowingly put or place any blow lamp or gas torch
        or any match or any phosphorus or any substance containing phosphorus
        or any explosive or any combustible substance or matter in such a
        position that-

   (i)  it may be directly or indirectly ignited exploded or set on fire by
        the action of the sun's rays or by friction or by any other natural
        cause; or

   (ii) a fire is likely to be caused- whether or not any fire or explosion is
        actually caused thereby; and

   (d)  a person who finds any fire burning shall as soon as practicable
        inform or cause to be informed the nearest available officer or member
        of a brigade or a forest officer or a member of the police force of
        the existence and locality of the fire.

Penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for a term of not more than twelve
months or both such penalty and imprisonment.