Total Fire Ban

• Declaring a Total Fire Ban
• Total Fire Bans and Extreme Fire Weather: Access Restrictions to National Parks, Forests and Reserves

Declaring a Total Fire Ban

The ACT Emergency Services Authority declares a Total Fire Ban when it is necessary to do so in order to prevent the outbreak or spread of fires. On Total Fire Ban days you are not allowed to light, use or maintain a fire in the open air. All major media outlets are notified of Total Fire Ban days.

To find out if it is a Total Fire Ban day, go to the ACT Emergency Services Authority Website , read your local newspaper, listen to broadcasts on the radio, or watch the local television news stations.

 Total Fire Bans and Extreme Fire Weather: Access Restrictions to National Parks, Forests and Reserves

Total Fire Bans are declared by the Emergency Services Agency. A Total Fire Ban may be declared:

1. if severe weather conditions conducive to the spread of fire exist or are likely; or
2. because of the number, nature or location of any existing fires.

In the event of a Total Fire Ban being declared for the ACT, access restrictions and closures will apply to many of the public reserves, pine forests and other areas.

Closures will apply to:

• Googong Foreshores
• Woods Reserve and Gibralter Falls
• Murrays Corner
• Blue Range Hut
• Kowen Forest and Molonglo Gorge
• Lower Molonglo River Corridor; and
• Selected roads within Namadgi National Park including Old Mill Road, Warks Road, Mt Franklin Road at Piccadilly Circus, and the Corin Dam Road beyond Smokers Gap.

In most cases the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre will remain open to the public, however, the barbecue area and the road to the nature trails carpark will be closed. Further to this, there may be instances when the whole reserve is closed to public access due to safety concerns.

Canberra Nature Park and Forest areas generally remain open to the public during the morning hours, and users are requested to leave these areas no later than 11.00am. Organised activities are usually postponed or cancelled ie Parkcare, interpretation activities, and sporting events.

Electric barbecues provided at the Cotter, Casuarina Sands and Pine Island and in Canberra’s urban parks will continue to be available. In the case of a Total Fire Ban all gas barbeques will be turned off, with the exception of Telopea Park where they will remain operational.

There may be instances where camping and recreation areas are closed due to forecast extreme fire weather (with or without the declaration of a Total Fire Ban).

These closures are made in the interests of public safety. Full and up to date information on closures can be gained from Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.

More information about Total Fire Bans is available from the Emergency Services Agency website at www.esa.act.gov.au .