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Burning Restrictions & Bans

Lighting fires on your property can be extremely dangerous. Prohibited dates are set according to seasonal conditions and are adjusted when required.

Current Burning Restrictions in the Shire of Esperance
Rural Zone - Unrestricted Burning. This means no permit is required.
Urban-Rural Zone - Restricted Burning Time. A Fire Permit must be obtained from your nearest Fire Control Officer before any Hazard Reduction or burning off can commence.

What outdoor cooking can we do during Prohibited Burning Time?

Gas and electric barbeques - Permitted at any time (including Total Fire Ban day)
Solid fuel barbecues, spit roasts, webers, pizza ovens and other cooking fires - Are permitted when Fire Danger Rating is Moderate & can only be used in a camp site are that is sign posted noting the use.
However, this form of cooking is prohibited when Fire Danger Rating is High or above. It is also prohibited in National Parks and on a Total Fire Ban day.

What about burning of garden refuse or rubbish during Prohibited Burning Time? This is prohibited at all times (inc. incinerators and on the ground).

Thank you for doing your part in keeping our community safe.

Not Sure which Zone you're in? See the Zone Map.

Current Bans

To keep up to date with current bans please check the Shire Facebook Page.

Burning Periods

Burning periods can alter without notice. If you are unsure please contact us to see if you are allowed to burn.

Urban Rural Zone: 14 November to 28 February
Rural Zone: 14 November to 31 January

No fires are to be lit in the open air during this time.

Under powers of the Bush Fires Act 1954, the Prohibited Burning Time for the Urban/Rural zone has been extended (on a fortnightly period) currently ending Tuesday 5 April 2022.

Urban Rural Zone: 19 September to 13 November and 1 March to 30 April

Rural Zone: 19 September to 13 November and 1 February to 31 March

A permit is required to burn during these times. Permit Issuing Contacts can be found here

Urban Rural Zone: 1 May to 18 September

Rural Zone: 1 April to 18 September

Fires can be lit without a permit.

Prior to burning to check incoming weather conditions.
Please provide notice to your surrounding neighbours
Contact DFES Communication Centre to register their burn Ph: 1800 198 140 (free call).

Harvest Bans

Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans are put in place by the Shire of Esperance under the Bushfires Act 1954. A ban is put in place to restrict activities that are likely to cause or contribute to the spread of a bushfire.

Sometimes only certain zones may be put into a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban. If you are not sure which zone you belong to you can click here to find out.

To find out if a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban is in place:

Contact the Shire during business hours on (08) 9071 0666
Call the Harvest and Vehicle Ban hotline on (08) 9071 5367
Listen to ABC radio
Register for the Shires SMS notification system with the Harvest Ban SMS Notification Form

It is the responsibility of an individual to determine if a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban is in place before carrying out an activity.

Total Fire Bans

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) are responsible for the placing of a Total Fire Ban on any area.

"During a Total Fire Ban you are not allowed to light, maintain or use a fire in the open air, or carry out any activity in the open air that causes, or is likely to cause, a fire."

Information about what a Total Fire Ban means and how it affects you can be found on the DFES website Bushfire Fact Sheet Total Fire Ban. Additional assistance is provided in the form of a Frequently Asked Questions page.

Please follow the links for information on: