Why Fire Permits Matter: Staying Safe Before You Light Up

Image: Unregistered burns can trigger multiple smoke alerts a day through WatchTowers Command. Fire permits help everyone know what’s planned and what’s not.

Thinking about lighting up a burn this season? Before you strike a match, there’s one thing you’ll need: a fire permit.

It might sound like extra red tape, but fire permits are essential for keeping everybody safe. They help keep your fire under control and make sure your neighbours aren’t caught off guard. They also stop emergency crews from chasing false alarms.

Here’s the plain-English rundown on when you need a permit, why it matters and how it all ties into the bigger picture of keeping our communities safe.

What is a fire permit?

A fire permit is basically a green light from your local Rural Fire Service (RFS) or Fire & Rescue. It sets out a few simple rules on how, when, and where you can light up. In NSW, that usually means during the Bush Fire Danger Period (October to March) - and in some areas, all year round. A permit makes sure your fire is safe to light in the weather conditions, that your neighbours and local fire authority know what’s happening, and that you’ve got the right set-up to keep it under control.

Fire permits are free and easy to get online or through your local Fire Control Centre. Find out more and apply for a fire permit in NSW through the NSW RFS website.

Why fire permits matter

Without a permit, even a small fire can quickly become a big problem. What starts as a tidy-up can turn into a fast-moving grassfire, especially in hot or windy weather. We explained in How Do Bushfires Spread? just how quickly things can get away from you.

Permits also cut down on false alarms. Every day, fire services across Australia get multiple calls about smoke from burns that haven’t been registered. Crews have to check them out in case they’re bushfires, which means time and resources are tied up chasing smoke instead of tackling real emergencies.

There’s also the courtesy factor. When neighbours see smoke and don’t know it’s a planned burn, they may panic or flood 000 with calls. Registering your fire with a permit keeps everyone in the loop and saves unnecessary worry.

What happens if you don’t get a fire permit?

The rules are clear. If you decide to burn without a permit when one is required, you could face:

• Fines or even prison time.
• Civil claims if your fire causes damage to other people’s property.
• An automatic suspension of your permit on Total Fire Ban days. (For more on the difference between Fire Danger Ratings and Total Fire Bans, read Fire Danger Rating vs Total Fire Ban: What’s the Difference?)

Not only is it a good idea to get a fire permit before you burn - it’s the law. 

The WatchTowers perspective

From the WatchTowers side, unregistered burns create a flood of unnecessary alerts. Our cameras are designed to pick up smoke quickly - often in the first five minutes of a bushfire - but if a burn hasn’t been registered, the system can’t tell whether it’s a safe pile burn or something more dangerous. That means operators and fire crews still have to check it out, using time and resources that could have been saved with a simple permit.

By getting a permit and notifying your burn, you help reduce the false positives in the system and let responders focus on the fires that matter. It’s a team effort: landholders, communities, fire services and technology all working together.

How to register for a fire permit

It’s straightforward:

1. Apply online through the NSW RFS, ACT RFS or your local Fire & Rescue websites.
2. Let your neighbours and local fire authority know at least 24 hours before lighting up.
3. Carry your permit on site and follow the conditions.
4. Always check the daily Fire Danger Rating or Total Fire Ban before striking a match.

The bottom line on fire permits

Fire permits are an important safety net in bushfire season. They keep burns controlled, neighbours informed, and fire crews focused on the real threats. So before you light up, do the right thing: get a fire permit, register your burn and give everyone peace of mind. 

And if you’re the one spotting smoke on the horizon, you don’t have to be left guessing. WatchTowers CentralWatch gives communities the same trusted live view that firefighters use. Register for your CentralWatch account today, so you’ll know straight away what’s really going on.