A severe fire danger rating has been issued, along with the Total Fire Ban for all Sydney Metro Councils, the Blue Mountains, Gosford, Hawkesbury, and Wyong councils, along with the Hunter Region, North Coast and Far West regions.
The NSW Rural Fire Service says that during a Total Fire Ban, no fire may be lit in the open, and all fire permits are suspended, including incinerators and barbeques which burn solid fuel like wood or charcoal.
You can however use an electric barbeque for cooking as long as an adult is operating it and is present at all times. No combustible material is allowed within two metres of the barbeque at any time it is operating.
Similar rules apply for gas barbeques in addition to having a continuous supply of water, and that the barbeque is within 20 metres of a permanent private dwelling like a home or within a picnic area and the appliance is approved by Council, National Parks or State Forest.
Breaking the Total Fire Ban can attract a fine of up to $5500 and/or 12 months jail.
If that fire causes death fines can reach $100,000 and jail sentences of 14 years.
There are some exemptions during a Total Fire Ban, but these generally don’t include the general public and include emergency infrastructure work, bee hive smokers, mining operations, sugar cane harvesting or ceremonial fires.
