However, the RFS is urging people to keep exercising caution when lighting up.

“Even though permits are no longer required for burning off after April 30, the good rain that fell during the last half of March and again in mid-April gave our region a beautiful carpet of green,” RFS District Superintendent Troy Porter said.

“However, we are already seeing that new growth start to brown off. In addition, we still have paddocks and bushland across the District full of dried out vegetation that poses a significant continuing fire risk. This vegetation will remain tinder-dry as we move through later Autumn into Winter. The fresh green growth of recent weeks will also cure and dry out, producing even more ready fuel for bush fires.

“Under these conditions, I am urging each of you in our District to keep exercising caution about the use of fire.

“We expect to see a number of warm, dry days before the autumn gives us consistently cooler weather and a reduced risk of fire. With all of the ready fuel around we saw a large number of grass fires this past summer, and the threat of more grass fires is very real.

“While the end of the Bush Fire Danger Period means you are no longer required to get a permit to light a fire outdoors, it’s a good idea for people to keep observing the rest of the rules required during the Danger Period to ensure fire is used safely and to minimize the danger to you, your family, your property and the community.”

This means that before lighting a fire outdoors make sure; your fire can be contained and controlled within the desired area; have a ready supply of water on hand; for heating or cooking in a permanently constructed fireplace at a site surrounded by ground that is cleared of all combustible material for a distance of at least 2m all around; don’t burn toxic materials such as rubber tyres, plastics or paint; the fire won’t cause an air pollution problem by producing excessive amounts of smoke.

And notify the Fire Control Centre and your neighbours 24 hours before hand.