Media release

Permits to burn – Greater Darwin Area burn permits draw to an end

Fire and Rescue

As the dry season approaches, landholders in the Litchfield Municipality within the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS) Emergency Response Area will soon be unable to obtain permits to burn for garden green waste. NTFRS will continue to monitor weather conditions until declaring the end of the permit period in preparation for the Top End fire season.

Chief Fire Officer Mark Spain said, “It is important that all members of the community adhere to and complete their burns prior to the fire danger period being declared. Any piles left unmanaged can cause serious hazards to both life and property.”

Strict conditions relate to permits to burn and infringements will be issued for non-compliant burns, which include:

  • garden green waste only, no building or household waste allowed
  • burn piles to be no larger than 5m x 5m and have cleared 4 metre wide fire breaks on all sides
  • the property must comply with the Fire and Emergency Regulations 1996, specifically Part 2, Section 3 (1) Firebreaks
  • the permitted burn must be monitored by a competent person over the age of 18 at all times until extinguished
  • neighbours must be notified at least 48 hours before commencing a permit to burn and Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS) notified prior to ignition and at completion of burn
  • landholders should have sufficient resources to extinguish the fire if required

The NTFRS encourage all landholders to consider alternatives to burning wherever possible.

Please contact your local fire station for issuing of permits to burn. Volunteer fire brigades will not be issuing permits to burn due to the COVID-19 situation. 

Fire Station

Telephone Numbers

Berrimah Fire Station

08 8946 4142

Marrara Fire Station

08 8995 5222

Palmerston Fire Station

08 8932 1100

Humpty Doo Fire Station

08 8988 0296

Failure to obtain a permit or adhere to the terms and conditions of a permit may result in an infringement up to the value of $628.00 + $40.00 levy