You Light It, You Own It

A Victoria Police and Crime Stoppers Victoria fire prevention campaign.

Any spark can start a fire. Whatever you light — and whatever you set off without meaning to — is yours until it is completely out.

Any Spark Can Start a Fire

A fire does not need a match to start. On a hot, dry, windy day, ordinary work and recreation are enough:

• Grinding, welding, cutting or using power tools outdoors
• Campfires, fire pits and barbecues left unattended or not fully extinguished
• Slashing, mowing or harvesting in dry grass
• Hot exhausts and catalytic converters parked over dry vegetation
• Burning off rubbish, stubble or green waste

Before You Light It

1. Check the fire danger rating, and whether a Total Fire Ban or Fire Danger Period restriction applies where you are.
2. Clear flammable material from around the work or fire site, and damp it down if you can.
3. Keep water and a way to move it — a hose, knapsack or extinguisher — within reach the whole time.
4. Stay until the fire, or the metal you have been cutting, is cold to touch. Never walk away from smouldering material.

In an Emergency, Call 000

• 000 — Emergency: fire, police or ambulance, right now
• 1800 333 000 — Crime Stoppers Victoria: report deliberately lit fires, anonymously

If something did not look right — someone lighting fires, a vehicle leaving the scene, a pattern of small fires in one area — report it. You do not have to give your name.

Common Questions

What does "you light it, you own it" mean?

If you start a fire, you are responsible for it until it is completely out — and for any damage it causes if it escapes. That applies to campfires and burn-offs, and to fires started accidentally by tools, machinery or vehicles.

Can an angle grinder or power tool really start a bushfire?

Yes. Grinding, welding and cutting throw hot metal fragments several metres. On a hot, dry, windy day those sparks can ignite dry grass, bark or leaf litter and take hold before you notice.

What should I do before lighting a fire or using tools outdoors?

Check the fire danger rating and whether a Total Fire Ban or Fire Danger Period restriction applies where you are. Clear flammable material from around the site, keep water within reach, and stay with the fire or the work until everything is cold to touch.

Who do I call if a fire has started?

Call 000 immediately for any fire that is burning out of control or threatening people or property.

How do I report a deliberately lit fire?

Contact Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000 or report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au. You do not have to give your name.

More Information

• Crime Stoppers Victoria
• Victoria Police
• Country Fire Authority (CFA)

Issued by Victoria Police with Crime Stoppers Victoria.