Light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban

Legislation: Country Fire Authority Act 1958 (Vic) s 40(4)(a)

Maximum penalty: 2 years imprisonment, 240 penalty units, or both

Period: 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2023

Jurisdiction: Magistrates' Court

Charges

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Cases

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All outcomes

Males

Females

Aged 18 to 24

Aged 25 to 54

Aged 55 and over

*Note: unavailable options have under 10 cases

Charge data

In the Magistrates' Court, 38 charges of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban were sentenced in the three years to 30 June 2023. The most common sentence for a charge of this offence was a fine (36.8% or 14 charges).

On SACStat, a charge is a single count of a sentenced offence. Charge data is most useful in understanding how a specific crime is usually sentenced.

Case data

In 37 cases sentenced in the Magistrates' Court in the three years to 30 June 2023, each case included at least one charge of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban. Among the 37 cases, 32 people were male and 5 people were female. The most common outcome for cases was a fine (37.8% or 14 cases).

A case is a collection of one or more charges against a person or company sentenced at the one hearing. Case data is most useful in understanding the total sentence usually imposed on people found guilty of a particular crime.

Bar graph showing sentence types imposed for charges of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 1**: Sentencing outcomes for all charges of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban
**Number: 38 charges**

Bar graph showing lengths of community correction orders for charges of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 3**: Community correction order lengths for charges of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban
**Number: 7 charges**

Bar graph showing fine amounts for charges of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 4**: Fine amounts for charges of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban
**Number: 12 charges**
**Note**: The graph only includes fines that were not part of an aggregate sentence (non-aggregate fines).

Stacked bar graph showing sentences imposed each year for charges of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 5**: Sentencing outcomes for all charges of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban by financial year
**Number: 38 charges**

Bar graph showing the number of charges each year for the offence of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 6**: Number of charges of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban by financial year
**Number: 38 charges**

Bar graph showing fines amounts each year for charges of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 8**: Average fine amounts for charges of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban by financial year
**Number: 12 charges**
**Note**: The graph only includes fines that were not part of an aggregate sentence (non-aggregate fines).

Bar graph showing sentence types for all offenders for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 9A**: Sentencing outcomes for all people for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban
**Number: 37 cases**

Bar graph showing sentence types for male offenders for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 9B**: Sentencing outcomes for males for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban
**Number: 32 cases**

Bar graph showing sentence types for female offenders for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 9C**: Sentencing outcomes for females for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban
**Number: 5 cases**

Bar graph showing sentence types for offenders aged under 25 for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 9D**: Sentencing outcomes for people aged under 25 for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban
**Number: 3 cases**

Bar graph showing sentence types for offenders aged 25 to 54 for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 9E**: Sentencing outcomes for people aged 25 to 54 for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban
**Number: 26 cases**

Bar graph showing sentence types for offenders aged 55 and over for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 9F**: Sentencing outcomes for people aged 55 and over for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban
**Number: 8 cases**

Bar graph showing imprisonment lengths for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 10**: Imprisonment lengths for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban
**Number: 2 cases**, including imprisonment only (2 cases) and imprisonment combined with a community correction order (0 cases).

Bar graph showing non-parole periods for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 11**: Non-parole periods for all people for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban
**Number: 2 cases**
**Note**: Imprisonment terms do not include a community correction order.

Bar graph showing lengths of community correction orders for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 12**: Community correction order lengths for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban
**Number: 6 cases**

Stacked bar graph showing sentences imposed each year for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 13**: Sentencing outcomes for all cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban by financial year
**Number: 37 cases**

Bar graph showing the number of cases each year for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 14**: Number of cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban for all people by financial year
**Number: 37 cases**

Bar graph showing the average imprisonment length each year for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban — **Figure 15**: Average imprisonment lengths for cases of light a fire, or allow a fire to remain alight, in the open air during a total fire ban by financial year
**Number: 2 cases**