The Fire Danger Period will officially run state-wide through to at least the end of April before local CFA staff assess the condition of their own districts.

Acting operations manager for District 16, Alfred Mason said the CFA would discuss the end of the Fire Danger Period with municipal officers, Parks Victoria rangers, and members from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

"We look at the conditions and see what is happening with the weather around and if the land has started to green up a little," he said.

"We'll also look ahead at the weather forecast and if we are starting to see more frequent showers and if they'll continue.

"At this stage we are not having those discussions yet about when to lift the period and because of that restrictions are still in place."

Currently no land owner is permitted to 'burn off' on their property including rubbish or other fuel for cleaning purposes, however from this coming Tuesday permits will be approved for farmers wishing to conduct stubble burning and clear the remains following wheat and other grain harvesting.

Mr Mason said for the first time the three municipalities that cover District 16 - Ararat Rural City, Northern Grampians Shire and Pyrenees Shire - have implemented the same rules when it comes to stubble burning.

"We have consulted with various farmer groups and this new process does not put them in an onerous position, they are comfortable with what the minimum requirement is," he said.

"This year is slightly different, because previously we have brought stubble burns in through stages. The first stage was very onerous which meant a lot of farmers just couldn't meet the requirements, so we have negotiated a one stage process across the whole period through that consultation with the municipalities, fire brigades and community."

The new permit conditions set a minimum requirement for resources required to undertake a Schedule 13 Burn and defines the size and type of break.

The new minimum requirements are:

*3 units

*3600l water

*4 people

*3 metre bare earth break, mechanically turned and cleared of flammable material.

Mr Mason said the last of the conditions is the most important.

"The key factor to keeping stubble burn within its area is going to be that earth turned to form a three metre fire break," he said.

"If they produce a good fire break by turning the dirt over, with a stubble fire it should remain in the paddock.

"We don't differentiate, so if someone is going to burn 10 hectares or 100, we still ask them to have the same requirements.

"Conditions are still high risk, however stubble burning needs to take place before the ground becomes too moist. The window is only short and that is why we are introducing it now."

Ararat Rural City emergency management coordinator David Todd said permit applications were now open and encouraged landowners to apply as soon as possible so that there would be no delays in receiving permits when conditions are right to burn.

Mr Todd also reinforced that it was the landowner's responsibility to comply with the minimum schedule conditions and conduct a risk assessment to determine that they are adequate given the size of the area to be burnt and density of vegetation.

"We want to emphasize the fact that they really need to read the permit," he said.

"The conditions which are within the permit are explained thoroughly and if they fail to comply they will be prosecuted, because we have had too many fires escape, cause damage and require the CFA to respond and spend a lot of money."

Applications are available at the Ararat Rural City Council Municipal Office Customer Service Desk or via the website. For any queries phone 5355 0200.