Emergency services were called to a Putnam Avenue home after reports a guest at a noisy house party threw an aerosol can into an illegal bonfire.

The Bendigo Advertiser understands firefighters have been called to several bonfires in recent weeks after neighbours have reported blazes at the properties.

Under City of Greater Bendigo bylaws, residents on properties greater than one hectare in size can light an open-air fire for fuel reduction purposes outside the declared fire danger period.

Residents on properties less than one hectare in size are not permitted light an open-air fire to burn dry solid fuel without a written permit from the City of Greater Bendigo but can apply to the City for a free permit to do so.

Bendigo Country Fire Authority senior station officer Tim Fitzgerald said if a permit was granted, residents should register the fire with the CFA.

"People need to register any planned fires to save the brigades being paged out to unnecessary fires," he said.

"The brigade may still attend that burn-off if people believe it's out of control, but if it's not, it's wasting our time and might tie us up when a genuine emergency occurs."

He said residents lighting a fire should ensure it is at least five metres from any building or property boundary and have a clear area of at least three metres' radius around the fire.

A City of Greater Bendigo information sheet advises a $200 on-the-spot fine may be issued to persons not complying with the open-air fire bylaws, or lighting a fire when a permit is required.

Bendigo police Sergeant Rosie Rowe said bonfires did not breach criminal law if lit outside the fire danger period.

"Unless it's in a fire danger period, it's not a criminal offence. Unless of course it starts to damage someone else's property or fencing," Sergeant Rowe said.

But she said serious criminal charges could be laid if fires were lit in the height of summer or on total fire ban days.

For more information, visit www.bendigo.vic.gov.au or cfa.vic.gov.au.