Fire authorities and public land managers are telling campers to make sure they check the conditions and revise campfire safety practices ahead of the upcoming long weekend.
The state Conservation Regulator, Parks Victoria, and Forest Fire Management Victoria will be patrolling Victoria’s parks and forests throughout the weekend to make sure campers are doing the right thing.
A total of 257 unattended campfires and BBQs have been detected by the Conservation Regulator, Parks Victoria and Forest Fire Operations field staff on public land so far this financial year.
Over the last few weeks where Total Fire Bans have been declared, fire authorities and land managers have continued to detect illegal campfires across the state during extreme weather conditions.
Heavy penalties apply for anyone lighting a campfire on a Total Fire Ban day.
Many people try to put out campfires incorrectly with soil, or not enough water to extinguish them completely.
Fires that haven’t been properly extinguished can smoulder under soil for days and reignite in the right conditions – if it is cool to touch, it is safe to leave.
Forest Fire Management chief fire officer Chris Hardman said that even if a Total Fire Ban has not been declared, the organisation encourages campers to consider the need for a campfire on a hot or windy day.
“If you are building a campfire, make sure you know how to build a safe one, don’t leave it unattended while it is alight and that you put it out with water. If the ashes are cool to touch – it’s safe to leave. It only takes one stray ember to cause a destructive fire,” Mr Hardman said.
To ensure that campfires are safe, always check fire restrictions using the VicEmergency app, plan ahead and consider alternative cooking methods – such as a butane cooktop – and use a purpose-built fireplace or dig a trench at least 30cm deep.
In national parks, fires can only be lit in purpose-built fireplaces unless marked, otherwise the campfire must not exceed one square metre, and three metres above and around your fire must be clear of flammable material.
Branches and logs on your campfire must be no longer than one metre.
Never leave a campfire unattended – an adult must always stay within a 50-metre line of sight.
Campfires must be extinguished with at least 10 litres of water every time you leave the site.
All rubbish must be taken home with you, not burned.
People who breach campfire regulations on public land face a maximum penalty of $19,759 if the matter is prosecuted in court.
The maximum penalty for lighting or maintaining a fire during a Total Fire Ban day is $47,421.60 and/or two years in jail.
Report unattended campfires to DEECA at 136 186 or call 000 to report a bushfire.
More information on campfire guidelines can be found on the state government’s website.
Details: vic.gov.au/campfires-stoves-and-bbqs
