Amid the current bushfire emergency and increased fire risk across the coming days, authorities are warning that caution around campfires will be critical over the long weekend.
Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic), CFA, the Conservation Regulator, and Parks Victoria are urging campers to be aware of rules around campfire safety, to avoid their campfires starting bushfires, threatening life and property and place additional pressure on emergency services.
Since the start of this summer, FFMVic firefighters and CFA have responded to over 230 fires that were started by campfires across forests, national parks and private property.
This public holiday is among the highest-risk dates on the calendar for campfire issues, as reports of unsafe campfires spike when thousands of Victorians take camping trips over the long weekend.
Chief Fire Officer, Forest Fire Management Victoria Chris Hardman said, “Given the current bushfire situation, we don’t want to add any bushfires into the landscape.”
“People need to think carefully about whether a campfire is absolutely necessary and if a campfire is lit, it must be completely out before leaving. Under no circumstances should one be lit – or kept alight – on a Total Fire Ban day,” Mr Hardman said.
Across last year’s Australia Day long weekend, there were 52 campfire offences detected including 33 unattended campfires across Victoria’s national parks and State forests.
Every unsafe campfire has the potential to cause a bushfire and have catastrophic consequences.
Before lighting a campfire, campers must check whether a Total Fire Ban has been declared via the VicEmergency app or website.
Campers must extinguish their campfire before leaving a campsite, using water not soil. If a fire is not properly extinguished, it can smoulder under soil for days and reignite.
FFMVic, Conservation Regulator and Parks Victoria Officers will patrol campsites in parks and State forests over the long weekend to educate campers and enforce campfire safety rules.
Chief Conservation Regulator Cal Heppell said, “Our authorised officers will be out in parks and forests this weekend to help ensure campers follow the campfire safety rules.”
“Anyone who lights a campfire is legally responsible for ensuring that it is safe and is completely extinguished before they leave.”
Officers will also continue to raise awareness about recent changes to Victoria’s campfire safety rules, which now prohibit digging a trench to construct a campfire.
In national parks, campfires are only permitted in fireplaces provided. In state forests, campfires can also be lit in portable firepits.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said, “If you are planning outdoor cooking such as a BBQ this weekend, please make sure you do so safely, with plenty of water on hand and that wind speeds are low.”
“Check it is in good working order, never leave it unattended, and continue to monitor the VicEmergency App for your local conditions and restrictions”, Mr Heffernan said.
Report unattended campfires on 136 186 or call 000 to report a bushfire. For more on campfire safety rules go to: www.vic.gov.au/campfires-stoves-and-bbqs
