Campfire caution urged this 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.

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 website and app

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.

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.

Report unattended campfires on 136 186 or call 000 to report a bushfire. For more on campfire safety rules go to: vic.gov.au/campfires-stoves-and-bbqs

Quotes attributable to Chris Hardman, Chief Fire Officer, Forest Fire Management Victoria:

"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.”

Quotes attributable to CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan:

"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”.

Quotes attributable to Cal Heppell, Acting Chief Conservation Regulator

"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.”

Quotes attributable to Chris Mercier, Manager, Enforcement Capability, Parks Victoria:

"Victoria’s natural spaces are there for everyone to enjoy, but unsafe campfires can cause catastrophic damage. One person ignoring the rules can put entire communities and the environment in danger."