Stark warning to Aussie campers over disastrous mistake after bushfire breaks out
A team of Victorian firefighters rushed to contain an out of control blaze started by a campfire yesterday.
Campers are being urgently warned not to ignore fire restrictions after authorities were forced to stop an out of control bushfire sparked by a campfire on Thursday afternoon.
Bushfires the size of Singapore are raging in Grampians National Park in Victoria, and authorities have issued fire restrictions in parts of the state as ideal weather conditions threaten to exacerbate the current situation.
Thursday's fire ripped through land situated east of Goornong, a rural town in central Victoria, and was luckily contained to one hectare thanks to a "strong first attack" by 14 firefighters who used a tanker and assistance from a firebombing aircraft.
"It's illegal to light or maintain a fire on a Total Fire Ban day and campers are responsible for being up to date with this information," Forest Fire Management Victoria said. "Just because you can have a campfire doesn’t mean you should. Be mindful of the weather on the ground, in particular the wind. If it is windy this increases the chances of a campfire escaping."
Police attended the scene and evacuated campers.
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Bushfire spanning 760,000 hectares in Victorian National Park
The bushfires in the Grampians National Park started from a lightning strike on December 17 and have been described as a "devastating fire event" by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, spanning more than 760,000 hectares. As of Monday there were 35 confirmed property losses.
While fire restrictions differ between locations and days, Victoria has seen some state-wide fire bans in recent weeks, with the Victorian Premier issuing a rather direct statement on social media on Boxing Day.
"Don't be a dickhead. No fires to be lit."
The message couldn't be clearer: today's a day of total fire ban across Victoria. Don't be a dickhead. No fires to be lit.
— Jacinta Allan (@JacintaAllanMP) December 25, 2024
If fires are permitted in an area, authorities urge campers to practice safe fire starting and ensure it is completely put out before moving on.
Safe campfire instructions, according to the Victorian government:
Check weather conditions and Fire Danger ratings, found here.
Set up the campfire safety by using a purpose-built fireplace or dig a hole at least 30 centimetres deep.
Keep campfires small and separated — ensuring at least a three-metre perimeter around the fire.
Nominate a 'watcher' and never leave a campfire unattended.
Heading out? Put it out. Always ensure a campfire is completely extinguished and use water, not soil, to put it out.
"Before you leave your campfire make sure you put it out using water, not soil. If it's cool to touch, it's safe to leave," Forest Fire Management Victoria said.
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