Victoria’s fire and land management agencies are urging campers and holidaymakers to prioritise campfire safety ahead of the upcoming long weekend.
Since July 1, 2024, Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) and Country Fire Authority (CFA) have responded to almost 250 incidents involving campfires, including a bushfire that burnt through 14 hectares of land, left around 100 campers stranded and forced dozens more to evacuate a popular Cape Otway camp site in January.
FFMVic chief fire officer Chris Hardman urged people to be careful when it comes to campfires, as gusty winds can easily carry embers from a campfire into the bush, posing a serious fire risk.
“Campfires that escape are a big problem in Victoria. Always fully extinguish campfires with water, not soil and make sure it’s cool to touch before leaving,” Mr Hardman said.
“We want people to enjoy the bush safely. By knowing and following the rules for building and maintaining campfires, we can help keep the bush healthy and safe for everyone.”
Parks Victoria executive director operations Kylie Trott said campfires are only allowed in dedicated fireplaces in most parks in Victoria.
“Not all parks or campgrounds allow campfires. There are some limited areas where campfires are permitted outside of constructed fireplaces, but you need to check before you go,” Ms Trott said.
“Remember to always have someone in attendance while a campfire is going and properly extinguish the fire with water before you leave. The consequences can be devastating if you don’t.”
Chief conservation regulator Kate Gavens said given the extreme fire hazard posed by unattended campfires, the Conservation Regulator takes a zero-tolerance approach to those found breaking the law when it comes to campfire safety.
“Unattended and unsafe campfires can result in devastating consequences – the risk is real, and all campers have a responsibility to know and abide by campfire rules,” Ms Gavens said.
“It just takes one ember to cause a destructive bushfire, and this is why there are significant fines for those who leave campfires unattended.
“Our forest and wildlife officers will be out over the weekend to remind campers about the importance of campfire safety.”
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan reminded campers it is their responsibility to check if the area they’re visiting is under a Total Fire Ban.
“It was concerning to see several illegal campfires, including a bonfire, during the recent Total Fire Bans on February 22 and 23,” Mr Heffernan said.
“This kind of activity increases risk for our forests, communities, and our firefighters.”
Before hitting the road, people should download the VicEmergency app and be familiar with local campfire regulations and safety measures to help protect the environment and local communities, learn more here.
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 day of Total Fire Ban is $47,421.60 and/or 2 years in jail.
Report unattended campfires to 136 186 or call 000 to report a bushfire.
