With temperatures rising across the country, the risk of bushfire is something that all travellers need to be aware of … and to be careful that they aren’t inadvertently responsible for.
In Tasmania, restrictions on campfires, pot fires and other solid fuel stoves start today in some of the state’s Parks and Wildlife Service campgrounds.
The seasonal campfire restrictions will apply to all national parks and reserves in the local government areas of: King Island; Flinders; Dorset; Break O’Day; Glamorgan-Spring Bay (including Maria Island); and Sorell.
They also apply to Narawntapu National Park.
Gas stoves and gas barbecues will still be permitted.
Campfire restrictions have been imposed in many Tasmanian national parks. PIC: Tasmania PWS
The Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) says that bans include the use of pot fires as sparks, embers and the disposal of ash from these can cause bushfires.
PWS State Fire Manager, Katy Edwards, said the seasonal campfire bans are put in place to help protect visitors, communities and important cultural and natural values of the state’s parks and reserves.
“Our priority is community and visitor safety and preventing bushfires from starting …. eliminating abandoned, escaped or poorly constructed campfires is part of our community and visitor safety strategy,” she said. “We want to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable camping experience and appreciate assistance from visitors and the community in complying with fire restrictions.”
Last year there were 285 reports of unattended or illegal campfires on PWS managed land.
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We have an occasional campfire, it’s not a major part of our travels.
A lot of popular free camps have no firewood left, its all been burnt.
Camp fires have (and will remain) hugely important to us. We come from a bushwalking background where communal cooking on the fire and keeping warm, socialising around it really enhances a camping trip. We usually bush camp on our travels now, and collecting firewood during setup is all part of it. We always have a small cooking fire, in a bare area, use a minimum amount of wood carefully sourced as regards habitat and always obey fire bans. No enormous, unnecessary bonfires for us. The next morning, hubby does a splendid job of removing all traces of the fire. He either digs a pit and buries it, disperses ashes (cold, of course!), any remaining timber is dispersed also. We just hope we can continue our practice; we do many remote trips, and this is always a favourite part of our day.