This Grand Final Long Weekend is a great opportunity for Yarra Ranges locals to show off their ball skills at the MCG and campfire skills in our parks and forests.
The Conservation Regulator Victoria, CFA, Parks Victoria, and Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) are reminding campers about the importance of knowing the rules around campfire safety to protect fellow footy fans and the environment from the dangers of an escaped campfire.
Many people try to put out campfires incorrectly with soil, or not enough water to extinguish them completely. Fires that haven’t been properly extinguished can smoulder under soil for days and reignite in the right conditions.
Here are some tips to ensure campfires are safe:
Always check fire restrictions, including whether a Total Fire Ban is in place. Download the VicEmergency app or go to emv.vic.gov.au/.
Plan ahead and consider alternatives for cooking such as a portable butane cooktop.
Always follow the designated rules of your campsite. In national parks, fires can only be lit in purpose-built fireplaces unless marked otherwise.
The campfire must not exceed one square metre, and three metres above and around your fire must be clear of flammable material.
Branches and logs on your campfire must be no longer than one metre.
Don’t leave a campfire unattended. An adult must stay within a 50 metre line of sight.
Extinguish a campfire with at least 10 litres of water every time you leave the site.
All rubbish must be taken home with you, not burned.
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said “Anyone planning to have a campfire must check the weather conditions before they go camping. They need to know if a Total Fire Ban is in place and what they can and can’t do wherever they are going.”
