Parks Victoria issues campfire warning

As the summer camping season approaches, Parks Victoria has issued a timely reminder about the dangers of leaving campfires unattended.

With two unattended campfires recently discovered in Victoria's Lerderderg State Park, one of which had escaped into the surrounding pine plantation, the national parks authority is reminding campers that campfires can easily turn into bushfires if they're left unattended or not completely extinguished.

Parks Victoria Fire Operations Officer Tony Morris said when campers leave campfires unattended they're putting communities and forests at risk, breaking the law and diverting valuable resources.

"It is illegal at any time to leave a campfire unattended or leave a campfire without completely extinguishing it, and it's illegal to light or maintain a fire on a day of Total Fire Ban," says Morris.

People living in or visiting country areas should remember they're surrounded by dry bush and to pack campfire safety information with their camping or picnic equipment.

He said on days when fires are permitted, your campfire must be in a pit 30cm deep or a properly constructed fire place; no bigger than one square metre, and no closer than three metres from any grass, leaves, twigs, tree stumps or other fuel which could catch fire.

Other tips regarding campfire safety include:

• Take extra care on dry, windy days and check it's not a day of Total Fire Ban.
• Make your campfire just big enough for cooking and keeping warm.
• Never leave a campfire unattended and making sure an adult is present at all times.
• Put your fire out with water not soil, even if going for a short walk or swim - turn over the coals and carefully touch it to make sure it's cool. Don't attempt to put out your campfire by smothering it with dirt; it will continue to smoulder under the dirt.
• Remember "Cool to touch safe to leave".

More tips about bushfire safety are available here.