HOLIDAYMAKERS have been warned of extra compliance patrols across the North East to crack down on people lighting campfires on total fire ban days.
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The step by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries follows the detection of 45 campfires near Mansfield when fires were banned last Monday.
Concern about such high numbers of people breaking the law has prompted the Hume region-wide patrols both yesterday and today.
A temperature of 40 degrees has been forecast for Albury-Wodonga today.
NSW Rural Fire Service Southern Border Team manager Patrick Westwood said campers must ensure fires were fully extinguished.
“And of course campfires are not allowed on total fire ban days,” he said.
New laws have also been introduced in NSW national parks to make these no-smoking areas.
These came into effect on Thursday.
The ban applies to picnic areas, camping grounds, accommodation, beaches, lookouts, walking tracks and national park roads.
The department’s Goulburn district manager Lucas Russell said campfire safety messages “were falling on deaf years”.
Mr Russell said six of the 45 campfires found on Monday had been left unattended.
“Many forest fires in our district are caused by people, and every year our firefighters are called out to fires started as a result of ignorance, stupidity and irresponsible behaviour,” he said.
“DEPI, Parks Victoria and Victoria Police are trying to reduce the incidence of these fires through increasing public awareness and by boosting compliance operations in the region.”
Mr Russell said there were thousands upon thousands of campers in and around the Murray and Goulburn rivers at this time of the year.
“The volume of visitors in these high risk areas is of most concern,” he said.
“Campers need to be proactive and seek information while they are having fun camping.”
Mr Russell said being away from home and in remote areas was not an excuse for ignorance.
“Campers must make the effort to know the fire danger ratings, check for total fire bans and ensure they know how to safely construct and light a campfire,” he said.
“Campfires are not allowed on a day of total fire ban and must be attended by an adult at all times when going.
“Campfires must be put out before leaving the area using water, not soil, as fires can still smoulder under soil.”
Mr Russell said a camp site was safe to leave if the area where a fire had been put out was cool to touch.
“It only takes one unattended campfire to go bush,” he said.
