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Firefighters have issued a warning to residents and visitors after multiple unattended campfire were found in North East Victoria.
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From Friday November 12 to Sunday, 12 campfires were found unattended.
Forest Fire Management Victoria firefighters responded to 30 bushfires in North East Victoria caused by illegal campfires in the last 12 months and warned campfire negligence causes about 10 per cent of all Victorian bushfires.
Campfires must not be ignited on Total Fire Ban days and must be extinguished with water, not soil.
Campers must be a purpose-built fireplace if provided or a 30-cm deep trench.
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On-the-spot fines of $496 can be issued to people breaching campfire safety rules and the maximum penalty for lighting a fire during a Total Fire Ban is $39,652, two years in jail or both.
FFMVic Hume Deputy Chief Fire Officer Aaron Kennedy said officers would be patrolling campgrounds.
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"We want people to get out there and enjoy themselves but to make campfire safety a priority for their trip by knowing what they can and can't do," he said.
"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.
"Ignorance is not an excuse when it comes to lighting fires on days of Total Fire Ban. Everyone needs to take responsibility to keep the community safe from bushfires."