Camper who caused bushfire by burning soiled toilet paper faces court
A CAMPER who set fire to her soiled toilet paper which burned an acre of farmland and damaged property has been sentenced for causing a bushfire.
Melissa Jane Carmody, 34, of Ceduna, had pleaded guilty to causing a bushfire at Calca, near the Great Australian Bight, in December last year.
In sentencing, District Court Judge Simon Stretton said he imagined the used toilet paper would have been quite smelly and he could understand why Carmody burnt it to get rid of it.
He said Carmody had been camping at a rock formation called Murphys Haystacks on her way to Streaky Bay when another person asked if she was OK.
That prompted you to be aware of the rubbish that had been building up around your car and it is not disputed that you decided to burn that rubbish to get rid of it, he said.
I imagine that a pile of used toilet paper would have been quite smelly and I can imagine how you might have thought you should burn it to get rid of it.
Judge Stretton said Carmody had not been aware there was a toilet near her camping place.
It was quiet and isolated and in your words you were vegging out, he said.
You were not aware that there was a toilet nearby and indeed you therefore went to the toilet near your car and as a result over time amassed a pile of toilet paper and some other material by way of rubbish.
Judge Stretton said Carmody should have realised she was right in the middle of bushfire season and there was an obvious risk to burn the paper.
I do take into account this is an unusual situation in that you did not intend to cause a bushfire and that you burnt soiled toilet paper in a situation where you thought that was something that you ought to do, he said.
Judge Stretton said Carmody, who works as a chef, had agreed to pay $300 compensation for the fire.
He sentenced Carmody to two months jail but suspended that upon her entering a one-year good behaviour bond.
He said that if the fire had been deliberately lit, rather than recklessly lit, he would have sentenced her to a number of years in jail.
spring and summer in Australia is ALWAYS high fire danger.
jules47 said
07:21 PM Nov 8, 2014
Must have been living in a bit of squalor - who just piles their toilet paper (used) next to their car - what about flies, smells etc. yuk!
Just reading your blog HW - having a good look around - good onya!!!!
Happywanderer said
07:30 PM Nov 8, 2014
Yeh, she could have burnt down the haystacks Jules. lol
Certainly a lot to see in SA, could be another month.
jules47 said
09:43 PM Nov 8, 2014
Heaps to see for sure - we are going to do that Peninsula as a separate trip - sometime! Ha, ha, ha!!!!!
Vic41 said
12:38 AM Nov 9, 2014
Must remember not to eat at any restaurant she's the chef at....
GaryKelly said
07:00 AM Nov 9, 2014
There's an irony there. She gets a fine and bond for burning her toilet paper and rubbish (in a stupid attempt to dispose of it) while other people allow it to catch the wind and litter the place and never see the inside of a court.
scooner said
06:23 AM Nov 10, 2014
don't forget the Gawler Ranges is nice too jules47 ,regards to above just think if she had a full brain scary
jules47 said
08:19 AM Nov 10, 2014
Yes scooner -will most likely incorporate that area as well - not sure when, but it will happen!
dorian said
12:30 PM Nov 10, 2014
Let's say that you are someone who doesn't like to do their business in the bush, and prefer to use the toilet in your van or motorhome. What is the capacity of a typical toilet cassette in terms of man-days of poo and urine? How many cassettes would you fill during one week of remote freecamping?
KFT said
12:36 PM Nov 10, 2014
G'day Dorian
you do think about some strange things at times. But I like an enquiring mind.
My cassette is 17 litres and with normal use will give us about 3-4 days before the "light" comes on.
If we only use it at night because there are toilets nearby we can get 7 days use before the light comes on.
some people I know do carry a spare cassette. We don't have room for one. I have a shovel for those times when we need to empty and no dump point is accessible.
Camper who caused bushfire by burning soiled toilet paper faces court
A CAMPER who set fire to her soiled toilet paper which burned an acre of farmland and damaged property has been sentenced for causing a bushfire.
Melissa Jane Carmody, 34, of Ceduna, had pleaded guilty to causing a bushfire at Calca, near the Great Australian Bight, in December last year.
In sentencing, District Court Judge Simon Stretton said he imagined the used toilet paper would have been quite smelly and he could understand why Carmody burnt it to get rid of it.
He said Carmody had been camping at a rock formation called Murphys Haystacks on her way to Streaky Bay when another person asked if she was OK.
That prompted you to be aware of the rubbish that had been building up around your car and it is not disputed that you decided to burn that rubbish to get rid of it, he said.
I imagine that a pile of used toilet paper would have been quite smelly and I can imagine how you might have thought you should burn it to get rid of it.
Judge Stretton said Carmody had not been aware there was a toilet near her camping place.
It was quiet and isolated and in your words you were vegging out, he said.
You were not aware that there was a toilet nearby and indeed you therefore went to the toilet near your car and as a result over time amassed a pile of toilet paper and some other material by way of rubbish.
Judge Stretton said Carmody should have realised she was right in the middle of bushfire season and there was an obvious risk to burn the paper.
I do take into account this is an unusual situation in that you did not intend to cause a bushfire and that you burnt soiled toilet paper in a situation where you thought that was something that you ought to do, he said.
Judge Stretton said Carmody, who works as a chef, had agreed to pay $300 compensation for the fire.
He sentenced Carmody to two months jail but suspended that upon her entering a one-year good behaviour bond.
He said that if the fire had been deliberately lit, rather than recklessly lit, he would have sentenced her to a number of years in jail.
Originally published as Bush squatter slugged for torching loo paperspring and summer in Australia is ALWAYS high fire danger.
Just reading your blog HW - having a good look around - good onya!!!!
Certainly a lot to see in SA, could be another month.
Must remember not to eat at any restaurant she's the chef at....
you do think about some strange things at times. But I like an enquiring mind.
My cassette is 17 litres and with normal use will give us about 3-4 days before the "light" comes on.
If we only use it at night because there are toilets nearby we can get 7 days use before the light comes on.
some people I know do carry a spare cassette. We don't have room for one. I have a shovel for those times when we need to empty and no dump point is accessible.
frank