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.