This year I *will* report you to police

Mike Harding · Guru

This year I *will* report you to police

woolman · Guru

Totally agree Neil

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Well done Mike, I also agree 100%.

Not only all of what you said but what gets under my skin is the ones that start the camp fire next to the water and just leave all the left over rubbish to go in the water to pollute it. I have seen in a few places and at Greens Lake, Nth Central VIC.

The other thing that gets me is the ones that insist on having said fires on stinking hot days and total fire ban days. IDIOTS!

I was in the Ash Wednesday and Black Saturday fires and if these idiots saw what I saw they might think twice but then again they ARE IDIOTS so might not even care.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there (Including with fire)

Whenarewethere · Guru

In WA earlier this year we told someone that it is a permanent total fire ban in the park & you have to use a fuel stove.

They said they only needed to cook their meal!

After they left we spent half an hour dismantling the fire so it looked like no fire existed. Later walking around the camping area we saw at least 3 recent fires & spare collected wood.

Apart from permanently no fires, the area was so dry, people just seem to be so self interested.

We told the NP & they seemed surprised that people were making fires in the park.

Don't get me onto extremely excessive use of limited tank water to wash a few utensils!

iana · Guru

Dougwe, you say you were in the Ash Wednesday fires, where were you. I was at Coonawarra, The Comaum forest, near Penola. An Interesting day.

When I was a teenager, a group of us used to go hunting deer in the NZ rangers. This particular trip we had me, an Irishman, a German and an Aussie (this is not a joke! OK!). Well in the bush where we were camped, the Aussie got out his cigarette lighter and touched it to what we call a Pungga tree, a big fern or palm tree with lots of dry dead hanging fronds. This tree went up like a bomb! and I always wondered why an Aussie would do that when they should be fire conscious. We never lit fires, except for once when we cooked a piglet on a camp oven.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Ten years past we lost 173 people to bushfire in Victoria and if people have not learned from that then they need a courtroom to teach them.

Not to forget on top of the 173, is the 388 who died above & beyond normal deaths in the follow week due to heat stress & smoke issues. These people are always get forgotten about. This Victorian fire's actual casualty is 561 people.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Shouldnt light fires in the first place in these dry times. Unless its a wet area in Vic ? In any case CLEAN up after yourself!! Ok I have left good burnt wood . But Ive cleaned up the charcoal, either bagged it or buried it . Think of others . Btw it reflects on ALL campers !! Why the 1% stuff things for the rest !!

Plain Truth · Guru

Mike, most of parks that have drop toilets there is a Vic.Park sign on the back of the door about fires.

There is a phone number you can ring reporting unattended fires to the Rangers.

A lot of the places we go don't have phone reception.

RichardK · Senior Member

Hi Iana,

A coincidence, my wife worked in the Woods and Forests in Comaum and lived on her Dads farm (Sunnydale) at Glenroy, between Penola and Narracorte. We visit the area on our 6 monthly trips East except for this year, too risky for bush fires and heat!

Should have added that last year due to the dryness and heat we did not have any camp fires and if there is any sign of danger we would not have a fire, we also see many instances of carelessness where camp fires during hot days are either not used for cooking or left burning overnight or after campers have left.

Unfortunately in today's world it is dangerous to have words with anyone about this, better to quietly put it out when they are gone.

Cheers

RichardK

-- Edited by RichardK on Monday 25th of November 2019 01:25:34 PM

Tony Bev · Guru

I also agree with Mike, to "dob the buggers in"

I know that dobbing in is un-Australian
But...

I have burns due to an industrial accident, through no fault of my own
I would not wish, what I went through, onto my worst enemy

I only travel in the warmer months, or to the warmer areas in winter time
I do speak up, when I see others light an open fire, in hot and windy conditions

I can not get over, why other states do not have a total fire ban, during the summer months, like we do in Western Australia

We have signs in the state parks, and along the roadways, saying what the dates are, so you can not use the excuse of, "I did not know"

In 2018 the penalty for lighting fires, in Western Australia went up to, $1,000 for first offence, and $25,000 and/or 12 months jail, for repeat offenders

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Common sense is not common . In some cases the authorities rely
On fines . Rather than education. Tell that to the people whove lost loved ones or homes !!

Dougwe · Chief one feather

iana wrote:
Dougwe, you say you were in the Ash Wednesday fires, where were you. I was at Coonawarra, The Comaum forest, near Penola. An Interesting day.

When I was a teenager, a group of us used to go hunting deer in the NZ rangers. This particular trip we had me, an Irishman, a German and an Aussie (this is not a joke! OK!). Well in the bush where we were camped, the Aussie got out his cigarette lighter and touched it to what we call a Pungga tree, a big fern or palm tree with lots of dry dead hanging fronds. This tree went up like a bomb! and I always wondered why an Aussie would do that when they should be fire conscious. We never lit fires, except for once when we cooked a piglet on a camp oven.

G'day Ian,

I started out in Beaconsfield Upper then ended up in Co ckatoo. Both VIC.

i was in East Gippsland during Black Saturday.

JeffRae · Guru

Lived in Belgrave at the time, it was eerie in Co ckatoo, after the fires

Baz421 · Guru

Rangers and CFA in Vic came to Grampians and put out fires with fire truck,,, warned most people of a $360 fine ( I think that was the figure) same people had again left fires the next day unattended, still warnings.

Good of them to do this job but fines need to be handed out IMHO.

Gaylehere · Guru

Dougwe and Iana, are you talking about the Ash Wednesday fires of the 1980's or the earlier ones in the 1950's? In the 1950's one my husband lived in the Adelaide hills and his parent's farm house was scorched and he can tell you a few stories. During the 1980's Ash Wednesday fires we lived at Millicent in SA and you could see the fire going through the pine plantation from the main street. The next town over from us, Mt. Burr, was evacuated though saved. These were tense times both in Victoria and SA. So much damage, so many lives lost.

By the by, we don't have camp fires when out and about. Not our thing.

-- Edited by Gaylehere on Tuesday 26th of November 2019 12:12:06 AM

iana · Guru

The 80's, the fires went through Tarpena and Nangwarri. the Comaum forest was missed lucky for us.

Eaglemax · Guru

The old restraint of robbing should be scrapped. Donning is being a good Australian imo Ive been a registered EPA Vic online member for 15 years or mire. Few years ago two young guys in Bendigo in total fire ban day were smoking and both threw there lit butts out the window. Reported them, driver got 2x$200 fines. So Mike I agree but be discreet, take rego if those that light fires on hot dry days and appear irresponsible. Report it and let those that earn danger money deal with it

Mike Harding · Guru

Eaglemax: I haven't seen anyone light a fire on TFB days and I would ask them to put it out if I did.

The major problem is people not extinguishing fires and, last year, I didn't discover they had not utill after they had left by which time it's too late to get their registration. So this year I'll casually photograph or video campsites ensuring I get the car reg. and then, if a fire is left, video again and take both videos to the police/CFA who, I suspect, will at least issue a warning and hopefully a fine.

People need to realise that even in the bush someone may be watching and keeping note and leaving a fire alight is a very, very bad thing to do.

Mariner30 · Senior Member

Whenarewethere wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
Ten years past we lost 173 people to bushfire in Victoria and if people have not learned from that then they need a courtroom to teach them.
Not to forget on top of the 173, is the 388 who died above & beyond normal deaths in the follow week due to heat stress & smoke issues. These people are always get forgotten about. This Victorian fire's actual casualty is 561 people.

Is there a link somewhere to read about about those numbers?

I was a CFA volunteer at the time, near where the fires started and hadn't heard of such high numbers due to smoke /heat issues previously,

Also which week?

The Black Saturday fires burnt for months afterwards, towards remote areas

Whenarewethere · Guru

Sorry it was 374 deaths.

I remember the extensive discussion on ABC Radio National. A major factor is when night time temperatures do not reduce far enough & people with health issues are not getting good quality rest.

https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/environmental-health/climate-weather-and-public-health/heatwaves-and-extreme-heat/heatwave-research

'In January 2009, the Chief Health Officer reported that there were an estimated 374 excess deaths in Victoria during the heatwave.'

'In January 2014, the Chief Health Officer reported that there were an estimated 167 excess deaths in Victoria during the heatwave.'

Sarge9 · Senior Member

Yesterday was a day of TFB in my area, 9.30 last night got called out for a fire....we had to search a bit but found in the end, some knob head in the bush is having a camp fire, 5 trucks, 20 blokes, all volunteers.... these knobs should be made to pay the equivalent of costs and wages PLUS the $2000 fine. (that money could then be put to good use). Said Knob Head was not in a camping area or along a river, just in the scrub, perhaps living rough, but no excuse.

Mariner30 · Senior Member

Whenarewethere wrote:
Sorry it was 374 deaths.
I remember the extensive discussion on ABC Radio National. A major factor is when night time temperatures do not reduce far enough & people with health issues are not getting good quality rest.
https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/environmental-health/climate-weather-and-public-health/heatwaves-and-extreme-heat/heatwave-research
'In January 2009, the Chief Health Officer reported that there were an estimated 374 excess deaths in Victoria during the heatwave.'
'In January 2014, the Chief Health Officer reported that there were an estimated 167 excess deaths in Victoria during the heatwave.'

Sorry, not trying to be pedantic but one of those dates is either a typo, wrong or from another event,

Black Saturday fires started on Saturday 7th Feb, ( the day after my fathers birthday, which we did not attend due to the high fire risk ,)

not in January 2009

montie · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
iana wrote:
Dougwe, you say you were in the Ash Wednesday fires, where were you. I was at Coonawarra, The Comaum forest, near Penola. An Interesting day.

When I was a teenager, a group of us used to go hunting deer in the NZ rangers. This particular trip we had me, an Irishman, a German and an Aussie (this is not a joke! OK!). Well in the bush where we were camped, the Aussie got out his cigarette lighter and touched it to what we call a Pungga tree, a big fern or palm tree with lots of dry dead hanging fronds. This tree went up like a bomb! and I always wondered why an Aussie would do that when they should be fire conscious. We never lit fires, except for once when we cooked a piglet on a camp oven.

G'day Ian,
I started out in Beaconsfield Upper then ended up in Co ckatoo. Both VIC.
i was in East Gippsland during Black Saturday.

The Pine Grove hotel in Upper Beacy burnt to the ground in the Ash Wednesday fires. Not happy! That was my favourite watering hole at the time!

I lived on Mt Misery at the back of the Cardinia Park Hotel in those days, houses destroyed all around me but my place in Cooinda Rd survived.

That was one scary wednesday!

Whenarewethere · Guru

Mariner30 · Senior Member

Thanks for that,
Interesting reading,
As would be the following report

dieseltojo · Senior Member

Just a different tack here. Every one ought to be on board to stop fires getting started.

I reckon before you make yourself the camp commander be careful that you don't invade the privacy of another camper. Taking pics of others and say some one comes out not properly dressed or goes into the bush for another reason may be misconstrued as stalking. I don't like a stranger taking pic of children for example. Some folk are not averse to a stranger taking pics of their wife....dunno why? smile

I get you drift but I might look out for a problem with out getting too uptight about it. I am certainly not knocking your sentiments....Just saying the coin has two sides. smile

Eaglemax · Guru

dieseltojo wrote:
Just a different tack here. Every one ought to be on board to stop fires getting started.

I reckon before you make yourself the camp commander be careful that you don't invade the privacy of another camper. Taking pics of others and say some one comes out not properly dressed or goes into the bush for another reason may be misconstrued as stalking. I don't like a stranger taking pic of children for example. Some folk are not averse to a stranger taking pics of their wife....dunno why?
I get you drift but I might look out for a problem with out getting too uptight about it. I am certainly not knocking your sentiments....Just saying the coin has two sides.

Yeh, Tojo put it better than I. A good example- I spent 12 years with Victoria CFA as a volunteer, we live in a regional small town of 250 people. We dont listen to the radio nor buy the paper. The closest we get to news is google news or TV in the evening. So when a total fire ban comes the previous day I usually see it on my willy weather. One day I forgot to look. 9am the next day I slept in while my wife mowed the lawn on our ride on. The local chief drove by and gave her a spray "it's Total fire ban"!!

So, she was in the wrong. I call it the benefit of the doubt as we are all human. A gentle chat might reveal some innocence but of course many are jsut selfish.

Tony

Craig1 · Guru

One other thing that could well come to Victoria. In NSW there is a total fire ban all summer in any State Forest, not sure about national parks. I think brought about by careless, thoughtless people that the OP refers to.

Moose2 · Senior Member

Agree with your comments/sentiments but it will not be me you report Mike. Live on the land so well aware of how dangerous fires can be. Very wary...always wait for favourable conditions before any burning on my place. Been on edge last few months with fires all around us but thankfully we have so far not been directly affected.

Mike Harding · Guru

dieseltojo wrote:
I reckon before you make yourself the camp commander be careful that you don't invade the privacy of another camper. Taking pics of others and say some one comes out not properly dressed or goes into the bush for another reason may be misconstrued as stalking. I don't like a stranger taking pic of children for example. Some folk are not averse to a stranger taking pics of their wife....dunno why?
I get you drift but I might look out for a problem with out getting too uptight about it. I am certainly not knocking your sentiments....Just saying the coin has two sides.

And upon both sides of that coin is written "Put your bloody fire out!"

I'm not interested in photographing people only car registration plates and enough background to give location in order to prevent them denying they were there but, fyi, you have no right *not* to be photographed in a public place in Victoria (Australia?); children in a playground, topless women on the beach, all may be legally photographed or videoed. However with the 36x optical zoom and Zeiss lens on my camera this should not be an issue.

As for your "camp commander" crack: in order to create change and stop bad or silly people doing bad things *someone* has to come out from behind his keyboard and actually *do* something, stand up and be counted if you like - my friend, you may write all the forum posts you wish but not one of them will make a jot of difference to these idiots - a police warning or an appearance in court probably will.

Tomorrow I wander into the bush again; east Gippsland, way out in the forest and am looking forward to leaving the city and internet far behind :)

So unless you would like to be on candid camera... put your bloody fire out! It's not hard to do.