When is a fire ban not a fire ban?

Hi

As far as I am aware a Total Fire Ban means just that with the exception that you can use a gas stove.

In extreme conditions the authorities will add a statement that gas stoves and BBQs cannot be used.

Regarding Bendethera, it is a pity that a small number of campers choose to ignore the regulations of the National Park rangers. Their bad behaviour spoils it for everyone and only encourages the extreme greenies to continue to lobby to close access to National Parks.

The NP Rangers try to do the right thing and keep parks accessible for all interest groups but a very small number of 4wders and trail bikers seem to want to spoil it for everyone.

Bendethera is a glorious place but unfortunately a few idiots caused heaps of damage there a few summers ago. The NP authorities understandably got very upset. Continuing access was touch and go for a while, however the South East NSW and ACT 4wd clubs, and others, did a great deal of hard work and negotiated with the National Parks to keep the park open for our enjoyment.

Glad you liked Bendethera

Cheers
Phil

G'day mate,

spent the weekend at McIntyre Hut. I think the "Park Fire Ban" sign on Two Sticks Rd said "no solid fuel fires" so I just put the dutchie on the duel fuel stove instead, I don't carry gas. The wind really picked up as soon as I started cooking (around 1630) and I was explaining to the kids about the topography and the wind, and that one of the fires from that terrible time a few years ago actually started down there (albeit from a lightning strike.)

Despite any moderating conditions, the fire ban sign means just that. Anyone knowingly making a fire esp a big one, inside a "Park Fire Ban" needs to be brought back down to earth. There is nothing in their defence. Fuel moisture content does not disappear with cooler conditions and a small amount of rain.

onya, assume you observed the ban?

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Yep - no fire except Gas or fuel stoves. I know it can be confusing given that there is often parks provide campfire places and even timber, but these are for non-fire ban days.

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If there's a total fire ban, that means total - except if they provide an electric or gas BBQ.

They wouldn't want to get found out, and they certainly wouldn't want to start a wildfire - for their own safety and everyone else's.

Cheers
Andrew.

If the Fire Ban had been decreed in accordance with the relevant 'statutes' (NP & Country Fire etc) then that's THE LAW. Even though you state ' in their defence, the weather had cooled and there was also a small amount of rain to wet things down'. That sounds to me that you have almost excused them and their behaviour - despite your concerns !

It would seem that despite the sign(s) many campers chose to ignore them. Bit like motorists who ignore the speed limits, drive whilst exceeding 0.05% or hammer around the roads in unroadworthy and illegally modified vehicles. Why do they do it? There are some (on this forum) who reckon that it's no offence - unless you get caught. Beats me. Seems to be the way much of society is heading these days. Just don't give a *^$#@^%

I was camped at Lake Jasper (WA) and I was under the impression there was a total fire ban. Yet the Park Rangers were topping up the supplied fire wood for use in the provided fire places!

While I didn't have a fire it certainly seemed acceptable practice to have one and given the rangers were supplying the wood, other campers were doing just that. Certainly seems the rules are far from clear.

Cheers

Captain

As most of us carry Digital cameras just take a pic showing the fire and hopefully some people and a no plate then when one gets home E mail it to the parks Office.
The least they will do is to send a nasty note to the culprits.
Make sure the date is embeded into the pic.