Bushfire season is upon Tasmania, despite our cooler and wetter spring.
With a warmer and drier January forecast, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) will implement a seasonal ban from 2am on Saturday 20 December.
Campfires, pot fires, and other solid-fuel stoves will be banned at higher-risk PWS campgrounds, as sparks, embers and disposal of ash from pot fires can provide anignition source.
Seasonal campfire bans will apply to all national parks and reserves in:
- Within the Dorset, Break O’Day and Glamorgan-Spring Bay municipalities
- Flinders Island and Maria Island
- Narawntapu National Park
- Tooms Lake and Snaky Creek Conservation Areas
Last year there were 310 reports of unattended or illegal campfires on PWS managed land. This included 45 that were unattended and still alight when found by PWS staff. These pose a serious risk of escape and causing a bushfire.
PWS State Fire Manager Katy Edwards said the seasonal campfire bans are put inplace to help protect visitors and communities, and to help protect important cultural and natural values of our parks and reserves.
“When conditions begin to dry, introducing a temporary campfire ban in higher risk parks helps us reduce the likelihood of accidental ignitions before it can escalate. Even a small, unattended campfire can trigger a major bushfire when conditions are right. Prevention is our strongest tool,” Ms Edwards said.
“We ask visitors to our campground to check our website to see whether a campfire ban is in place for their area. Rangers will be patrolling these spots across the summer months, and we ask for everyone’s cooperation to keep Tassie’s parks, people and communities safe.”
Gas stoves and gas barbecues remain permitted.
Fore more information on the seasonal campfire bans, visit the Campfires and fire bans webpage.
