SA Country Fire Service

Media release

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CFS urges campfire caution over Easter

23/03/2016

SA Country Fire Service (CFS) is urging Easter holiday makers to be cautious when lighting campfires.

Despite recent cool weather, rules of the fire danger season still apply, and for much of the state this will continue until the end of April.

CFS State Coordinator Yvette Dowling said campfires can be a source of damaging fires.

"With mild temperatures and some rain forecast for the Easter long weekend it's easy to become complacent about lighting a campfire, but we are still within the fire danger season, so precautions need to be taken," Ms Dowling said.

"People should check the fire danger rating for each day and if there is a Total Fire Ban, no campfires can be lit."

Campfires are banned in all national parks and forestry reserves throughout the fire danger season.

If there are no Total Fire Bans in place and you are outside a national park or forestry reserve, a campfire may be permitted, provided:

- It is in a properly constructed fireplace; or
- It is in a portable cooking appliance; or
- The fire is in a 30cm deep trench and no more than one metre square in area; and
- You have a four metre cleared space around and above the fire
- A responsible person is in attendance at all times
- An adequate agent to extinguish the fire is at hand.

"Remember that generators can emit sparks which could go unnoticed or start a fire so ensure you have a four metre gap around them and tools nearby to put a fire out should it start," Ms Dowling said.

"Campers should be bushfire smart when spending time outdoors during the fire danger season."

"Campsites are often off the beaten track where there is little shelter from bushfires. It is important for people camping have alternative exit routes from their campsite and access to a transistor radio so they can check the latest information in the event of a fire nearby."

For more information on outdoor recreational fire safety visit the CFS website at www.cfs.sa.gov.au.

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Media information
For media enquiries call the CFS Media Line on 08 8115 3531.

Government of South Australia