With no campfire skills, Aussies are playing with fire

Who doesn’t enjoy Barbie or gathering around the warmth of an open fire, right?

But considering one in 10 bushfires are caused by campfire negligence, it seems many of us are worryingly ignorant about the basic rules involved.

Almost three-quarters of Australians do not feel safe about bushfire safety requirements, according to research commissioned by camping equipment company ArcMate.

These discordant statistics are causing unrest in a country wracked by fires and heading towards a hot, dry summer, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s forecasts.

Last week, the bushfires that ravaged Western Australia claimed the life of a volunteer firefighter; This was the second fire in the state in the past month.

Arson is not suspected as the cause of this deadly fire, meaning negligence is high on the list of possibilities.

The fire that destroyed 19 houses in Tasmania last week was sparked by the re-ignition of a fire that could not be extinguished in a controlled manner before.

The costly accident prompted a timely warning from Tasmania Fireblaze Service deputy chief Matt Lowe.

He said anyone making a burn or using a campfire should extinguish it properly.

“You never cover it with sand. You have to cool it with water, rake the coals, and watch until it’s completely extinguished.”

Heatwave conditions are currently affecting large parts of the country, triggering warnings about the need to think carefully about how and when it is safe to play matches outdoors.

But ArcMate research has found that the biggest challenge one in three people face when camping is finding a safe, legal place to start a fire.

“Australians recognize that bushfires are a serious risk but… they don’t feel safe about the rules of thumb that apply when they’re not camping,” says company co-founder Cassandra Kirkland.

“Fire regulations are not consistent across the country; they change by state, region, and sometimes even from week to week depending on weather and conditions, and it can be very difficult to keep up.”

Authorities across Australia have also voiced this concern, warning that rules around campfires vary significantly between states, parks and local government areas and can change rapidly as conditions worsen.

Complete fire-free days may ban all open flames in some areas, while in others limited use of gas appliances or only designated fireplaces is allowed.

In Victoria, campfires are completely banned on fire-free days and are strictly regulated during the fire danger period, with strict rules on wind speed, fire size, inspections and permits.

In NSW, blanket fire bans apply in fire risk areas and even solid fuel barbecues may be banned.

Tasmania and South Australia impose seasonal or park-specific bans, while Western Australia’s rules vary by campsite and regional burning periods.

Ms. Kirkland says the lack of consistency contributes to confusion rather than complacency.

“This level of uncertainty is concerning, especially as we move into hotter, drier summers where the margin for error is incredibly small,” he says.

ArcMate research found that behaviors are already changing, with nearly 10 percent of survey respondents canceling or changing camping plans due to fire risk, and a similar proportion choosing to avoid campfires altogether.

“With people canceling trips or opting to skip campfires, it shows that Australians are becoming more aware of fire risk and taking conditions seriously,” Ms Kirkland says.

Authorities have long warned that most wildfires are caused by human activity rather than lightning, especially outside periods of intense storms.

Unattended campfires, poorly extinguished embers, and fires lit on inappropriate days remain a persistent source of preventable fires.

“Campfires are responsible for around one in 10 bushfires, and in our experience it’s rarely about carelessness; it’s often about people doing the best they can without fully understanding the rules or understanding how quickly conditions can change,” Ms Kirkland says.

According to state fire departments, some of the most common mistakes include not checking local restrictions, assuming rules will remain the same from one visit to the next, and leaving fires unattended even for short periods of time.

The most common mistake is not checking local restrictions before burning anything.

Campers are encouraged to check official fire authorities or park websites close to their departure date, monitor daily fire danger ratings, and comply with all signage at campsites.

Fires should only be lit where permitted, kept small, supervised at all times, and completely extinguished with water before leaving or going to sleep.

In October, three men were fined $5000 after lighting an illegal campfire on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast that turned into a bushfire.

The fire broke out near Teewah Beach in Great Sandy National Park and quickly spread across more than seven hectares.

Nearby campers initially tried to put out the flames themselves, but they ran out of extinguishers.

“Campfires are not compatible with the coastal environment of the Teewah because they can quickly escape into the dunes and brush,” Principal Ranger Danielle Mansfield said at the time.

The way Australians camp is changing as climate conditions bring about longer and more intense fire seasons. While more people are choosing to avoid open fires altogether, others are relying on enclosed and elevated fire pits where permitted.

“Fire safety doesn’t mean giving up camping; it just means being better prepared and making smarter choices outdoors,” says Ms. Kirkland.

With millions of camping trips taking place each year and fire conditions becoming more variable, officials say basic fire awareness should become second nature for anyone who ventures outdoors.

They warn that in a bushfire-prone country, understanding the rules around campfires is no longer optional but mandatory.