Use of Stoves in a Total Fire Ban

[sthughes]

There has to be common sense applied, but there isn't as usual.

Even dividing the state into 3 areas isn't really effective.
1. Where are the boundaries (I can't find them on the TFS website) (Vic website they are easily found).
2. In any one of these areas you can easily have areas of tinder dry bush and wet rainforest.

Accidents happen. As we have seen in Victoria this year the results are tragic, *&%$#! tragic.

I wasn't aware a bushwalker sensibly using a fuel stove caused this tragedy.

In fact I'd love to see a statistic of how many bushfires are caused by fuel stoves, especially given that dozens to hundreds are in use every day of the year in Tassie. To me it would seem most fires are caused by arson, lightening strike, campfire mishaps, cigarette buts/rubbish from cars, sparks from welding/griding etc. I'm sure there are examples but I can't think of a single significant bushfire that was casued by a fuel stove. Yes huts get burned down, but then so do houses, perhaps we should ban hot meals in houses as well.

[north-north-west]

I've never heard of a hut being burned down by a fuel stove, either. All those I know of that were burned from the inside, so to speak, were from legal fires in the fireplaces.
The rules permit a fire in a wooden hut, but not a fuel stove on a big flat open rocky area. There's logic for you.

[Macca81]

Though seriously some parts of this law does have over-reaction written over it. Surely the empathise should be on the appropriate use of fuel stoves not a blanket ban in my opinion, humble or otherwise.

thats all well and good to say that appropriate use us the way to go, but the fact is that there are dumb people who live on this earth. just because you and me and most of the people on this forum are responsible, doesnt mean that there are others who dont be complete knobwanks. laws are there to cover idiots, not to enforce common sense (common sense, isnt)

Even dividing the state into 3 areas isn't really effective.
1. Where are the boundaries (I can't find them on the TFS website) (Vic website they are easily found).

http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/mysite/Show? ... alFireBans

[sthughes]

Even dividing the state into 3 areas isn't really effective.
1. Where are the boundaries (I can't find them on the TFS website) (Vic website they are easily found).

http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/mysite/Show? ... alFireBans

Lol - then again maybe I'm blind

[Nuts]

just because you and me and most of the people on this forum are responsible, doesnt mean that there are others who dont be complete knobwanks.

Laws like these rarely stop or catch out 'knobwanks', thats just wishfull thinking.
The price for them is a lot of good people being subject to an ever increasing feeling of guilt at restrictions that most find difficult to make sense of!
Ironically they are also likely to be the only ones who actually bother with the inconvenience of doing the 'right' thing!

[Azza]

I've never heard of a hut being burned down by a fuel stove, either. All those I know of that were burned from the inside, so to speak, were from legal fires in the fireplaces.
The rules permit a fire in a wooden hut, but not a fuel stove on a big flat open rocky area. There's logic for you.

I've seen a few noob's set fire to the side of new pelion hut on the deck..
Can't remember exactly what happened, but they managed to get flames burning up the wall of the hut after spilling their stove fuel down the wall.
We're having a few drinks on the deck and eventually we thought we'd better go and sort it out before the hut really did start to burn down.
They really had no idea.. stood there staring at flames and didn't know what to do.
My mate walked over, picked up the fire blanket smacked the fire out. sorted...

As for total fire ban.. The Tasmanian Fire Service Site clear states:
http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/mysite/Show? ... colFireBan

On days of Total Fire Bans, all outdoors fires are banned except electric stoves and barbecues, and gas stoves and barbecues provided they are cleared of flammable material for at least 1 metre. Other barbecues and portable stoves including those that use wood, charcoal or other solid or liquid fuel are banned. Work practices such as grinding, welding and cutting metal in the open are not permitted.

Camping on bruny last year during a total fire ban we're informed of the same rule.. Gas stoves were fine to use.
Realisitically when bushwalking total fire ban should equal no change to business as usual. Just be careful.

[geoskid]

As for total fire ban.. The Tasmanian Fire Service Site clear states:
http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/mysite/Show? ... colFireBan

On days of Total Fire Bans, all outdoors fires are banned except electric stoves and barbecues, and gas stoves and barbecues provided they are cleared of flammable material for at least 1 metre. Other barbecues and portable stoves including those that use wood, charcoal or other solid or liquid fuel are banned. Work practices such as grinding, welding and cutting metal in the open are not permitted.

Camping on bruny last year during a total fire ban we're informed of the same rule.. Gas stoves were fine to use.
Realisitically when bushwalking total fire ban should equal no change to business as usual. Just be careful.

Now thats sensible - I would still automatically make sure/pick an area that was clear for more tham 1m, and near a creek or other water source especially in high wind - and as you say - thats business as usual with extra care.
Good find.

[Ent]

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[north-north-west]

I am not dumb but I do not under stand, please explain.

In one word: Bureaucracy.

[Ent]

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[north-north-west]

Hmmmm . . . strange. I can't think of a word beginning with 'B' that means 'sheer stupidity' . . .

[Ent]

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[tasadam]

My thoughts on this...
Ever lit your cooker in your tent? I have, numerous times, with the utmost of care.
And I use a Shellite stove.
What difference would it make to me whether it was a total fire ban day or if it was snowing, if I was to use my stove in my tent, apart from my own temperature in the tent of course. The answer is obvious, if it went wrong the damage done outside would be a BIT different... But if I am in my tent cooking, a whole lot more resides on my ability not to let my tent burn down in the first place. I'm not saying use your stove in your tent on a fire ban day, I am stating that it is possible to use your stove with a level of care and attention to that level.
If it's a fire ban day (or weather evident to suggest such a day), I see the use of a stove to be not much different to lighting the stove in the tent - utmost of care. This will include location choice, extinguish sources, and indeed whether I actually NEED to use the stove.
Thinking about it, I reckon it would be possible to find a location to use my stove outdoors on most fire ban days, that would be safer than using it in the tent. That statement of course excludes days where it would be an unreasonable thing to do to light a stove, common sense must prevail. A pity not everyone has common sense, see the Dogs on Southern Ranges topic for example, or the post above re fire on the wall of the hut.

I vaguely recall the tale of how a fire started down Lake St Clair way quite some years ago (1980's was it?), by a ranger (so the tale went) who was burning some bog roll after taking a dump. Things go wrong, but when using a stove you're playing with fire, in your control. Fire ban or not, keep your head switched on... Keep it controlled.

[north-north-west]

And Adam comes up with the perfect comment on the issue. Well said.

[Funky_Bunch]

safety seems to be the word, and safety on all accounts should be what lets us decide if we should or should not use our stoves. there are reasons that i would use my stove in a ban, and saying that if the reasons arent strong enough then i would not. generally i carry a small board to cook on even outside winter (hate a sinking stove). whilst a cooking board is not in itself a precaution i believe it does minimise the risk of ignition right under the stove.

If i were to come across a walker in a bad state i would have no hesitation in cooking them a meal even in a bad, the chances of ignition are low enough to warrant it.
in the bush a fire started that gets out of controll, ie fuell spill in a high fuell load area, is more likely to affect the life of the one who started it. generally speaking in dont want to be char grilled sausage for the devils.

Be responsible, and be safe.

[Macca81]

Be responsible, and be safe.