AN UNATTENDED camp fire at Mount Alexander has sparked warnings from authorities ahead of a couple of sweltering days.
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Forest Fire Management Victoria, the Country Fire Brigade and Victoria Police have implored people to heed the restrictions and regulations in place and avoid unnecessary fires.
Firefighters were called about 1.30pm on Sunday after smoke was sighted at the peak of Mt Alexander.
Units were quick to respond, with two CFA helicopters deployed to assist.
Castlemaine Sergeant Mick Peckham said the source of the smoke was found to be an unattended camp fire at Picnic Point – an area at the top of the mountain.
“Someone had made a fire pit at that location with [what looked like] a substantial camp fire,” he said.
The camp fire had spread to adjacent grass and scrub, burning through an area about 20 metres by 10 metres.
Four CFA tankers and one Forest Fire Management Victoria slip-on unit responded to the fire, in addition to the two helicopters.
Forest Fire Management Victoria senior fire management officer Jeff Wilkie said campers were seen in the area overnight.
Sergeant Peckham said the fire was believed to be the result of carelessness, as opposed to a malicious act.
But he said it was a timely reminder for people, with hot weather coming on, to be aware of the fire restrictions in place throughout the shire.
“The lighting of fires in this period could lead to a much larger fire,” the sergeant said.
Temperatures in Bendigo are forecast to reach or exceed 30 degrees on all but two days next week, with a top of 27 predicted for Wednesday and 28 next Sunday.
The outlook for Castlemaine is somewhat cooler, with a couple of days below 30 degrees.
A top of 24 is forecast for Wednesday, 28 on Thursday and 25 next Sunday.
Mr Wilkie said camp fires should be attended at all times, and should be lit for heating and cooking purposes only.
He said camp fires should not be larger than one square metre in any direction, and should be lit in a trench at least 30 centimetres deep.
Before leaving a campfire, Mr Wilkie said those responsible for lighting it should make sure the fire was extinguished with water.
“If it’s cool to touch, it’s cool to leave,” he said.
CFA District 2 operations officer Chris Jacobsen urged people to make sure they were following all of the rules outlined in the CFA’s Can I or Cant I brochure.
Story continues below brochure.
He said people who lit a camp fire may be liable for any damage it caused.
“Preventable fires are an impost on the community and on the volunteers responding to them,” Mr Jacobsen said.
“They [volunteers] are being dragged away from their normal, day-to-day routines by people who are inconsiderate.”
Police investigations into the unattended camp fire are ongoing.
Sergeant Peckham urged anyone with information about the incident to call their local police station or to make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or visiting crimestoppersvic.com.au.