A man was fined $1500, without conviction, in the Bairnsdale Magistrates Court on Wednesday this week for allowing a fire to remain alight on a Total Fire Ban Day in January 2019.
The 46-year-old Bairnsdale man was camping at the Mount Wills Historical and Cultural Features Reserve in East Gippsland since 2 January 2019.
Conservation Regulator, Program Manager Regulatory Operations, Peter Simpson, said the man was found on 4 January 2019, a Total Fire Ban day, with a campfire going.
“The man said he did not know it was a Total Fire Ban day and had established a camp two days earlier,” Mr Simpson said.
“If you are camping it’s your responsibility to know what the rules are. Campfires are not allowed on days of Total Fire Ban.”
Magistrate Kelly made reference to the current Gippsland bushfires when sentencing.
Campfires and solid and liquid fuel barbeques are banned on Total Fire Ban days.
Page last updated: 24/01/20