Should National Parks be closed on Total Fire Ban Days?

Should National Parks be closed on Total Fire Ban Days?


  • Total voters
    79

4X4

Moderator
I think the CFA and volunteers have enough to do without looking out for day trippers or campers, who have put themselves at risk by being in National Parks on Total Fire Ban Days.

Close the parks on extreme days for everyone's safety!
 
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Traveller

Well-Known Member
Deadset against you there Roscoe, it like closing the Simpson in summer in a way.
(flamesuit at the ready;))
I'm a bit old fashioned in that I still believe in common sense(silly I know, it's not that
common at all).The more rules for dills to follow, the more chance we'll all turn into dills.
There are plenty of places that are safe(relatively) on total fire days, as well as those spots
to avoid. I hate the idea of decent people with at least half a brain being told they can't do
something because of a few dickheads.
Anyway that's my personal belief, and a bit of a rant too:eek:

It would also be difficult when a fire day falls in the middle of a trip.

Righto, that's my soapbox for a while:D carry on, nothing to see here:cool:

Jok
 

4X4

Moderator
Deadset against you there Roscoe, it like closing the Simpson in summer in a way.
(flamesuit at the ready;))
I'm a bit old fashioned in that I still believe in common sense(silly I know, it's not that
common at all).The more rules for dills to follow, the more chance we'll all turn into dills.
There are plenty of places that are safe(relatively) on total fire days, as well as those spots
to avoid. I hate the idea of decent people with at least half a brain being told they can't do
something because of a few dickheads.
Anyway that's my personal belief, and a bit of a rant too:eek:

It would also be difficult when a fire day falls in the middle of a trip.

Righto, that's my soapbox for a while:D carry on, nothing to see here:cool:

Jok

Jok, I agree with you in that a few Dickheads spoil it for the rest of us, however, imagine you and your family are being responsible and doing the right thing and there is an idiot camped around the corner from you. In those conditions, even in you left everything, you could still be in danger. The speed of the fire not to mention the heat and flying embers etc could be the biggest danger.

Better to err on the side of caution in my opinion!

Cheers Rossco
 

havok011101

New Member
I voted for closes, but agree with you both.

We (the responsible 4x4e membership) should do the right thing, and probably wouldn't have a problem on these days.

But it's probably not us that would be the problem, as 4x4 says.

Also agreed it would be a real pain mid-trip, or if you're already in and it closes!
 

BEK

4x4 Earth Contributer
The Vic govt is closing all parks tomorrow to avoid any problems with people in the park according to the radio this morning.

My view is the three main causes of fire in the bush are men women and children the fourth being freak lightning strikes. Can't control the fourth yet but anything to stop the first three I am willing to fore-go some fun on the tracks. it also lets the fireys full access to all the tracks to do what they do best and they don't need to constantly going around convoys of 4wd to get to a fire.

If you consider the top speed in the bush is 20 to 30 k's and compare it to when the big fires get going, they travel at around 40ks it is unlikely you can't outrun them particularly if you are going uphill (fire travels faster uphill than downhill).

How many of us consider the contingency plan of what if there was a fire - where is the nearest lake of water body ? is it big enough to seek shelter, or where is the nearest clearing I can hold up in my rig etc.

When everything is this dry safety first has to be the way go.

I'll now go and take my soap box too JOK

Sorry JOK common sense is no longer common
 

cptmud

New Member
Closures on total fire bans would be a good idea, it only takes 1 idiot to start a fire and put you and your family at risk. Its not worth risking their lives. Having seen and fought fires, and seen the speed that they move, and how quickly they can change direction, better safe than sorry. Only Problem i can see is that if you are aready camping and a total fire ban is called.
 

Chucky

New Member
Dont agree with it.
The way our government is run we'll end up with all Nat parks closed because somewhere 500kms away is having a fire ban.

And having been caught in a bush fire before, I take many precautions when choosing camp spots and I always have a rough escape plan sitting in the back of my mind. Fires arn't the only danger when out bush.

But I'd rather be in a Nat Park, camped next to a creek sinking a few coldies during a hot spell than stuck in a concrete canyon *****ing that the AC wont work cause of power failures.
 

ray2008

New Member
And what do you do when you go in and it's not a Total Fire Ban, and circumstances change over a day or so. Do you evacuate the High Country etc and how would this be done?

Do you suddenly ban campers at caravan parks in national parks and do you recompense the park fees for both parties etc? These are just a few issues. When one comes up with an idea to do good, one also has to consider the unintended consequences.

Cheers

Ray
 

darlingd

Member
I don't agree with closing them just because it is a fire ban, as where I was originally from this would mean they are closed from around October to March every year. I do however think they should be closed when threatened by fire, because as has already been said the firies don't need to be looking out for day trippers etc.
 
You dont die from the flames of a fire you die from radiant heat so your dead before your roasted no matter what the government puts in place we will still be out their fighting fires in 45 degree days you cant stop dick heads with new laws
 

frosty

4x4 Earth Contributer
Sticky subject. Does'nt matter which way you vote, ya still get burned!! :rolleyes:

I tend to agree with traveller but we have to remember, YA CAN'T PUT BRAINS IN MONUMENTS!! :rolleyes::rolleyes: Does'nt matter how many rules and regs you have, someone will do something dumb! :mad: Human nature.
 
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Pure Yobbo

Moderator
Jok, I agree with you in that a few Dickheads spoil it for the rest of us, however, imagine you and your family are being responsible and doing the right thing and there is an idiot camped around the corner from you. In those conditions, even in you left everything, you could still be in danger. The speed of the fire not to mention the heat and flying embers etc could be the biggest danger.

Better to err on the side of caution in my opinion!

Cheers Rossco


Swear Jar needed hey 4x4?????
 

Blue Dog

New Member
I live in the mountains and I vote for YES close them it would only be for short periods and could help to save property and lives.
If the current state of fires being lit continues to get worse they may take the line of closing the parks all fire season.
Face it, it can only help to save lives and property if you realy must off road in extreme heat and winds find a beach to play on.

I would like to also give an advanced thanks to the fire services and ses stay safe.

and I would also like to say screw you to the wanker greenies who stopped winter burn offs around our area.:mad:
 

Grumpy

Moderator
Sorry Guys I voted NOOOO and that's simply because if U start closing it for one Reason who to say they cant close it for any other reasons,
The possibility of Flood, or heavy rains, some of it is already closed during the snow season and there are always Dickheads getting lost or something during the Winter and they arn't necessarily 4x4ers either.
The other way I look at it is most fires that are Delibratly Lite start from a main road or somewhere that the firelighter could get away from quickly so as not to be caught.
So it's a big No for me!!!

Lightning strikes probably cause most of the fires anyway.
 

knot_gillty

Active Member
I'm not going to cast a vote. As Grumpy said, if you close it for this reason then they will want to close it for that!! BUT, today i heard on the radio that trail bike riders and 4wders were seen going TOWARDS the fire burning out of control in the Bunyip S.F. The fire fighters and other emergency response people don't need the added distraction of looking out for and avoiding these nuisances!!

Maybe not close them on total fire ban days but should be closed when fire is approaching...
 

Grey Ghost

5th Annual Victorian Gathering member
Living on the edge of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, as far as I'm concerned, the Metro or more popular parks should be closed because as far as I can see common sense doesn't seem to be a trait that the average suburbanite shows. The parks in the country areas e.g. High Plains etc, well, people who visit those area tend to be a little bit more bush savey, generally, but as for the local parks keep the d@@#heads out the emergency services have enough to do without suburban woodducks trying to hurt themselves.

Rant over...
 

4X4

Moderator
Seriously, who can honestly say they would be comfortable staying in a National Park on a day like today!
 
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