Minister urges care and caution around campfires

The Minister for Emergency Services Neil Roberts is urging people to be cautious around campfires after a teenage boy was badly burnt during an incident at Tin Can Bay on the weekend.

“Last Friday night a group of teenagers were celebrating a friend’s birthday around a campfire at Snapper Creek water hole when the situation tuned sour,” Minister Roberts said.

“Somehow the boy came into contact with petrol and the fire.

“The 14-year-old suffered partial and full thickness burns to approximately 37 per cent of his body and is now in the Royal Children’s Hospital receiving treatment.”

Minister Roberts said campfires are a common feature in Queensland around this time of the year.

“With an increase in campfire activity over weekends and spring and summer holiday periods, hospitals also see an increase in the number of burns victims from such fires,” he said.

“In fact the Royal Children’s Hospital Burns Unit treats more than 500 patients every year for burn injuries.”

Minister Roberts said there are a number of simple steps people can take to avoid burn injuries from a campfire.

“People need to remember that any fire, whether it is big or small, is dangerous and that due care needs to be taken,” he said.

“The use of fire accelerants, such as petrol or methylated spirits, should be avoided to prevent the risk of incidents like we saw on Friday night.

“Also, campfires need to be extinguished with water, not with dirt or sand. When a fire is buried or covered, it retains its heat and becomes a hidden danger for people walking through the area.

“A fire covered with dirt or sand can hold more than 100 degrees of heat for up to 24 hours after it has been extinguished but a fire extinguished with water holds almost no heat 10 minutes later.

“Of course campfires should always be supervised by responsible adults; children should never be left at the site of a campfire unsupervised.”

The Department of Emergency Services also recommends that campers only light their campfires in clear areas away from branches and make sure that the fire is always contained and controlled.

“By following these common sense guidelines, Queenslanders can continue to safely enjoy the beautiful weather and atmosphere our state has to offer,” Minister Roberts said.

Minister's Office Contact: (07) 3247 8992