Fuel Stove Only Areas are zones within National Parks and Conservation Areas where portable bushwalker's fuel stoves are to be used instead of campfires.

They have been established over key environmentally sensitive regions areas at risk from bushfire or from the environmental degradation that accompanies campfires.

The Bushfire Risk

The effects of bushfires on Tasmania's flora - particularly the alpine and rainforest areas often visited by walkers - have been disastrous. In the last 30 years over 6% of the alpine flora and 8% of Tasmania's rainforest has been burnt. A number of the alpine and rainforest species, particularly the native conifers, do not regenerate after fire.

Escaped bushwalker's' campfires are a significant source of bushfires. It takes only one campfire left burning in bad fire weather for many thousands of hectares to burn.

Environmental Degradation

As well as the risk of bushfire, there are the ever-present problems campfires cause at campsites, these include,

The cutting of trees for firewood. Native pine trees - some up to 1 000 years old - have been cut.

Expansion of campsites caused by the gathering and cutting of firewood.

Visual scarring left behind after the fire, this can remain visible for many years - even if the fire is not reused.

Rubbish left in fireplaces by people attempting to burn tins, foil etc.

The Areas

To counteract the problems outlined above Fuel Stove Only Areas have been declared in the following National Parks:

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

A Fuel Stove Only Area over the entire park. This Park includes Tasmania's most used walking track, it also contains areas that have suffered from firewood cutting and gathering and important rainforest and alpine areas. The huts on the track are supplied with coal for heating.

Walls of Jerusalem National Park

A Fuel Stove Only Area over the entire park. This park contains what is thought to be the largest remaining stand of pencil pines in the world.

Wild Rivers National Park

A Fuel Stove Only Area on the Frenchman’s Cap Track. A fire started by walkers at Lake Vera Hut in 1980 burnt out 6 500 hectares of this park including native pine communities. Huts are supplied with coal for heating.

Southwest National Park

Fuel Stove Only Areas on high altitude tracks - the Western and Eastern Arthur Ranges. Mt Anne. the Southern Ranges and the Ironbound's high camp on the South Coast Track. These Fuel Stove Only Areas are aimed at protecting the heavily used high altitude zones within the park.

What a Fuel Stove Only Area doesn't mean…

Having Fuel Stove Only Areas doesn't mean that it is safe to light fires in all other areas, The normal rules and bush knowledge about the use of campfires still apply:

No campfires in alpine or rain forest areas. At present only the key most-visited alpine and rainforest areas are covered by Fuel Stove Only Areas. Other areas will be considered by the Department in the future. It is recommended that fuel stoves be used instead of campfires in all rainforest and alpine areas.

No fires on peat soils, Peat soil covers extensive areas within Western Tasmania. It is made up of decomposed organic matter, is dark in colour and feels 'spongy' if squeezed. It also usually feels greasy' when rubbed between the fingers.

Fires lit on peat can burn down into the soil, and remain smouldering for months at a time. They can then form ignition points for fires in the next hot weather. Peat fires are extremely hard to put out - the ground has to be dug up and saturated.

Under the Fire Service Act (1979) a fine of $1000 applies for lighting fires on peat anywhere in the state.

Days of total fire ban still often apply.  As it can be hard to know exactly when these are in force when you are in the bush, don't light fires on hot windy days

For all the above reasons the Department of Lands, Parks and Wildlife recommends using fuel stoves instead of campfires in the bush.

However if you are in an emergency situation where you must light a fire then:

Keep the fire small. Don't put rocks around it (these just create another visual scar) and use a safe existing fireplace rather than making a new one.

Use only dead, fallen wood. Dead standing trees are a home for wildlife and a part of the scenery (leave axes and machetes at home),

Be absolutely sure the fire is out. Before you leave feel the ground underneath the coals. If it is still warm the fire is not out. Put fires out with water not soil.

If you are in any doubt about the safety of lighting a fire, please don't light it. Always carry and use a fuel stove,

Extracted from the pamphlet :

"Fuel Stove Only Areas"

Published by:

Department of Lands, Parks and Wildlife 1989

134 Macquarie St or GPO Box 44A

Hobart Tasmania 7001 Ph (002) 30 2620