More campfire signage needed at Glen Mervyn

MORE signage is needed at Glen Mervyn Dam to advise campers on rules about camp fires, according to Mumballup Volunteer Bushfire Brigade president and acting fire control officer Garry Hatch. His comments come just days after he spent more than a week fighting an out-of-control bushfire that tore through 8000 hectares.

Mr Hatch said signage at the dam, as well as the Grimwade campsite, is inadequate to warn people about the rules of camp fires.

According to one sign erected at the Collie-Preston Road and Best Road turnoff, campfires are allowed during the summer between 6pm and 10am, except when it is a total fire ban.

The sign states fires must be “within designated fire pits”, but Mr Hatch said there are no fire pits around Glen Mervyn Dam.

There is no camp fire signage at the day use area.

“Most people are pretty sensible,” he said.

“But we as locals can’t burn off after December 15.

“City people are often not as fire conscious and they don’t know the local environment.

“We just want to minimise the risk and from a brigade point of view, we want to be proactive.”

Mr Hatch said he raised the idea of more signage at the Shire of Donnybrook’s bushfire advisory council meeting, but it never went any further.

“I was told DBCA (Department of Biosecurity, Conservation and Attractions) would do more patrols, but I’ve never seen them out here,” he said.

“I just want some simple but large and permanent signs.

“Then people cannot say they didn’t know the rules.”

He said despite the hot weather in the days leading up to Christmas there were many campfires around the dam when he drove past.

“We’ve had three fires out this way recently, all within five kilometres of the dam,” he said.