Crowds still flock to 1000 Steps in Upper Ferntree Gully despite total fire ban

UPDATE: Rangers found more than 50 people defying park closures at the 1000 Steps yesterday but not one fine was handed out to lawbreakers.

Hot weather - Total fire ban day. 1000 Steps in Upper Ferntree Gully. Park closed. Despite the park being closed there were still two people I observed using the park. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

UPDATE: Parks Victoria rangers found more than 50 people defying park closures at the 1000 Steps during yesterday’s total fire ban, but not one fine was handed out to lawbreakers.

The popular fitness spot was closed as temperatures soared to 41C and the fire danger index rating hit “severe” at the Coldstream weather station.

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Parks Victoria’s Dandenong and Yarra Ranges area chief ranger Matt Hoogland said there were about 50 cars parked outside the Upper Ferntree Gully park and “a number of people” using the steps early in the morning.

This was despite the gates being shut and electronic signs warning people it was closed.

But rangers “took an educational approach” rather than slapping anyone with fines, even though the authority previously warned people would face heavy penalties for breaking the law.

Parks Victoria has previously come under fire for not shutting the 1000 Steps on total fire ban days, instead choosing to monitor weather conditions at specific sites rather than using the weather bureau’s total fire ban criteria.

The steps are closed when conditions at Coldstream and Ferny Creek are deemed “severe”, “extreme” or “code red” on the local fire danger index.

On social media, Parks Victoria was also criticised for only notifying the public of the park’s closure about 9pm on Tuesday via its Facebook page.

When Leader checked the Parks Victoria website at 11am yesterday, the 1000 Steps was not listed as closed.

But Parks Victoria spokeswoman Lauren Pike said the website was updated at 9.53pm on Tuesday.

Ferntree Gully CFA brigade captain Seamus Smith said people who climbed the steps clearly didn’t understand the risks.

“Obviously it also creates extra risk for (firefighters)...we could be putting ourselves in harm’s way trying to help people who shouldn’t be there in the first place,” Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith said there were also health risks involved in climbing the steps in such extreme temperatures, with firefighters sometimes called to help paramedics treat people.

Another CFA volunteer, who did not want to be named, said people “just need to stay away” when the steps are closed.

“My main concern is that if the word gets out there is a fire nearby, the (people climbing the steps) come panicking out, when (firefighters) are trying to get in,” he said.