CFA calls for on-the-spot fines for firestarters on total fire ban days
The CFA is calling for instant fines for anyone who starts campfires, lights barbecues or uses machinery on a total fire ban day as firefighters try to crack down on illegal burns while the state braces for a scorching week.
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Victorians who flout the law during total fire bans would be whacked with on-the-spot fines by police under a Country Fire Authority plan to crack down on illegal burns.
The Herald Sun can reveal the CFA has been lobbying for the reform to deter those who start campfires, light barbecues and use machinery during total fire bans.
A total fire ban has been declared in the Wimmera on Wednesday, as the state braces for temperatures of up to 47C this week.
Currently, anyone who lights a fire in Victoria during a ban faces two years in jail or fines worth up to $40,000.
But the CFA wants Victoria to follow the lead of New South Wales and Western Australia, where police can hand out infringement notices instead of pursuing court action.
In a letter obtained by the Herald Sun, CFA chief officer Steve Warrington said: “Empowering Victoria Police to implement infringement notices for lower order offences would have immediate impact and send a strong message that illegal burns are not tolerated”.
Two years ago, the state government said it would consider on-the-spot fines as part of an effort to strengthen Victoria’s approach to “detect and enforce total fire ban offences”.
But it is understood Victoria Police — which is launching a new assault on unintentional firestarters this summer — would prefer to continue enforcing the existing laws.
“Any level of offending relating to those who disobey total fire ban days should be treated seriously and prosecuted appropriately,” the force said in a statement.
Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria has pushed for the introduction of on-the-spot fines, with firefighters noticing particular issues around the Murray River, where people lighting campfires are more easily dealt with by NSW police.
On average, CFA crews are called out every two days to deal with campfire-related blazes.
Mr Warrington made the case for change in a letter to Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp in August, which noted a parliamentary committee also recommended introducing infringement notices in 2017.
“Utilising infringement notices for lower order offences would save time, resources and cost impacts for police and the courts,” he wrote.
A CFA spokeswoman said the authority would continue to work with other agencies “to ensure that those who deliberately or recklessly break the law on days of total fire ban are brought to justice, and that the community understands the seriousness of the issue”.
“CFA is keen to explore any measure which may reduce the incidence of deliberately and recklessly lit fires and reinforce the dangers to the community,” the spokeswoman said.
“Recklessly caused fires are often viewed by the community as accidental, but the laws are clear. The potential for injury, loss of life, property damage and draining resources is the same as that caused by arson.”
The spokeswoman said the CFA would support Victoria Police’s approach of enforcing existing fire ban laws.
Police officers in NSW can issue $2200 on-the-spot fines, while WA police can hand out $1000 fines.
A government spokeswoman said deliberately or recklessly lit fires could kill people and destroy communities, and that police had found that “infringement notices aren’t appropriate for this kind of potentially high-harm offending”.
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“Emergency Management Victoria and Victoria Police have determined that any level of recklessness on Total Fire Ban days should not be tolerated, and severe punishments will apply to anyone who puts the community at risk,” she said.
“We’ll continue to work with our emergency service agencies to ensure those who light fires on Total Fire Ban days are held to account.”
Opposition emergency services spokesman Brad Battin backed the CFA’s call for police to issue on-the-spot fines.
“Total fire bans are needed to protect the community and Daniel Andrews must ensure police have the power they need to impose fines and deter dangerous behaviour,” he said.