Abandoned campfire to blame for Cape Otway blaze, investigation underway

There has been a big development relating to a fire that continues to burn in the Otway Ranges.

People were forced to flee from a Cape Otway fire in the middle of the night. Picture: Facebook.

An abandoned campfire caused this week’s Otway Ranges bushfire, investigations have found.

A criminal inquiry has been launched to find who left the fire unattended, leading to a major blaze which threatened the safety of campers and other holiday-makers in the area.

Up to 150 of them were evacuated from camping grounds in the area in a major emergency operation.

The fire started in bush at Blanket Bay Rd and Red Hill Track at 2.20am on Wednesday and led to police having to set up drop-in centres for the displaced at Apollo Bay Community Hall and Apollo Bay Youth Hall.

It burned through 14 hectares and had the potential to be engulf a much bigger expanse of the isolated area.

Investigators from Forest Fire Management, Colac CIU and the Victoria Police arson and explosives squad have found the blaze spread from an unextinguished campfire which had been abandoned.

Detectives have appealed for anyone who was in the vicinity of the Blanket Bay campground on Wednesday and who has dashcam or any other footage to come forward and call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Police have urged campers to remember a recklessly lit fire could have the same results as a deliberately lit fire, such as deaths, serious injury and property damage.

Detective Insp. Karl Curran of Victoria Police western region said what had happened was reckless conduct which could have had catastrophic consequences.

“Fortunately, emergency services worked quickly to get the fire under control, but as we know, this is not always the case. We are now investigating the fire, and if we do identify who started the campfire, they will be charged,” Insp Curran said.

A conviction for being found guilty of recklessly or intentionally causing a bushfire carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment.

Insp. Chris Murray of the arson and explosives squad said the case was a reminder of the maxim that “if you light it, you own it”.

“Recklessly lit fires can include things like disobeying restrictions relating to total fire bans or fire danger periods, leaving campfires unattended, or using machinery during hot weather,” he said.

“Police will investigate and take action to catch those responsible when a fire is deemed suspicious, whether it was a deliberate or reckless action.”

Authorities issued an alert at 11.30am Thursday that urged people to “stay informed”.

“Firefighters will continue monitoring and extinguishing the fire in the coming days,” it said.

“There is currently no threat to you, but you should stay informed and plan for what you will do if the situation changes.”

EARLIER: ‘Scary’: Campers rush to safety during Otway bushfire

Campers and hikers have told of the “scary” rush to safety in the dead of the night as a fire closed in on holiday-makers along the Great Ocean Road on Wednesday morning.

People staying at the Bimbi Park campground near Cape Otway were woken about 1.30am and told to leave immediately.

It all happened in a daze for Charlie Thompson, who said people were gone “before they knew it.”

“It was basically the dead of the night and there’s people running around like ants, getting in their cars and shooting up off the road,” Mr Thompson said.

“You could smell the smoke, leaf litter was blowing around everywhere and as we were driving out all the fire trucks were coming in. It was really eerie.”

Apollo Bay fire evacuee Charlie Thompson and Minnie at Apollo Bay Refuge. Picture: Mark Wilson.

Mr Thompson said the gravity of the situation only hit him once he had arrived safely at the makeshift relief centre in Apollo Bay.

“It’s one way in and one way out, so hypothetically if it was closer to the Great Ocean Road we wouldn’t have had anywhere to go other than just to head down to the beach,” he said.

The swift response from the Fotinas family, who have run Bimbi Park for 20 years, was praised by guests.

Camper Effy Lakkas said the Fotinas’ calm demeanour put everyone at ease.

“They sounded the alarm … knocked on the caravan door and said ‘get your essentials and leave’.”

“The eldest son drove around on his buggy telling everyone what needed to be done … nobody panicked.”

Bimbi Park’s Katrina Fotinas and son Nathaniel Fotinas helped evacuate visitors during the night Picture: Mark Wilson.

Katrina Fotinas said that while she has never had to evacuated the site because of bushfire risks before, she knew exactly what to do after a neighbour spotted the fire at 1:30am.

“We got a phone call … so I woke up the family and we got our evacuation plan organised,” she said.

“Everyone was onto it and knew what their job was … that’s what a family business is about.

“The guests were amazing, they were calm and collected … when it could’ve been panic stations.”

Apollo Bay bakery co-owner Jane Johnston at Apollo Bay Refuge helping feed evacuees. Picture: Mark Wilson

All 150 guests arrived in Apollo Bay by 4am after a 30-minute drive.

Hikers on the Great Ocean Road Walk were also caught up in the drama.

Remy and Nicole – two friends from Melbourne – were on the second of six nights on the walk when they woke to evacuation orders.

“It was a bit scary,” Remy, 27, said.

“We all went in a group together to the evacuation spot, which is overlooking the Cape Otway Lighthouse.

“On the horizon in the morning we could see some amber light in the distance and some smoke but it didn’t feel too immediate for us thankfully.

“My mum has been pretty worried about us but we will be all right,” he said.

Remy said once given the all clear, which was expected sometime on Wednesday afternoon, he and Nicole were told they would be able continue their walk as they were heading in the opposite direction of the fire.

“We’ll carry on our hike and it will just mean we have some big days of hiking ahead of us to make up for today,” he said.

“I just want to thank the Parks Victoria team, we felt in very good hands.”

Fire evacuees Remy and Nicole at Cape Otway Lighthouse. Picture: Mark Wilson

In Apollo Bay locals quickly came to the aid of campers relocated to the relief centre.

“I have to thank Melanie Howe, the CFA captain’s wife, because I called her at 3am and asked her to organise a place for the guests, and the Apollo Bay bakery because they fed everyone,” Ms Fotinas said.

Bakery co-owner Jane Johnston said the business did not hesitate when asked to help.

“About 4 o’clock this morning I got a phone call from one of our staff saying we had been asked to supply breakfast for 100 very hungry CFA crew and evacuees,” she said.

“The girls here thought they were going to have a quiet morning but we got through it.”

“We all pitch in and help one another when anyone needs help … that’s what rural communities do in times of need.”

At 3.45pm the watch and act message was changed to advise people to monitor conditions as they are changing.

Forest Fire Management Victoria monitor the fireground at the Otways. Picture: Mark Wilson

It was issued for Cape Otway, Glenaire and Hordern Vale.

Increased wind speed, change in wind direction, smoke or poor visibility can indicate the situation is changing.

The advice stated people should leave and enact their fire survival plan if the situation changed or they felt unsafe, and to make sure their neighbour were also monitoring conditions.

At 8.30pm the advice was downgraded to a stay informed message.

People were advised there was no threat to the community but they should continue to plan if the situation were to change.

Firefighters will continue monitoring and patrolling this fire overnight.

EARLIER: CFA has issued an emergency warning for parts of the Otways, with residents and holiday-makers urged to watch and act after an out of control bushfire tore through the region on Wednesday morning.

The bushfire at Blanket Bay Rd in Cape Otway was deemed under control just after 8am, however the situation remains fluid, with an alert issued at 12.41pm warning people that it was not safe to return or leave the Blanket Bay campground.

“If you left Blanket Bay campground, it is not safe to return,” the warning stated.

“Be aware of potential dangerous bushfire and tree hazards.”

Fire authorities downgraded an earlier “take shelter now” warning to a “watch and act” alert, but have warned people to stay clear of the area until a “safe to return” notification is issued.

CFA and FFMV firefighters responded to reports of a fire near Lighthouse Rd about 1.19am on Wednesday.

The CFA said the blaze was travelling in a westerly direction towards Lighthouse Rd, which has since been closed.

At least 25 emergency services vehicles responded to the incident.

Bushfire warning at Cape Otway has now been downgraded to ‘Watch and Act’. Picture: Shayne/Facebook

A watch and act warning has since been issued for Glenaire, Cape Otway and Hordern Vale, with locals advised a relief centre has been opened at the Apollo Bay Community Hall located at 4 Pengilley Ave.

An SES spokesman said about 140 people had evacuated to the relief centre.

He confirmed about 100 campers were isolated at Blanket Bay campground and 22 people walking on the Great Ocean Road walk had been relocated to the Cape Otway Lightstation.

Local Bimbi Park owner Frank Fotinas said 100 campsites were forced to evacuate about 3am on Wednesday.

“We had the whole park vacated in under an hour, which was amazing, especially in the middle of the night when everyone was sleeping,” he said.

“It’s been hectic, but no one panicked and everyone was calm.

“All campers have gone to the evacuation centre in Apollo Bay, except me and my eldest son, who are here in case anyone needs a hand in Cape Otway.”

A bushfire burnt about 14 hectares of land in parts of the Otways in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Picture: Shayne/Facebook

Mr Fotinas said smoke was still visible and appeared to be getting closer to the campgrounds just after 8am on Wednesday.

“I’m concerned about my livestock, especially my chickens,” he said.

“We’re going to let them loose if the fire gets too close and hopefully they’ll come back.”

A CFA spokesman said aircraft support had been requested to check surrounding areas for spot fires.

He said around 11 hectares of land had been burnt so far.

Originally published as Abandoned campfire to blame for Cape Otway blaze, investigation underway