Author Topic: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW  (Read 5299 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline D4D

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 16015
  • Thanked: 390 times
  • Are we there yet?
Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« on: February 27, 2011, 01:42:48 PM »
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8217057/seven-burned-in-campfire-blaze-in-nsw

Seven people have been badly burned, including a six-year-old boy, in a beachside camping ground fire on the NSW mid-north coast.
I owe, I owe, it’s off to work I go…

Work - Outback
Play - Prado

Variflex

  • Guest
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2011, 01:49:24 PM »
Can be very easy to get complacent with camping gear, even when away from work we should still employ basic OH&S practices

Offline Gunna Do

  • "To Infinity and Beyond"
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 5731
  • Thanked: 8 times
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2011, 02:20:01 PM »
With my daughter away camping with friends on the NSW coast, this post sent a shiver up my spine, and I couldn't get the details up quick enough on the link.  All good though.  D4D can you give a more specific location next time please.

Tragic!

Offline Jon

  • Hard Floor Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
  • Thanked: 7 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Bringing rain to every campsite
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2011, 02:44:29 PM »
Be interested to follow this up.

Was it a disposable type canister or a proper refillable bottle that was leaking/malfunction?

I leak test all my gas connections every time I make them. Soapy water is your saviour. :o
I got a sweater for Xmas, really wanted a moaner or screamer.

Offline BigJules

  • Administrator
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 7786
  • Thanked: 56 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Just Cruisin' - I wish...
    • I'm so much cooler online :D
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2011, 03:30:19 PM »
Friends of mine are at Plomer this weekend, but no kids.

Bad way to end a holiday, poor buggers.
Julian
Land Cruiser V8 + Trackabout Safari SV Extenda
MySwag Gallery, Photobucket
Sydney Agent for www.trackabout.com.au
Mallee Gear - Tough as nails

Offline D4D

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 16015
  • Thanked: 390 times
  • Are we there yet?
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2011, 03:33:54 PM »
D4D can you give a more specific location next time please.

Sorry  :-[
I owe, I owe, it’s off to work I go…

Work - Outback
Play - Prado

Offline graylyn

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 740
  • Gender: Male
  • Kendall River Barramundi
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2011, 03:34:34 PM »
that is bad.  interesting to see how that happened?
The worst day fishing is always better than the best day at work.

2021 Isuzu d-max utility 3 litre
2012 Jayco Swan Outback
full 60 litre Engel

Offline Patr80l

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 1682
  • Thanked: 38 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2011, 03:45:07 PM »
The victims came from different places and "the fireball engulfed several tents".   Sounds like the victims may not have been from the same camp, so may not have had any control over the lack of safety.
That's what I like about bush camping.   No neighbours.
40, 80, GU, Touareg, GU, Touareg, 200

Offline Muso

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 269
  • Gender: Male
  • The beatings will stop when morale improves
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2011, 03:53:46 PM »
I like the idea of no neighbors too, but it was their neighbors who rushed to help.
Cheers Glenn

Offline coffs camping

  • Tent User
  • ***
  • Posts: 179
  • Gender: Female
  • We are three - Mum, Ms.15 and Mr.9
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2011, 06:24:21 PM »
Oh Dear. Very sad and so close to home in a spot we have stayed before. Safety first and a good knowledge of first aid are just the beginning ... God bless them all and their loved ones.

J
Love weekend camping whenever we can in our 2002 Cub Spacematic (Transcontinental Pack) with the 80series LC. See you out there!! J

Offline austastar

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 4148
  • Thanked: 324 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2011, 10:10:14 PM »
Hi,
  I wonder if it was gas leaking across the ground that flashed back when it hit the ignition source.

I have seen burns inflicted on a gas delivery chap, who had a leaky hose, and wasn't wearing his goggles and hood.
The gas in this case was ignited by the gas hotwater system burning a few meters down hill from the gas filling point - not a good design parameter for a  new installation.

I have also seen petrol fumes ignite 10 meters from the source of the liquid petrol when a fireman walked past down hill from the fuel source carrying his lit drip torch close to the ground. The petrol primed bon-fire was lit some what prematurely in spectacular fashion and could have resulted in nasty burns if conditions had been slightly different.

Nasty stuff is flammable fumes and ignition sources.

cheers

Offline alnjan

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 2922
  • Thanked: 221 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2011, 10:52:29 PM »
Apparently there is a bit more of the story at present we are not being told.  It appears there was some sort of melee going on between some people and the gas bottle has inadvertently ended up in the camp fire causing the explosion.   Hopefully more of the story will come out.
Cheers

Al and/or Jan

Offline Patr80l

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 1682
  • Thanked: 38 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #12 on: February 27, 2011, 10:54:12 PM »
I like the idea of no neighbors too, but it was their neighbors who rushed to help.
Fair point
40, 80, GU, Touareg, GU, Touareg, 200

Offline Redback

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 1931
  • Thanked: 26 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #13 on: February 28, 2011, 08:02:24 AM »
A camp light was attached to the bottle and it was knocked over.
Cheers Baz.

2011 Discovery 4 TDV6
1990 Perentie FFR  
Lightweight Camper.
1973 Kawasaki H2a 750 
1979 BMW R80/7
1983 BMW R100RT ex Police
2006 BMW R1200GS
A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fool

Offline DANBRI

  • "Canvas Undies Never Die"
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 2773
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Gender: Male
  • www.campingaustralia.org
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #14 on: February 28, 2011, 08:12:57 AM »
It's easy to become complacent with commonalities of camping, this is for all facets of life really.

I have a great respect for gas, petrol and electricity - I never forget how lethal these common things are.

I wish a speedy recovery to those injured.  :-[

Offline Blinky Bill

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 299
  • Gender: Male
  • 2013 Pajero auto diesel & 2000 Kimberley Kamper
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #15 on: February 28, 2011, 08:38:26 AM »
This has sent a real shiver up my spine. The news report of the injuries made it sound terrible and I hope the victims recover.

While the Missus and I have safety routines and practices for our gas & electricity, this accident has reminded me that we need to be always thinking about Safety, Safety, Safety when camping.
Reminds me of my safari in Africa. Somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water.
W. C. Fields (1880 - 1946)

Offline Campa

  • Hard Floor Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 892
  • Thanked: 4 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #16 on: February 28, 2011, 09:40:05 AM »
What a sad end to what should've been a great camping trip for a young family.
I wish a speedy recoverey to all involved.

Offline Barry G

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 2613
  • Thanked: 29 times
  • Gender: Male
  • For my 'Pop' l.Cpl Tom Powell, A Comp.21Batt.6Brig
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #17 on: February 28, 2011, 11:04:19 AM »
It is good practice to treat all fuels on the same basis as weapons.  (Basic weapons handling was one of the first OH&S procedures as far back as WW1, before anyone thought of that term.)
Fixed routine for set up, operation and turning off / dismantling.  Then all is good.
Agree with that 'soapy water is your friend'.  Used a squirt bottle on every set-up of the big trip.
Likewise, keep an extinguisher in close proximity.
No need to be scared, just 'regimented'.
When bushwalking I was always happy to cook with my shellite pressure stove in the door of the tent, but the pressure relief valve ALWAYS pointed out the open door.
2000 Jackaroo Monterey 2002 Jackaroo 'Equipe' & Heaslip soft floor rear fold camper.
05 Subaru Outback Weekender GOGO Camper
 i hope for a better world for my kids, and yours, not just a bigger slice of the current one!

Offline Old Croc + plus one

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 364
  • Gender: Male
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #18 on: February 28, 2011, 06:28:03 PM »
Just returned from Sheepyard flat today and witnessed last night one bright spark showing his 3 boys how to start a fire with petrol if you have green wood  he nearly lost his camper I only hope his young boys never try it when he is away from his camp for some reason its not nice EXPERENCE to be First on the scene to a burns victim or Victims i CAN ASURE YOU

Safety First always 
Ford Ranger 2006

Offline olddigger

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 284
  • Thanked: 5 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Not good - Seven burned in campfire blaze in NSW
« Reply #19 on: February 28, 2011, 09:49:10 PM »
Respected poster on another site says local news reports claim an "altercation" resulted in the gas cylinder being kicked into the fire. Alcohol involved. The mind boggles.