Illegal campfire charges, Fraser Island

Four people have been charged with unlawfully lighting fires on K’Gari (Fraser Island) following a joint investigation involving Queensland Police and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).

It will be alleged on October 14, QPWS rangers on K’Gari were alerted to an illegal campfire within the Duling Camp Zone of Eastern Beach, north of Orange Creek.

Rangers attended and located a campfire that was covered in sand though still radiating heat.

Native vegetation in close proximity had caught alight and started a wildfire to the north west of the camp site.

This wildfire subsequently took hold and over the following weeks burned extensive parts of the world heritage listed island.

In total, it is estimated this fire has burned…