The question was raised in a previous post in the solo nomads as to whether a Cobb or even a gas cooker could be  used in the open during a TOTAL FIRE BAN. Below is the email I recieved back from the NSW Rural fire Dept yesterday.

Joan,

During a Total Fire Ban no fire may be lit in the open and all Fire
permits are suspended. This includes incinerators and barbecues which
burn solid fuel, e.g. wood or charcoal.

I have looked at the site for Cobb cookers and as they use BBQ beads
this fire would not be permitted during a total fire ban as BBQ beads
are classified as a solid fuel.

You may use a gas or electric barbecue, but only if:

1.   It is on a residential property within 20 metres of the house or
dwelling; or
2.   It is a picnic area and the appliance is approved by Council,
National Parks or State Forest; and
3.   It is under the direct control of a responsible adult;
4.   No combustible material of any kind is allowed within two metres of
the appliance while it is operating;
5.   You have an immediate and continuous supply of water available.

As such provided you adhere to the above conditions a gas or electric
BBQ is an option.

Please remember that lighting a fire on a day of Total Fire Ban attracts
a fine of up to $5500 and/or 12 months gaol. Penalties for a fire that
escapes and damages or destroys life, property or the environment can
attract much greater fines and gaol terms with maximums at $100,000
and/or 14 years gaol.  

Civil law suits can also be brought against the person responsible for a
fire by those seeking compensation for losses sustained.

Regards,

Jessica
Webmaster

webmaster@rfs.nsw.gov.au

My email to Qld Rural Fire Service was returned undelivered.  However it will no doubt be similar in all states.  I hope this clears up any doubts that others may have.

Happy Cooking
Jo

yep, pretty much the same here, rang our m.f.s., spoke to the supervisor on duty and he said basically the same. however he did say that if one was to have the cobb inside a caravan or camper, with a water supply on hand, then he could not see a problem, the problem I see with that is you must have good ventilation in the van whilst cooking and do not dispose of the beads until they are soaked in water and completely out, Phil ( our M.F.S. duty officer) fully agreed with that, Phil also stated that a gas cooker would be fine, provided sensible steps were taken, water on hand, reasonable clearing, no tall dead grass, not under a low tree, that sort of thing. he stated most campers are fine only a very small minority do the wrong things. I should mention that I am, of course speaking of south australia. and refering to total fire ban days. one thing to remember is that this does not include a weber style cooker as these appliances drop red hot ash out of the bottom of the unit whilst cooking, these are not to be used during total fire ban days under any cicumstances

-- Edited by dave06 at 11:47, 2008-09-18

jokirt wrote:

---

You may use a gas or electric barbecue, but only if:

2.   It is a picnic area and the appliance is approved by Council,
National Parks or State Forest; and

---

My reading of the above is that you can not use your own gas appliance, only the fixed one provided by the NP / Council etc.

I also understand that, technically, using one inside a motorhome / caravan does not comply either, but would stand corrected on that view.

Cheers,
Peter

yeh what would phil know, he's only the supervisor on duty at our local M.F.S. I printed the response out and took it down to the fireys, it's on my way to work, take a look at rule (3) IF IT IS UNDER DIRECT CONTROL OF A RESPONSIBLE ADULT. this was pointed out to me by Mark, all gas appliances must by law be passed by the relevent authorities, where does it state it must not be your gas barby or cooker, spoke to mark the firey on duty today, he repeated basically what Phil had said, if your van/camper/tent is in these areas then they would automatically come under the same regulation, providing you comply with rule 4 and 5, I have used my gas cooker on total firebans and in areas where it is patrolled by rangers, many times, the rangers have been there and had a chat whilst I have done so, I have just never thought of it before, and I will not think of it again, because I use all obvious safety measures, the rules are there basically to stop idiots lighting fires in the open, and setting fire to the scrub, they are not worried about whether you burn your chop or not