fire ban food/dinner ideas

[couscousman]

With summer readily approaching and many an extended walk planned just wondering what are good ideas for dinners when stoves/fires are banned due to a fire ban - (possibly for consecutive days).

[ollster]

Excuse my likely stupidity - are gas burners counted in total fire bans?

PS: I do like your username, about 80% of my bushwalking meals are couscous related.

[couscousman]

hey man - I do believe that during periods of total fire ban that any naked flame is banned. This includes Trangias, Gas burners - drangon flies, simmer lights, Jet Boils etc. So for food ideas it will have to be something cold. However, i think if you have access to a hut you may be able to use them - (Not 100% sure of this though).

[ollster]

From Tas FS website...

http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/mysite/Show? ... alFireBans

Bit off topic, but yeah looks like you're quite right.

I guess depending on the length of the walk, I'd probably just bring fresh veg (pre-prepared) and some packaged meat, cheese, dips etc and have salads or sandwiches. Not very exciting.

Last edited by ollster on Mon 21 Dec, 2009 1:13 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[johnw]

...are gas burners counted in total fire bans?

In Tasmania it looks like they're banned (in the open at least - dunno about huts).
http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/mysite/Show?pageId=colFireBan

In NSW it currently seems delightfully ambiguous . Why can't they just write in plain English and provide an explicit list of what's banned (with examples/pictures etc). I know portable stoves have been banned in the past, so I think it's probably safe to assume that's still the case. Also I thought consistent rules around fire bans etc were going to be adopted nationally, more or less?
http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_content.cfm?cat_id=1110

Cold food? Boring but:

beef jerky
vegemite (or other spread) on mountain bread
cheese and biscuit snack packs
mame noodles
muesli bars and similar
muffin/breakfast bars
scroggin
dried fruit
biscuits
nuts

ps I think I've seen one of the packet cous cous that can be prepared cold. Ainsley Herrot?

[stepbystep]

A big polish sausage from Ziggy's smallgoods, bag of sauerkraut some mustard and some rye bread.
I'd take that fire ban or not....hmmmm hungry.

[ollster]

You must be a pleasant person to share a tent with, SBS.

[ILUVSWTAS]

You must be a pleasant person to share a tent with, SBS.

Given what he had in the back of his mighty landcruiser after our daywalk (a couple of cold beers after a long hot day) I can safely say he's a pleasant person to do daywalks with....

[stepbystep]

You must be a pleasant person to share a tent with, SBS.

Is that an invitation

...and the sausage is full of garlic too.
I must say I've never been described as pleasant though, especiall after a few cold beers

[ollster]

LOL. I have a one person tent for a reason.

[sthughes]

http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/mysite/Show? ... alFireBans

Lol, well isn't that interesting. Not sure what the fines are but I suspect they would make a fortune at say Pelion Hut on the night of a total fire ban!

[corvus]

The Tasmania Fire Service can declare a Total Fire Ban on days when the danger of fire is extremely high and when fires would be expected to develop rapidly and be extremely difficult to control. Usually a Total Fire Ban lasts for 24 hours. Days of Total Fire Bans are advertised in daily newspapers, on television and radio and on the TFS website.
On days of Total Fire Bans, all outdoors fires are banned except electric stoves and barbecues, and gas stoves and barbecues provided they are cleared of flammable material for at least 1 metre. Other barbecues and portable stoves including those that use wood, charcoal or other solid or liquid fuel are banned. Work practices such as grinding, welding and cutting metal in the open are not permitted.

The use of machinery for harvesting etc, may be subject to restrictions or prohibited on the declaration of a total fire ban. All fire permits are automatically revoked.

Looks like we can use our gas burners in Tasmania with caution ,so cold meals are not a must
corvus

[tomberli]

Excuse my likely stupidity - are gas burners counted in total fire bans?

its a very interesting point but as far as I know Trangia's are OK even on a total fire ban. I have had this discussion before, a few years back. Unfortunately I don't recall where I got the advice from but my memory tells me that its OK to use Trangia's even in total fire ban...
This should really be investigated further...

[stepbystep]

it's all good and well declaring a total fire ban, but if you are in a remote area, how do you know?
Smoke signals maybe

[geoskid]

I did'nt see anywhere on the above links that says Bushwalker type gas stoves are not allowed on total fire ban days.
I would be VERY surprised if the direct question was asked and the answer was in the negative.
I am going to assume it is OK.

[corvus]

Please read,
other solid or LIQUID fuel are banned.
So no Metho Trangia as I read it.

[stepbystep]

Please read,
other solid or LIQUID fuel are banned.
So no Metho Trangia as I read it.

corvus, it's hard to read and concentrate, but, as per my previous post, if you aren't informed i.e. in a remote location(if a ban is in place or not)you don't know, do you?

Surely this is when common sense as a bushwalker with all due respect to all things natural comes into play.
I've never let a fire get out of control and I'm sure 99% of forum members are the same......should we all carry weather stations to determine how safe it is to cook our noodles?

Thoughts?
sbs

[tastrax]

This should really be investigated further...

Email sent to fire service - phone call just received. A response will either be posted on the forum or sent to me so I can post to the site.

[tastrax]

Moderators - maybe this could be split into another topic "Use of stoves in a total fire ban"

[Son of a Beach]

Moderators - maybe this could be split into another topic "Use of stoves in a total fire ban"

'tis done.

Readers, please note that the question of using bushwalking stoves durin a total fire ban has been asked directly to the Tasmanian Fire Service by tastrax. The question and their fairly comprehensive answer are now in this new topic. Please carry on further discussion that issue in the new topic, and we'll aim to get back to the original question in this topic.

[frank_in_oz]

Smoked chicken breast lasts pretty well so that might be an option / something different.
You could just have it in a wrap or on some dry biscuits.
Heavy to carry but nice to eat

[geoskid]

Well....Best double up on the favourite lunch type food.