Death prompts tent fire warning

The farm campsite where a man died. Photo/Stuart Munro

A fatal fire in Marton this week has the fire service urging campers to put smoke alarms in tents.

Fire risk management officer for the region Shane Dudley says it is not something campers think about, but the fire that killed a 36-year-old man in a wooded paddock off Hawkestone Rd shows how dangerous tents can be.

And the fire service says campers should never use candles.

"Use an electric torch or lantern, never a candle" said Mr Dudley.

Police and the fire service are still investigating the fire that killed the farm worker, who was living in a tent and makeshift shelter.

Mr Dudley said the fire service wanted to highlight the two measures following the Marton fire, especially as the camping season was coming up.

He said putting smoke alarms in tents or other camping shelters "makes perfect sense", although campers might not think of it when planning a holiday.

"Tents are highly flammable, they are usually all nylon," he said.

"Put the alarm high up, smoke travels upwards."

Police have yet to release the name of the man because not all his next of kin have been informed. Some live overseas.

There has been speculation in the district that the man was a woofer, or volunteer organic farm worker, but police could not confirm this.

They understood he was carrying out farm work in the Marton area prior to his death.