Lachlan James Brown – charged with one count of unlawfully lighting a fire – had his matter adjourned to February 11 for a mention and he remains free in the community.
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Travis Robert Lowe – charged with one count of unlawfully lighting a fire – also had his matter adjourned to February 11 for a mention and he remains free in the community.
Police allege a 17-year-old boy was also involved, but he has not been officially charged because of his age. Instead, he is being dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.
Fraser Island, situated about 250 kilometres north of Brisbane, is World Heritage-listed and the world’s largest sand island.
Authorities estimate the fire burnt through 87,000 hectares of the island, led to mass evacuations of residents and threatened homes, coming within metres of the community of Happy Valley.
It will be alleged on October 14, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers on Fraser Island (K’Gari) found an illegal campfire within the Duling Camp Zone of Eastern Beach.
Rangers said the fire was covered in sand but still radiating heat and as a result, vegetation nearby had caught alight and started a bushfire to the north-west of the campsite.
The bushfire took hold and over the following weeks burned extensive parts of the world heritage-listed island.
According to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, campfires are not allowed on Fraser Island except in the communal fire rings provided by the service at Dundubara main and Dundubara group camping areas, and Waddy Point camping areas (top and beachfront).
