In the lead up to Valentine’s Day this year I received the following advertising blog from Snowy’s Outdoors (outdoors and camping goods retailer). Were some customers just too inspired? Read on to see what happened on Valentine’s Day at one of Adelaide’s suburban camping grounds.

 

[extract from Snowy’s Outdoors blog]

What you need for a perfect Valentine’s Day!

by Liz Darcy on 8th February 2013 in Sleeping Gear, Swags 

Valentine’s Day comes on the same day every day, doesn’t it? Whether it’s something you dread, look forward to or are simply nonplussed about, you can’t escape it. So why not embrace it and take your loved one somewhere special? …….Whatever you do, you’ll need a bevy of camping and outdoor gear to help get you in the mood. Whilst we can’t provide the candles or rose petals, we’ve got everything else you need for a Valentine’s day (or night) full of romance for the outdoor lovers (get it?!).  Here is what we consider to be what you need for a perfect Valentine’s Day.

[Swag advertising removed]

 

Cook up a storm with the Gasmate Butane Portable Cooker

For a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs on the beach, dinner at the camp site or a picnic lunch in the park, the Gasmate Butane Deluxe 2 Burner Portable Cooker is a handy little thing! My husband and I take this one almost everywhere we go so that we can enjoy the foods we love wherever we are (at the fraction of the cost of a hit or miss pub meal).

• We love it because it is really lightweight and is quite small in it’s carry case so doesn’t take up too much room in the car.
• It’s really easy to get set up and quickly cooking (it has a piezo ignition for the quick start) and the food it produces is just like you’d get at home.
• All that is required for refilling is getting a standard butane cartridge.
• It also doesn’t make much of a mess – the stainless steel spill tray is really easy to clean.

Later that week, on a hot, romantic Valentine’s Day….

 

Large grass fire forces Brown Hill Creek caravan park evacuation

Extract from report by Sam Kelton, The Advertiser , February 15, 2013 

TWO people have been reported for allegedly accidentally starting a large fire at Brown Hill Creek that forced the evacuation of a nearby caravan park last night.

Police allege the couple were cooking fish using a portable gas stove, when hot oil spilled and ignited dry grass.

 

© Tom from Mortlock Park.

The couple tried to extinguish the fire but were unsuccessful.

Country Fire Service crews attended the scene and contained the fire.

A Glenalta man, 20, and a Flagstaff Hill woman, 20, were reported for recklessly causing a bushfire.

They will be summonsed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court at a later date.

There were some suggestions from people in the vicinity of the blaze that the fire was caused by a burning Valentine’s Day love heart in the grass but the CFS said police investigations had concluded hot oil was the cause.

Brown Hill Creek Caravan Park owner Gavin Dyer told adelaidenow today the 130-140 visitors staying at the caravan park were in high spirits this morning, despite being evacuated for about two hours last night.

Sixty firefighters battled the blaze for over an hour, restricting its spread to four hectares and preventing damage to properties.

CFS state coordinator Mark Thomason said people need to be aware of restriction in place during the fire danger season, from December 1 to April 30 in the Mount Lofty Rangers and metropolitan area.

“For a number of activities, such as barbecues, lighting fires, angle grinding (and) welding, persons operating those devices need to take precautions,” he said.

“There has to be a four-metre clearance of all flammable material and a means of extinguishing a fire.

“The only thing that changes is when we declare a day of total fire ban.”

Mr Thomason said a portable stove is considered naked flame and a potential danger.