Thread: Bakewell Burner Use on DOC Land and Campsites

Pre Covid etc I went to use my Bakewell Burner at a DOC campsite and the Ranger Dan Volunteer said I couldn't use it.
Later he said he was interested in looking at it.
I politely said no.
What is DOCs stance on using these ?.
Has it changed ?.
The DOC website basically says no to wood fires, charcoal BBQ's and I assume Thermettes as well, all of which I have and have used in the past.
Interested in how others have got on as the bakewell burner isn't really a fire risk as is the thermette and heat beads in a weber BBQ isn't really either.
Bit loathe to enquire with DOC if others have been pushing the barrow and making progress.

if you make it safe,are seen to be being safe,have a fire extinquisher in vechille...yeah nah,they wont have leg to stand on.....firewood brought from home in sack on display (even if you use whats on site) will go a long way to appease the Karens too.
now me....I would MORE THAN HAPPILY play the hori race card on this one and take it to court...my ancesters of every race n creed have lit fires in New Zealand to cook meals and boil the billy since long before Karen was even a twinkle in the test tube..... no woke,P.C. do gooder wearing homespun cardigan is going to stop me from having a fire if and when I NEED ONE to do the same. its heritage,its tradition,its just how we do things around here.
but my older bro was saying he not allowed to use a generator in a DOC campsite either for "noise polution "reasons,even though he was only one there LOL.

I doubt DOC own the beach at coastal DOC camps.
Haul the bbq down to the beach and ignore the silly pricks.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

if you make it safe,are seen to be being safe,have a fire extinquisher in vechille...yeah nah,they wont have leg to stand on.....firewood brought from home in sack on display (even if you use whats on site) will go a long way to appease the Karens too.
now me....I would MORE THAN HAPPILY play the hori race card on this one and take it to court...my ancesters of every race n creed have lit fires in New Zealand to cook meals and boil the billy since long before Karen was even a twinkle in the test tube..... no woke,P.C. do gooder wearing homespun cardigan is going to stop me from having a fire if and when I NEED ONE to do the same. its heritage,its tradition,its just how we do things around here.
but my older bro was saying he not allowed to use a generator in a DOC campsite either for "noise polution "reasons,even though he was only one there LOL.

The genset on a campsite is pretty annoying... I would think the ranger should have told him to put it away if any more campers show up.
I don't like em. Think they are a bit of 'glamping' gear not usually needed.

Funny enough we were at Top 10 Napier beach and some others had a good fire going at the beach.
But looking at using at campsites like Mangatutu Hot Springs and Kuripapango truck camping with family.
The Hot Springs used to have heaps of the wood burners installed by DOC.
Which I think they are still using/installing elsewhere.

sp park truck out on road,light up your bakewell and flick DOC the bird.....drive back in to sleep.....or just use a big thermos/pump pot.

Apparently there have been two fires burning for several days in the Piro Piro area of the Pureoras (campfires not put out properly), and DOC aren't interested in doing anything about it. Hopefully the recent rain has dealt to them.

I also have a similar stove burner similar to the Bakewell brand. I actually sourced my one off this forum when a member arranged a bulk buy about 2020? A job well appreciated. What i like about the stove i use is that it is fitted with what i call a spark arrester? I have used it many times on my 4wd trips into the hills in the South Island. Now for the people like myself a stove cooker is great on those winter type days when in the South Island high country so understand the fella above from Hellenville not really into them - bit of a temp difference unless something changed since i lived in Auck? Anyway i think you'll find that a properly made stove as we are talking about is far safer than an open fire in the mountains? Though many huts burnt down in the South Island have actually started ....in or around the hut. And the common factor - the ash bucket filled with hot ashes as the hut users departed and left outside the hut. E.g Casey Hut, Anne Hut, Hawden Hut etc. So i have emailed DOC in the meantime to clarify their legal use in the high country on public land with a photo provided. I am not panicking but it would be good to know where we stand? Technology advances with wood type stoves so i would expect DOC to have some appreciation that they exist in the current market and are out there.

I use my Thermette - with the meths burner ring, in lieu of feeding it ‘nuggety bits’ of firewood when in a fire risk area or fire ban. Haven’t been challenged yet - the odd looks I get occasionally are from those less educated souls who don’t even know what a Thermette is.

Agreed re ash disposal. Soak ‘‘em in water.

A poorly connected connected LPG bottle that catches fire at the tap/connection poses a significant fire risk - yet they’re ‘OK’, apparently.

Originally Posted by Hunteast

I also have a similar stove burner similar to the Bakewell brand. I actually sourced my one off this forum when a member arranged a bulk buy about 2020? A job well appreciated. What i like about the stove i use is that it is fitted with what i call a spark arrester? I have used it many times on my 4wd trips into the hills in the South Island. Now for the people like myself a stove cooker is great on those winter type days when in the South Island high country so understand the fella above from Hellenville not really into them - bit of a temp difference unless something changed since i lived in Auck? Anyway i think you'll find that a properly made stove as we are talking about is far safer than an open fire in the mountains? Though many huts burnt down in the South Island have actually started ....in or around the hut. And the common factor - the ash bucket filled with hot ashes as the hut users departed and left outside the hut. E.g Casey Hut, Anne Hut, Hawden Hut etc. So i have emailed DOC in the meantime to clarify their legal use in the high country on public land with a photo provided. I am not panicking but it would be good to know where we stand? Technology advances with wood type stoves so i would expect DOC to have some appreciation that they exist in the current market and are out there.Attachment 197073Attachment 197074Attachment 197075Attachment 197076Attachment 197077Attachment 197078Attachment 197079

Thanks that was the response I was after.
Please let us know how you get on.
The bakewell has a spark arrestor too.

I have been in the past at the Mangatutu Hot Springs.
Fire ban in place so not using the old provided fire boxes.
DOC onsite flying gear in and they have watched us use a thermette with no issue.
The biggest issue was that idiots cutting down stuff rather than bring own wood or use the standing dead manuka.
Too lazy to walk a bit.

The issue with burners using solid fuel is not the burner per se, but the risk of flying sparks causing a fire, and that unintelligent people tip the red hot embers into the nearest scrub, and go home. If you are aware of these factors, and have a bucket of water, and/or an extinguisher handy and visible, you might persuade a reasonable DoC person to allow it. The big kicker though is that now, if you are responsible for an out of control fire in the backcountry, you can be liable for the entire cost of fire suppression.

This is what doc had and as far as I know still use/supply.


Tell me if a bakewell or similar isn't better or safer to use.

As erniec aludes too - we have provided examples with pics further up of spark arresters on the stoves we are talking about. We know the risks of sparks hence the attached photo's showing exactly that with hot ashes in buckets, burnt scrub around huts. And the mention of my email sent to DOC awaiting reply? Christ - talk about repeating one self...

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...-you-go/fires/