Illegal raves in national parks throughout Western Australia’s South West are creating an unacceptable fire risk that leaves both partygoers and locals in danger, authorities say.
The most recent bush doof was reported at Redgate, 280 kilometres south of Perth, on Wednesday afternoon, with hundreds of partygoers reportedly in attendance.
At the same time, local brigades were fighting an emergency bushfire just 11 kilometres away.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) said the revellers were “completely oblivious” to the danger posed by the fire.
“DBCA staff and resources had to be diverted from the bushfire to go and investigate the bush doof and evacuate the people,” a spokesperson said.
“Cars were backed up and blocking access to and from the party area.”
‘The perfect storm’
Redgate resident Terry Stanley has witnessed multiple illegal raves near his home over his 40 years in the coastal community.
He said the dangers of the raves in remote bushland, coupled with the fire risk, were a “perfect storm”.
Audio and electrical equipment was found scattered after a recent bush doof. (Supplied: DBCA)
“I’m all peace, love and brown rice, and I think a lot of the people are in this area, but you’ve got to be realistic,” he said.
“It’s all fun and games until it’s not and things get out of hand … especially with fire involved and people in a very confined little spot.
“It can turn into a catastrophe.”
Mr Stanley said Wednesday’s bush doof was held in a small clearing at the end of a long, narrow, sandy track which would make evacuating difficult.
“It’s surrounded on three sides by very spiky, dry, almost impenetrable coastal heath,” he said.
“On the fourth side, which is the ocean side, if you wanted to escape down to the beach … you’d actually have to drop down a limestone cliff.”
Terry Stanley says a bushfire in 2021 showed him just how fast-moving a blaze can be. (Supplied: Terry Stanley)
The rave organisers were fined $1,200, according to DBCA.
Mr Stanley said current penalties were not enough to deter revellers.
“If you’re going to give someone a fine, and they’re going to be out of the country in two months or three months, they’re not going to pay that fine, they’ll just leave,” he said.
“People just throw it on the ground because who cares?”
Partygoers ‘oblivious’ to dangers
Parks and Wildlife senior ranger Naz Graue was tasked with responding to the rave.
Bush doofs held in WA’s South West have caused fire safety concerns. (File photo) (ABC Wimmera: Angus Mackintosh)
“There were hundreds of cars parked on both sides of the road and then down the sandy track, which was difficult to drive down,” Ms Graue said.
“There’s no way we’d have got a fire truck in there if we needed to.
“It amazes me how people are oblivious to the danger that they’re putting themselves in.”
Electrical equipment left at a disbanded bush doof earlier this month. (Supplied: DBCA)
A lack of fire safety consideration from organisers was putting partygoers at risk, she said.
“They just don’t seem to understand that our landscape is very volatile to fire and how quickly fire can move through the landscape.
“There’s just no way to get out, that they’ll be trapped in there.”
Authorities say unsanctioned raves in nature reserves create an unacceptable fire risk. (Supplied: DBCA)
Ms Graue said critical resources were directed away from a nearby fire to help manage partygoers.
“It was still in a dangerous situation where we needed those resources to help out to protect the properties that were under threat at the time,” she said.
DBCA has urged anyone to report suspicious activity in national parks and state forests.