On Thursday the 21/1/16 at approximately 3.45pm a scrub fire started in thick vegetation within the Black River camping ground on the Bass Highway, Black River.

Police and TFS units attended with the fire being contained to the middle of the camp ground.  A helicopter water bomber was also utilised to battle the blaze which has since been contained.

As a result of enquiries conducted by police at the camp ground a 13 yr old Central Coast youth and a 14 yr old Burnie youth were located at the camp ground and were later interviewed by police at the Smithton Police Station where they admitted to lighting the fire.  Both youths will be proceeded against under the Youth Justice Act for unlawfully setting fire to vegetation.

A number of campers had to be evacuated from the camping ground with a small amount of camping equipment being destroyed by the fire.  No persons were inured as a result of the fire.