A year or so ago I was on a fireground, ‘mopping up’ a fire that had run up a hill through a scrubby forest of Box and Stringybark. There were a surprising number of nasty looking trees with hanging branches or burnt out crowns, so we were working slowly and carefully, to stay out of danger. One of the others, an older guy with decades of firefighting experience told me of a day years ago when he was fighting a fire in Ash country up in the Central Highlands. He turned around at one point to find his mate dead on the ground. A branch from an Ash tree (not sure if it was Alpine or Mountain Ash) had hit the man in his neck at the top of his spine and killed him instantly.

We all know that Alpine Ash love to throw small branches that fall almost as spears and end up stuck in the ground. I was thinking of this story as I wandered through an Alpine Ash forest the other day after a big stormy front had come through. All around there were ‘spears’ sticking up from the ground. I was glad I was safely camped in a clearing when that wind was blowing.

Our mountains are so safe when compared with higher ranges on other continents. No bears or massive killer avalanches. But you do have to keep an eye out for the trees.

Many people who camp in the inland river country know to stay well clear of Red Gums, despite the allure of shade. ‘Widow maker’ branches that can drop without warning are a part of life in the dry country. But I am often surprised in my travels in the high country, where I see people who have neglected to Look Up before setting up a tent.

With bushfires becoming more frequent and intense across the high country, the sudden collapse of fire affected trees is also a reality of life. While mature and healthy snow gums are one of the safest trees in terms of dropping branches, lots of forest burnt in the early 2000s are now starting to collapse.

As with the need for campfire safety on high fire risk days, we constantly need to remind ourselves to Look UP and Stay Safe when setting up camp.

Enjoy that campsite. But scope the trees before you set up.

(Yes, the headline is a bit melodramatic. But I hope the safety message was of use to you).