Yep I remember the regular service days in SA and the blackened areas between the road and the tracks. We would scale the ROW fences for cleaner shots only to find blackened earth on the side of the tracks. But as you say, this happened so much that it stayed clear of brush. Also every native down there seemed to start a fire along the side of the road in the early morning or early evening during those winter months of June-August. I have heard about many issues with running charters in SA. David Rodgers finally threw-up his hands and said that was it.
Greg