sounds like borrowed/stolen kit, and they dont exactly sound like they were sober, i doubt they thought much except "crap we have been caught doing something stupid, run!"
southey, did you tell them they wernt allowed to take their kit, or did they just leg it? i doubt they even though about their stuff, so how exactly anyone can say its your fault they didnt take their kit i do not know.
i have never actually seen a sensible fair comment from you 789987, but i dont think someone trying to cause trouble can get to nearly 300 posts without being kicked off the site. just look at things from others perspectives, how would you like someone illegally camping close to your house with a dangerously large fire and making explosions.
the large fire is also near a lot of overhanging trees and with a lot of explosives going off too was ridiculously dangerous. when these goons had eventually passed out in their melting tents its worryingly likely that something would set on fire which shouldnt have and could have set the whole woodland ablaze around them.
if i were those idiots i would be much happier loosing that kit than running around in a drunken stupor in a burning forest...