❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the Walpole fire in April 2024, covering details of the fire response, ecological impact, and costs. The response provides specific information on timelines, resources deployed, and efforts to protect sensitive ecosystems.
AnsweredQoN 2021Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the recent Walpole fire that burnt 13,700 hectares of land, and I ask: (a) on
what date and at what time was the fire first reported; (b) when
were the first Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions personnel on site; (c) in relation to (b), were they the first emergency responders; (d) if no to (c), who was the first emergency responder on site; (e) when
did the first aerial support arrive; (f) how
many aircraft were made available; (g) how
many water drops were made; (h) in relation to (g), at what times and days; (i) what
was the full expenditure for the fire (please provide a breakdown of costs); (j) will
the Minister table a map showing the fuel ages across the fire ground prior to
this most recent fire; (k) did
on-ground firefighting efforts continue after dark on 25 April; (l) if no to (k), why not; (m) what fire-sensitive ecological values exist within the
fire ground; (n) please
quantify the particular efforts that were made to reduce the impact of fire on
peats, sunset frogs, granites, tingles, red-flowering gums and other
fire-sensitive ecosystems and species during the firefighting effort and
afterwards; (o) were aerial incendiaries used in the backburning
operation as a part of the firefighting effort; (p) if yes to (o), where; and (q) if yes to (o), how many?
what date and at what time was the fire first reported; (b) when
were the first Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions personnel on site; (c) in relation to (b), were they the first emergency responders; (d) if no to (c), who was the first emergency responder on site; (e) when
did the first aerial support arrive; (f) how
many aircraft were made available; (g) how
many water drops were made; (h) in relation to (g), at what times and days; (i) what
was the full expenditure for the fire (please provide a breakdown of costs); (j) will
the Minister table a map showing the fuel ages across the fire ground prior to
this most recent fire; (k) did
on-ground firefighting efforts continue after dark on 25 April; (l) if no to (k), why not; (m) what fire-sensitive ecological values exist within the
fire ground; (n) please
quantify the particular efforts that were made to reduce the impact of fire on
peats, sunset frogs, granites, tingles, red-flowering gums and other
fire-sensitive ecosystems and species during the firefighting effort and
afterwards; (o) were aerial incendiaries used in the backburning
operation as a part of the firefighting effort; (p) if yes to (o), where; and (q) if yes to (o), how many?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 June 2024
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment
Response time
12 days
a) The initial fire report was received by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services at 10:16pm on 24 April 2024. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) was advised of the call and provided with caller details at 10:18pm on 24 April 2024. The location of the fire was not confirmed at that time and an approximate location of the initial fire was subsequently provided to DBCA at 11:15pm on 24 April 2024.
b)DBCA’s fire response personnel were dispatched from Walpole at 11:43pm on 24 April 2024. Fire personnel arrived at the location of the first bushfire at 12:15am on 25 April 2024. An additional three fires were located at 12:36am on 25 April 2024. Seven fires in total were located by 3:18am spread over a distance of 15 kilometres.
c) Yes.
d) Not applicable.
e) The first aerial water bomber departed Bunbury at 12:02pm on 25 April 2024. The first water drop occurred at 1:35pm.
f) Eight.
g) Fifty-three (53) drops were undertaken for bushfire suppression over three days at the Middle Road bushfire complex. Low cloud, fog, smoke, erratic fire behaviour especially during major fire runs on the first day impacted the ability to fly and make safe and effective water drops.
h) Thursday, 25 April: 17 drops First: 1:35pm Last 5:10pm
Friday, 26 April: 34 drops First: 11:01am Last: 5:22pm
Sunday, 28 April: 2 drops First: 10:10am Last: 10:12am
i) Costs associated with the suppression of the bushfire have yet to be finalised.
j) Please refer to the attached fuel age map shown within the final bushfire boundary.
k) Yes.
l) Not applicable.
m) Granite occurrences at Soho Hills and peatlands.
n) Peat systems were targeted for suppression once the fire was declared as contained and resources could be diverted to prioritised peat systems for suppression work. Due to the size and intensity of the fires and the ongoing dry conditions, multiple peat systems caught alight. Using a decision-making tool developed by DBCA to prioritise fire suppression in peatlands, the initial suppression efforts targeted peat systems known to currently or historically contain sunset frogs.
A sprinkler system was deployed and set up at one of these priority peat areas, others were suppressed by hand by fire crews. Suppression and mop-up continued until rainfall caused peat ignition and substrate consumption to decrease or extinguish. Tingles and red flowering gum were treated as part of the mop-up of roads. It is not safe or viable to attempt accessing areas of peat, granites, or other areas of concern well within the fire boundary, to do so would require the construction of extensive tracks causing further disturbance and short and long-term impacts to the area.
o) Yes.
p) An area of approximately 230 hectares in the southernmost section of Trent forest block targeting areas of predominantly southern jarrah vegetation.
q) Two hundred twenty-two (222) capsules were used at a spacing distance of 200 metres by 200 metres with an observed ignition outcome of 35 per cent.
b)DBCA’s fire response personnel were dispatched from Walpole at 11:43pm on 24 April 2024. Fire personnel arrived at the location of the first bushfire at 12:15am on 25 April 2024. An additional three fires were located at 12:36am on 25 April 2024. Seven fires in total were located by 3:18am spread over a distance of 15 kilometres.
c) Yes.
d) Not applicable.
e) The first aerial water bomber departed Bunbury at 12:02pm on 25 April 2024. The first water drop occurred at 1:35pm.
f) Eight.
g) Fifty-three (53) drops were undertaken for bushfire suppression over three days at the Middle Road bushfire complex. Low cloud, fog, smoke, erratic fire behaviour especially during major fire runs on the first day impacted the ability to fly and make safe and effective water drops.
h) Thursday, 25 April: 17 drops First: 1:35pm Last 5:10pm
Friday, 26 April: 34 drops First: 11:01am Last: 5:22pm
Sunday, 28 April: 2 drops First: 10:10am Last: 10:12am
i) Costs associated with the suppression of the bushfire have yet to be finalised.
j) Please refer to the attached fuel age map shown within the final bushfire boundary.
k) Yes.
l) Not applicable.
m) Granite occurrences at Soho Hills and peatlands.
n) Peat systems were targeted for suppression once the fire was declared as contained and resources could be diverted to prioritised peat systems for suppression work. Due to the size and intensity of the fires and the ongoing dry conditions, multiple peat systems caught alight. Using a decision-making tool developed by DBCA to prioritise fire suppression in peatlands, the initial suppression efforts targeted peat systems known to currently or historically contain sunset frogs.
A sprinkler system was deployed and set up at one of these priority peat areas, others were suppressed by hand by fire crews. Suppression and mop-up continued until rainfall caused peat ignition and substrate consumption to decrease or extinguish. Tingles and red flowering gum were treated as part of the mop-up of roads. It is not safe or viable to attempt accessing areas of peat, granites, or other areas of concern well within the fire boundary, to do so would require the construction of extensive tracks causing further disturbance and short and long-term impacts to the area.
o) Yes.
p) An area of approximately 230 hectares in the southernmost section of Trent forest block targeting areas of predominantly southern jarrah vegetation.
q) Two hundred twenty-two (222) capsules were used at a spacing distance of 200 metres by 200 metres with an observed ignition outcome of 35 per cent.
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