❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding the Department of Parks and Wildlife's prescribed burning program, focusing on bushfire containment, costs, and staffing. The Minister provides data on containment percentages, costs, and staffing levels.
AnsweredQoN 491Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PRESCRIBED
BURNING PROGRAM
491. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the Department of Parks and Wildlife's
prescribed burning operations.
(1) What
percentage of recorded bushfires over the past two years have been contained to
less than two hectares as a result of sound fire surveillance and rapid
response systems?
(2) What are
the obstacles to increasing this percentage?
(3) What is
the annual cost to the department of operating and maintaining its fire
surveillance and rapid response systems?
(4) What is
the annual cost to the department of operating and maintaining its prescribed
burning programs?
(5) How many
of the full-time equivalent staff work on prescribed burning and related
activities?
BURNING PROGRAM
491. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the Department of Parks and Wildlife's
prescribed burning operations.
(1) What
percentage of recorded bushfires over the past two years have been contained to
less than two hectares as a result of sound fire surveillance and rapid
response systems?
(2) What are
the obstacles to increasing this percentage?
(3) What is
the annual cost to the department of operating and maintaining its fire
surveillance and rapid response systems?
(4) What is
the annual cost to the department of operating and maintaining its prescribed
burning programs?
(5) How many
of the full-time equivalent staff work on prescribed burning and related
activities?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) In the
last two complete years—2012–13 and 2013–14—the
percentage of fires originating on Department of Parks and Wildlife-managed
land that were contained to less than two hectares was 67.9 per cent and 61.2 per
cent, respectively.
(2) There are
principally two distinct contributors to increasing this percentage. The first
is for the department to consistency achieve its prescribed burning program in
the south west forest, which is why the Liberal–National government
strongly supports this activity. The second is a denser network of operational
bases that would involve unsustainable support costs. The advent of water
bombers for rapid response has addressed this need to a large extent.
(3) In the
2013–14 year, the cost to the department of fire detection and
surveillance, firefighter standby costs, and standing costs for water bombers
was $9.6 million.
(4) In 2013–14,
the cost to the department of prescribed burning activities, including
silvicultural burning, was $11.7 million.
(5) Statewide,
the Department of Parks and Wildlife has approximately 100 dedicated fire
management staff, 320 permanent and seasonal frontline firefighters and 450
other staff able to contribute operational and support skills in prescribed
burning and fire suppression activities.
(1) In the
last two complete years—2012–13 and 2013–14—the
percentage of fires originating on Department of Parks and Wildlife-managed
land that were contained to less than two hectares was 67.9 per cent and 61.2 per
cent, respectively.
(2) There are
principally two distinct contributors to increasing this percentage. The first
is for the department to consistency achieve its prescribed burning program in
the south west forest, which is why the Liberal–National government
strongly supports this activity. The second is a denser network of operational
bases that would involve unsustainable support costs. The advent of water
bombers for rapid response has addressed this need to a large extent.
(3) In the
2013–14 year, the cost to the department of fire detection and
surveillance, firefighter standby costs, and standing costs for water bombers
was $9.6 million.
(4) In 2013–14,
the cost to the department of prescribed burning activities, including
silvicultural burning, was $11.7 million.
(5) Statewide,
the Department of Parks and Wildlife has approximately 100 dedicated fire
management staff, 320 permanent and seasonal frontline firefighters and 450
other staff able to contribute operational and support skills in prescribed
burning and fire suppression activities.
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