❓ The Minister for Police and Emergency Services outlines the lessons learned from the NSW bushfires, highlighting the deployment of WA personnel, the compilation of a 'lessons learnt' document, and ongoing efforts to combat arson.
AnsweredQoN 744Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Can the minister inform the House about the lessons this State has learnt from the devastating bushfires in New South Wales? Mrs ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Roleystone for the question, and for the great support he gives to local bushfire brigades. The Fire and Emergency Services Authority sent a contingent of 54 people to assist in the fighting of bushfires in New South Wales. In addition to providing their skills on the ground, they learnt a great deal in return. Our representatives were involved in incident management, logistics, training, planning - including geographical information system mapping for incident management teams - and air attack supervision. In some circumstances our FESA people were exposed to new operational techniques not currently in use in Western Australia. FESA has advised me that an extensive record of the team’s observation is being compiled into a “lessons learnt” document, which will augment our firefighters’ knowledge of incident control systems, air operations, planning, training, preparedness and logistics. With regard to the high percentage of fires in New South Wales caused by arson, FESA is a leading participant on the arson task force that provides a whole-of-government approach to reducing the impact of deliberately lit fires. FESA is also an active member of the Wildfire Investigation Action Team. In 2001 FESA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Police Service to ensure a joint approach to fire investigations is continued and enhanced. With the ongoing diligence of FESA and the State’s volunteer firefighters, I am confident that this State is prepared to deal with fires such as occurred in New South Wales.
Mrs ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for Roleystone for the question, and for the great support he gives to local bushfire brigades. The Fire and Emergency Services Authority sent a contingent of 54 people to assist in the fighting of bushfires in New South Wales. In addition to providing their skills on the ground, they learnt a great deal in return. Our representatives were involved in incident management, logistics, training, planning - including geographical information system mapping for incident management teams - and air attack supervision. In some circumstances our FESA people were exposed to new operational techniques not currently in use in Western Australia. FESA has advised me that an extensive record of the team’s observation is being compiled into a “lessons learnt” document, which will augment our firefighters’ knowledge of incident control systems, air operations, planning, training, preparedness and logistics. With regard to the high percentage of fires in New South Wales caused by arson, FESA is a leading participant on the arson task force that provides a whole-of-government approach to reducing the impact of deliberately lit fires. FESA is also an active member of the Wildfire Investigation Action Team. In 2001 FESA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Police Service to ensure a joint approach to fire investigations is continued and enhanced. With the ongoing diligence of FESA and the State’s volunteer firefighters, I am confident that this State is prepared to deal with fires such as occurred in New South Wales.
I thank the member for Roleystone for the question, and for the great support he gives to local bushfire brigades. The Fire and Emergency Services Authority sent a contingent of 54 people to assist in the fighting of bushfires in New South Wales. In addition to providing their skills on the ground, they learnt a great deal in return. Our representatives were involved in incident management, logistics, training, planning - including geographical information system mapping for incident management teams - and air attack supervision. In some circumstances our FESA people were exposed to new operational techniques not currently in use in Western Australia. FESA has advised me that an extensive record of the team’s observation is being compiled into a “lessons learnt” document, which will augment our firefighters’ knowledge of incident control systems, air operations, planning, training, preparedness and logistics. With regard to the high percentage of fires in New South Wales caused by arson, FESA is a leading participant on the arson task force that provides a whole-of-government approach to reducing the impact of deliberately lit fires. FESA is also an active member of the Wildfire Investigation Action Team. In 2001 FESA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Police Service to ensure a joint approach to fire investigations is continued and enhanced. With the ongoing diligence of FESA and the State’s volunteer firefighters, I am confident that this State is prepared to deal with fires such as occurred in New South Wales.
With regard to the high percentage of fires in New South Wales caused by arson, FESA is a leading participant on the arson task force that provides a whole-of-government approach to reducing the impact of deliberately lit fires. FESA is also an active member of the Wildfire Investigation Action Team. In 2001 FESA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Police Service to ensure a joint approach to fire investigations is continued and enhanced. With the ongoing diligence of FESA and the State’s volunteer firefighters, I am confident that this State is prepared to deal with fires such as occurred in New South Wales.
Mrs ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for Roleystone for the question, and for the great support he gives to local bushfire brigades. The Fire and Emergency Services Authority sent a contingent of 54 people to assist in the fighting of bushfires in New South Wales. In addition to providing their skills on the ground, they learnt a great deal in return. Our representatives were involved in incident management, logistics, training, planning - including geographical information system mapping for incident management teams - and air attack supervision. In some circumstances our FESA people were exposed to new operational techniques not currently in use in Western Australia. FESA has advised me that an extensive record of the team’s observation is being compiled into a “lessons learnt” document, which will augment our firefighters’ knowledge of incident control systems, air operations, planning, training, preparedness and logistics. With regard to the high percentage of fires in New South Wales caused by arson, FESA is a leading participant on the arson task force that provides a whole-of-government approach to reducing the impact of deliberately lit fires. FESA is also an active member of the Wildfire Investigation Action Team. In 2001 FESA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Police Service to ensure a joint approach to fire investigations is continued and enhanced. With the ongoing diligence of FESA and the State’s volunteer firefighters, I am confident that this State is prepared to deal with fires such as occurred in New South Wales.
I thank the member for Roleystone for the question, and for the great support he gives to local bushfire brigades. The Fire and Emergency Services Authority sent a contingent of 54 people to assist in the fighting of bushfires in New South Wales. In addition to providing their skills on the ground, they learnt a great deal in return. Our representatives were involved in incident management, logistics, training, planning - including geographical information system mapping for incident management teams - and air attack supervision. In some circumstances our FESA people were exposed to new operational techniques not currently in use in Western Australia. FESA has advised me that an extensive record of the team’s observation is being compiled into a “lessons learnt” document, which will augment our firefighters’ knowledge of incident control systems, air operations, planning, training, preparedness and logistics. With regard to the high percentage of fires in New South Wales caused by arson, FESA is a leading participant on the arson task force that provides a whole-of-government approach to reducing the impact of deliberately lit fires. FESA is also an active member of the Wildfire Investigation Action Team. In 2001 FESA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Police Service to ensure a joint approach to fire investigations is continued and enhanced. With the ongoing diligence of FESA and the State’s volunteer firefighters, I am confident that this State is prepared to deal with fires such as occurred in New South Wales.
With regard to the high percentage of fires in New South Wales caused by arson, FESA is a leading participant on the arson task force that provides a whole-of-government approach to reducing the impact of deliberately lit fires. FESA is also an active member of the Wildfire Investigation Action Team. In 2001 FESA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Police Service to ensure a joint approach to fire investigations is continued and enhanced. With the ongoing diligence of FESA and the State’s volunteer firefighters, I am confident that this State is prepared to deal with fires such as occurred in New South Wales.
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