❓ Question seeks a breakdown of bushfire causes in the South-west forest region during the 2021/22 financial year. The answer provides a table outlining the number of fires, their attributed cause, and the percentage of the statewide total for each cause within the specified region.
AnsweredQoN 1490Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the South-west forest region as covered by the Forest Management Plan 2014-2023, and the bush fires that occurred in that region over the 2021/22 financial year period. I note that the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions annual report provides this information for the entire state. What percentage and how many of those bush fires were caused by each of the following: (a) lightning; (b) deliberately lit or arson-caused fires; (c) accidental fires; (d) escapes from private burns; (e) escapes from department burns: (i) with area burnt in each escape; (f) other causes; and (g) unknown?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 August 2023
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment
Response time
5 days
The following table outlines the number of fires in the three Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) south-west forest regions (Swan, South West and Warren) over the 2021-22 financial year period, their attributed cause and the percentage of bushfires per cause as a proportion of the Statewide percentage as outlined in the DBCA 2021-22 Annual Report.
Bushfire cause
Statewide percentage total (as reported in 2021-22 Annual Report)
(%)
Number of fires within the south-west forest region
Percentage of statewide total from within the south-west forest region
(%)
(a) Lightning
28.4
61
38
(b) Deliberate or arson-caused fires
34.3
158
81
(c) Accidental
10.9
45
73
(d) Escape from private burns
3.5
13
65
(e) Escape from DBCA prescribed burns
0.2
1 (i) 9.9 hectares
100
(f) Other causes
11
45
67
(g) Unknown
11.7
33
52
Bushfire cause
Statewide percentage total (as reported in 2021-22 Annual Report)
(%)
Number of fires within the south-west forest region
Percentage of statewide total from within the south-west forest region
(%)
(a) Lightning
28.4
61
38
(b) Deliberate or arson-caused fires
34.3
158
81
(c) Accidental
10.9
45
73
(d) Escape from private burns
3.5
13
65
(e) Escape from DBCA prescribed burns
0.2
1 (i) 9.9 hectares
100
(f) Other causes
11
45
67
(g) Unknown
11.7
33
52
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