❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding a wildfire originating in the Lancelin Defence Training Area and the fire response protocols and responsibilities of Defence and state emergency services. The Premier is questioned on the acceptability of unchecked bushfires near settlements.
AnsweredQoN 754Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a fire that was started by a lightening strike in the Lancelin Defence Training Area (LDTA) on Saturday, March 8, which was allowed to burn unchecked until it grew into a dangerous wildfire the following day threatening the communities at Lancelin and Ocean Farms -
(1) Are State fire and emergency services permitted to work inside the LDTA to put out fires?
(2) What personnel and equipment are maintained by Defence on the training area to prevent wildfires?
(3) What is the response time for Defence’s fire-fighting contractors?
(4) Does the Premier consider it acceptable to allow bush fires to remain un-checked in areas close to human settlements and the conservation estate?
(5) What agency has responsibility for the permissive occupancy area used by the army adjoining the LDTA?
(1) Are State fire and emergency services permitted to work inside the LDTA to put out fires?
(2) What personnel and equipment are maintained by Defence on the training area to prevent wildfires?
(3) What is the response time for Defence’s fire-fighting contractors?
(4) Does the Premier consider it acceptable to allow bush fires to remain un-checked in areas close to human settlements and the conservation estate?
(5) What agency has responsibility for the permissive occupancy area used by the army adjoining the LDTA?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 June 2003
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Federal Affairs
Response time
42 days
(2) Defence has a permanent presence at the LDTA. A caretaker, who is a qualified bushfire controller, conducts initial reporting. Defence maintains a heavy-duty 4x4 water pumper and a skid-mounted tank capacity to augment a caretaker vehicle to become a fast attack vehicle. Water storage consists of two large tanks and two operational bores. On standby, Defence maintains contracted fire services capacity at Pearce and Gingin. During the high-risk period, an additional large water tanker is on standby at Bindoon. During higher fire risk Defence Training activities, at least one fast attack vehicle and crew are deployed to the LDTA. Defence and FESA have a memorandum of understanding for FESA involvement in responding to and fighting fires on Defence properties in Western Australia. (3) Defence has an immediate crewed fire response capacity at the LDTA during Defence Training activities with a higher fire risk. At other times Defence’s crewed fire response capacity is two hours. This includes time to concentrate and to travel to the scene of the fire. Defence’s on-site capacity of a water pumper and fast attack vehicle remains during this time. (4) No (5) The Department of Land Administration (DOLA) is responsible for unallocated Crown land. The Department delegates responsibility for fire prevention and management to FESA on all unallocated Crown land. The State Government makes a contribution to FESA through DOLA for fire management.
(3) Defence has an immediate crewed fire response capacity at the LDTA during Defence Training activities with a higher fire risk. At other times Defence’s crewed fire response capacity is two hours. This includes time to concentrate and to travel to the scene of the fire. Defence’s on-site capacity of a water pumper and fast attack vehicle remains during this time. (4) No (5) The Department of Land Administration (DOLA) is responsible for unallocated Crown land. The Department delegates responsibility for fire prevention and management to FESA on all unallocated Crown land. The State Government makes a contribution to FESA through DOLA for fire management.
(4) No (5) The Department of Land Administration (DOLA) is responsible for unallocated Crown land. The Department delegates responsibility for fire prevention and management to FESA on all unallocated Crown land. The State Government makes a contribution to FESA through DOLA for fire management.
(5) The Department of Land Administration (DOLA) is responsible for unallocated Crown land. The Department delegates responsibility for fire prevention and management to FESA on all unallocated Crown land. The State Government makes a contribution to FESA through DOLA for fire management.
(3) Defence has an immediate crewed fire response capacity at the LDTA during Defence Training activities with a higher fire risk. At other times Defence’s crewed fire response capacity is two hours. This includes time to concentrate and to travel to the scene of the fire. Defence’s on-site capacity of a water pumper and fast attack vehicle remains during this time. (4) No (5) The Department of Land Administration (DOLA) is responsible for unallocated Crown land. The Department delegates responsibility for fire prevention and management to FESA on all unallocated Crown land. The State Government makes a contribution to FESA through DOLA for fire management.
(4) No (5) The Department of Land Administration (DOLA) is responsible for unallocated Crown land. The Department delegates responsibility for fire prevention and management to FESA on all unallocated Crown land. The State Government makes a contribution to FESA through DOLA for fire management.
(5) The Department of Land Administration (DOLA) is responsible for unallocated Crown land. The Department delegates responsibility for fire prevention and management to FESA on all unallocated Crown land. The State Government makes a contribution to FESA through DOLA for fire management.
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