❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks details on planned prescribed burns, including ignition methods, scorch heights, and fire temperatures. The response provides ignition details, estimated scorch heights for specific forest types, and clarifies DBCA's measurement methodologies.
AnsweredQoN 1610Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the prescribed burns the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) may conduct over the next 12 months in Blue Holes (FRK_074), Clear Hills (FRK_086), Sheepwash North (FRK_094), Thames (FRK_096) and Isle Road (FRK_098), and I ask, with respect to each separate burn location: (a) will the burns be started by ground crew or incendiaries dropped from aircraft; (b) what is the estimated maximum scorch height of each prescribed burn for the forest ecosystems, as shown on Map 4 of the Walpole Wilderness and Adjacent Parks and Reserves Management Plan 2008, including the forest ecosystems containing tingle and the ‘Peppermint and coastal heathland’ forest ecosystem; (c) what is the estimated maximum temperature of each prescribed burn; (d) what is the methodology used by DBCA to measure (b); and (e) what is the methodology used by DBCA to measure (c)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 October 2023
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment
Response time
6 days
(a) All five burns will commence with a ground ignition. Blue Holes (FRK_074), Clear Hills (FRK_086), Sheepwash North (FRK_094) and Thames (FRK_096) may also have fire introduced using aerial ignition.
(b) Maximum scorch heights are prescribed for forest ecosystems only and are not prescribed for ‘Peppermint and coastal heathland’.
Burn ID & Name
Forest Type
Estimated Scorch Height (m)
FRK_074 Blue Holes
Forest Tingle
15
FRK_086 Clear Hills
Forest Southern Jarrah
8
FRK_094 Sheepwash North
Prescribed Fire Plan not yet complete
FRK_096 Thames
Forest Karri 4 & 5
12
Forest Southern Jarrah
8
FRK_098 Isle Rd
Forest Karri 4 & 5
12
Forest Southern Jarrah
8
(c) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) does not estimate or record fire temperature. Observations of fire behaviour are noted on the day of the burn and for any subsequent ignitions.
(d) DBCA uses a combination of ground truthing and burn severity mapping.
(e) Not applicable.
(b) Maximum scorch heights are prescribed for forest ecosystems only and are not prescribed for ‘Peppermint and coastal heathland’.
Burn ID & Name
Forest Type
Estimated Scorch Height (m)
FRK_074 Blue Holes
Forest Tingle
15
FRK_086 Clear Hills
Forest Southern Jarrah
8
FRK_094 Sheepwash North
Prescribed Fire Plan not yet complete
FRK_096 Thames
Forest Karri 4 & 5
12
Forest Southern Jarrah
8
FRK_098 Isle Rd
Forest Karri 4 & 5
12
Forest Southern Jarrah
8
(c) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) does not estimate or record fire temperature. Observations of fire behaviour are noted on the day of the burn and for any subsequent ignitions.
(d) DBCA uses a combination of ground truthing and burn severity mapping.
(e) Not applicable.
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