❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding FESA's (now DFES) handling of bushfires, including the Boorabin fire, equipment availability, executive qualifications, and collaboration with local governments. The response provides details on personnel involved, equipment, fire suppression efforts, and planning initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 2293Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many FESA employees attended the Boorabin Fire?
(2) Of those referred to in (1), -
(a) how many were asked to provide statements; and
(b) how many of these statements were presented in evidence to the Coroner?
(3) Did any other FESA employee, who did not attend the fire, present evidence?
(4) What FESA equipment could have been available to help fight the fire, and what would have been the time delay in getting it to the site?
(5) Can you please provide the House with the qualifications of the Executive of FESA?
(6) How many of the Executive are ex Western Australian Police?
(7) How many are ex Fire and Rescue?
(8) How many have had practical experience in bush fires over 20 ha?
(9) Of the two recent fires in Baldivis, -
(a) were they suppressed by FESA employees;
(b) how many were at the fire; and
(c) what equipment was involved?
(10) If no to (9)(a), who was responsible for the suppression?
(11) Under the
Hazard Management Act,
in which FESA is empowered, are Local Government and the DEC also empowered as is required?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(13) Have Bush fire officers and others been warned against making statements either to the press or others by FESA Officials?
(14) If yes to (13), why and under whose instructions?
(15) Have any persons been threatened with the recent fine requirements of the latest Bush Fires Amendment?
(16) If yes to (15), -
(a) how many; and
(b) how many have actually been fined?
(17) Of the Bush Fires this fire season, how many have FESA been responsible for the suppression of, -
(a) over 20 ha; and
(b) under 20 ha?
(18) Has FESA now read the 1994 Report of the Fire Review Panel?
(19) If yes to (18), -
(a) what action has been taken to implement the recommendation that all Local Government areas have an up-to-date fire management plan; and
(b) what progress has been made in making this a statutory requirement?
(20) What plans have FESA prescribed for burning on blocks in the Metropolitan area?
(2) Of those referred to in (1), -
(a) how many were asked to provide statements; and
(b) how many of these statements were presented in evidence to the Coroner?
(3) Did any other FESA employee, who did not attend the fire, present evidence?
(4) What FESA equipment could have been available to help fight the fire, and what would have been the time delay in getting it to the site?
(5) Can you please provide the House with the qualifications of the Executive of FESA?
(6) How many of the Executive are ex Western Australian Police?
(7) How many are ex Fire and Rescue?
(8) How many have had practical experience in bush fires over 20 ha?
(9) Of the two recent fires in Baldivis, -
(a) were they suppressed by FESA employees;
(b) how many were at the fire; and
(c) what equipment was involved?
(10) If no to (9)(a), who was responsible for the suppression?
(11) Under the
Hazard Management Act,
in which FESA is empowered, are Local Government and the DEC also empowered as is required?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(13) Have Bush fire officers and others been warned against making statements either to the press or others by FESA Officials?
(14) If yes to (13), why and under whose instructions?
(15) Have any persons been threatened with the recent fine requirements of the latest Bush Fires Amendment?
(16) If yes to (15), -
(a) how many; and
(b) how many have actually been fined?
(17) Of the Bush Fires this fire season, how many have FESA been responsible for the suppression of, -
(a) over 20 ha; and
(b) under 20 ha?
(18) Has FESA now read the 1994 Report of the Fire Review Panel?
(19) If yes to (18), -
(a) what action has been taken to implement the recommendation that all Local Government areas have an up-to-date fire management plan; and
(b) what progress has been made in making this a statutory requirement?
(20) What plans have FESA prescribed for burning on blocks in the Metropolitan area?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
25 May 2010
Responded by
Minister for Energy representing the Minister for Emergency Services
Response time
33 days
(1) 20 FESA personnel attended the incident on the fire ground over the duration of the fire. An additional 6 personnel were involved in the Incident Management Team over the duration of the fire.
(2)
(a) Unknown, refer to Western Australia Police.
(b) Unknown, refer to Western Australia Police.
(3) Yes, the FESA Chief Operations Officer Mr Craig Hynes.
(4) The Carson Helicopters Type 1 could have been deployed with a flight time of 2 hours ex Perth. Maximum water capacity of 3,800 litres. One or two 7,500 litre collar tanks could have been deployed onboard the Type 1 and set up if required.
(5) Please refer to the
Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia (FESA)
Annual Report 2008/09.
(6) 1
(7) 1
(8) 1
(9)
(a) - (c) There have been 49 bushfires recorded in the suburb of Baldivis. It is difficult to know which fires you are referring to.
(10) Not applicable.
(11) There is no Hazard Management Act in Western Australia.
(12) Not applicable.
(13) Not to my knowledge.
(14) Not applicable.
(15) Not to my knowledge.
(16)
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(17)During the fire season FESA was responsible for the suppression of 3,889 fires. This total excludes incidents where local government or the Department of the Environment and Conservation were the allocated Hazard Management Agency. Of these fires:
(a) 769 were over 20 ha;
(b) 307 were under 20 ha; and
(c) 2,813 do not have the area burned recorded.
(18)No. FESA has however, closely considered more recent contemporary reports including; the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee's report following its
Inquiry into Fire and Emergency Services Legislation;
the Auditor General's Report
'Auditor General for Western Australia Performance Examination - Responding to Major Bushfires (2004)';
the Environmental Protection Authority's
Review of Fire Management in the Kimberley and Other Rangeland Regions of WA;
numerous Coronial Inquests including the Inquest into the deaths associated with the Boorabbin Bushfire in 2007; and the interim report from the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
(19)
(a) - (b) FESA is working closely with local governments across Western Australia to ensure there are effective plans in place to protect the communities from wild fires. At present FESA has employed five Community Emergency Management Officers to work with local governments to develop Local Emergency Management Plans, which include fire management plans. FESA also has seventeen Community Emergency Service Managers in place that are funded 50:50 with local government to assess and manage all bush lands in the local government's areas. These positions have been developed in line with high fire risk areas of the state.
Many local governments use different names for various fire management plans. The majority of local governments have fire response plans and prevention plans, in particular local governments that are in high fire risk areas
(20) FESA is working closely with local governments to provide assistance in fuel reduction management in many areas across Western Australia. FESA is responsible for the management of all Unallocated Crown Land and Unmanaged Reserves in the Metropolitan area and all town sites in WA. At present FESA is developing fire management plans in the Shires of Mundaring, Kalamunda, City of Swan and the Shire of Wanneroo. Significant prescribed burning will take place in the next few months in the high fire risk areas of the Perth Hills. This will be dependent on weather conditions being suitable for the burns.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(2)
(a) Unknown, refer to Western Australia Police.
(b) Unknown, refer to Western Australia Police.
(3) Yes, the FESA Chief Operations Officer Mr Craig Hynes.
(4) The Carson Helicopters Type 1 could have been deployed with a flight time of 2 hours ex Perth. Maximum water capacity of 3,800 litres. One or two 7,500 litre collar tanks could have been deployed onboard the Type 1 and set up if required.
(5) Please refer to the
Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia (FESA)
Annual Report 2008/09.
(6) 1
(7) 1
(8) 1
(9)
(a) - (c) There have been 49 bushfires recorded in the suburb of Baldivis. It is difficult to know which fires you are referring to.
(10) Not applicable.
(11) There is no Hazard Management Act in Western Australia.
(12) Not applicable.
(13) Not to my knowledge.
(14) Not applicable.
(15) Not to my knowledge.
(16)
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(17)During the fire season FESA was responsible for the suppression of 3,889 fires. This total excludes incidents where local government or the Department of the Environment and Conservation were the allocated Hazard Management Agency. Of these fires:
(a) 769 were over 20 ha;
(b) 307 were under 20 ha; and
(c) 2,813 do not have the area burned recorded.
(18)No. FESA has however, closely considered more recent contemporary reports including; the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee's report following its
Inquiry into Fire and Emergency Services Legislation;
the Auditor General's Report
'Auditor General for Western Australia Performance Examination - Responding to Major Bushfires (2004)';
the Environmental Protection Authority's
Review of Fire Management in the Kimberley and Other Rangeland Regions of WA;
numerous Coronial Inquests including the Inquest into the deaths associated with the Boorabbin Bushfire in 2007; and the interim report from the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
(19)
(a) - (b) FESA is working closely with local governments across Western Australia to ensure there are effective plans in place to protect the communities from wild fires. At present FESA has employed five Community Emergency Management Officers to work with local governments to develop Local Emergency Management Plans, which include fire management plans. FESA also has seventeen Community Emergency Service Managers in place that are funded 50:50 with local government to assess and manage all bush lands in the local government's areas. These positions have been developed in line with high fire risk areas of the state.
Many local governments use different names for various fire management plans. The majority of local governments have fire response plans and prevention plans, in particular local governments that are in high fire risk areas
(20) FESA is working closely with local governments to provide assistance in fuel reduction management in many areas across Western Australia. FESA is responsible for the management of all Unallocated Crown Land and Unmanaged Reserves in the Metropolitan area and all town sites in WA. At present FESA is developing fire management plans in the Shires of Mundaring, Kalamunda, City of Swan and the Shire of Wanneroo. Significant prescribed burning will take place in the next few months in the high fire risk areas of the Perth Hills. This will be dependent on weather conditions being suitable for the burns.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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