❓ A parliamentary question addresses incomplete prescribed burns and bushfire risks, with the Minister unable to provide specific figures but defending the prescribed burning program's necessity. The Minister deflects by providing statistics on bushfire causes.
AnsweredQoN 871Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MARGARET RIVER BUSHFIRES — PRESCRIBED BURNs PROGRAM
I refer to the minister’s admission in the other place that 50 prescribed burns have commenced since 1 July 2011 and have not yet been completed. (1) How many of these 50 prescribed burns are still burning? (2) How many of these 50 prescribed burns will be complete between now and Christmas? (3) With weather forecast to be 34, 36 and 33 degrees in coming days, can the minister guarantee that Department of Environment and Conservation prescribed burns will not again threaten Western Australian homes? Mr W.R. MARMION
I refer to the minister’s admission in the other place that 50 prescribed burns have commenced since 1 July 2011 and have not yet been completed. (1) How many of these 50 prescribed burns are still burning? (2) How many of these 50 prescribed burns will be complete between now and Christmas? (3) With weather forecast to be 34, 36 and 33 degrees in coming days, can the minister guarantee that Department of Environment and Conservation prescribed burns will not again threaten Western Australian homes? Mr W.R. MARMION
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I can confirm that there are 51 incomplete burns; one was missing from the information given. There are 51 incomplete burns, seven of which have got away since 1 January. I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to provide information on how many of those are still smouldering, but all the resources of DEC are involved in fighting fires at the moment. A question was asked about this in the other house yesterday. We could not provide that information yesterday and we cannot provide it yet today. Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
(1) How many of these 50 prescribed burns are still burning? (2) How many of these 50 prescribed burns will be complete between now and Christmas? (3) With weather forecast to be 34, 36 and 33 degrees in coming days, can the minister guarantee that Department of Environment and Conservation prescribed burns will not again threaten Western Australian homes? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I can confirm that there are 51 incomplete burns; one was missing from the information given. There are 51 incomplete burns, seven of which have got away since 1 January. I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to provide information on how many of those are still smouldering, but all the resources of DEC are involved in fighting fires at the moment. A question was asked about this in the other house yesterday. We could not provide that information yesterday and we cannot provide it yet today. Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
(2) How many of these 50 prescribed burns will be complete between now and Christmas? (3) With weather forecast to be 34, 36 and 33 degrees in coming days, can the minister guarantee that Department of Environment and Conservation prescribed burns will not again threaten Western Australian homes? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I can confirm that there are 51 incomplete burns; one was missing from the information given. There are 51 incomplete burns, seven of which have got away since 1 January. I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to provide information on how many of those are still smouldering, but all the resources of DEC are involved in fighting fires at the moment. A question was asked about this in the other house yesterday. We could not provide that information yesterday and we cannot provide it yet today. Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
(3) With weather forecast to be 34, 36 and 33 degrees in coming days, can the minister guarantee that Department of Environment and Conservation prescribed burns will not again threaten Western Australian homes? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I can confirm that there are 51 incomplete burns; one was missing from the information given. There are 51 incomplete burns, seven of which have got away since 1 January. I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to provide information on how many of those are still smouldering, but all the resources of DEC are involved in fighting fires at the moment. A question was asked about this in the other house yesterday. We could not provide that information yesterday and we cannot provide it yet today. Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I can confirm that there are 51 incomplete burns; one was missing from the information given. There are 51 incomplete burns, seven of which have got away since 1 January. I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to provide information on how many of those are still smouldering, but all the resources of DEC are involved in fighting fires at the moment. A question was asked about this in the other house yesterday. We could not provide that information yesterday and we cannot provide it yet today. Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I can confirm that there are 51 incomplete burns; one was missing from the information given. There are 51 incomplete burns, seven of which have got away since 1 January. I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to provide information on how many of those are still smouldering, but all the resources of DEC are involved in fighting fires at the moment. A question was asked about this in the other house yesterday. We could not provide that information yesterday and we cannot provide it yet today. Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
(1)–(3) I can confirm that there are 51 incomplete burns; one was missing from the information given. There are 51 incomplete burns, seven of which have got away since 1 January. I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to provide information on how many of those are still smouldering, but all the resources of DEC are involved in fighting fires at the moment. A question was asked about this in the other house yesterday. We could not provide that information yesterday and we cannot provide it yet today. Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
(1) How many of these 50 prescribed burns are still burning? (2) How many of these 50 prescribed burns will be complete between now and Christmas? (3) With weather forecast to be 34, 36 and 33 degrees in coming days, can the minister guarantee that Department of Environment and Conservation prescribed burns will not again threaten Western Australian homes? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I can confirm that there are 51 incomplete burns; one was missing from the information given. There are 51 incomplete burns, seven of which have got away since 1 January. I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to provide information on how many of those are still smouldering, but all the resources of DEC are involved in fighting fires at the moment. A question was asked about this in the other house yesterday. We could not provide that information yesterday and we cannot provide it yet today. Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
(2) How many of these 50 prescribed burns will be complete between now and Christmas? (3) With weather forecast to be 34, 36 and 33 degrees in coming days, can the minister guarantee that Department of Environment and Conservation prescribed burns will not again threaten Western Australian homes? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I can confirm that there are 51 incomplete burns; one was missing from the information given. There are 51 incomplete burns, seven of which have got away since 1 January. I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to provide information on how many of those are still smouldering, but all the resources of DEC are involved in fighting fires at the moment. A question was asked about this in the other house yesterday. We could not provide that information yesterday and we cannot provide it yet today. Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
(3) With weather forecast to be 34, 36 and 33 degrees in coming days, can the minister guarantee that Department of Environment and Conservation prescribed burns will not again threaten Western Australian homes? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I can confirm that there are 51 incomplete burns; one was missing from the information given. There are 51 incomplete burns, seven of which have got away since 1 January. I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to provide information on how many of those are still smouldering, but all the resources of DEC are involved in fighting fires at the moment. A question was asked about this in the other house yesterday. We could not provide that information yesterday and we cannot provide it yet today. Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I can confirm that there are 51 incomplete burns; one was missing from the information given. There are 51 incomplete burns, seven of which have got away since 1 January. I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to provide information on how many of those are still smouldering, but all the resources of DEC are involved in fighting fires at the moment. A question was asked about this in the other house yesterday. We could not provide that information yesterday and we cannot provide it yet today. Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I can confirm that there are 51 incomplete burns; one was missing from the information given. There are 51 incomplete burns, seven of which have got away since 1 January. I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to provide information on how many of those are still smouldering, but all the resources of DEC are involved in fighting fires at the moment. A question was asked about this in the other house yesterday. We could not provide that information yesterday and we cannot provide it yet today. Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
(1)–(3) I can confirm that there are 51 incomplete burns; one was missing from the information given. There are 51 incomplete burns, seven of which have got away since 1 January. I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to provide information on how many of those are still smouldering, but all the resources of DEC are involved in fighting fires at the moment. A question was asked about this in the other house yesterday. We could not provide that information yesterday and we cannot provide it yet today. Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
Mr E.S. Ripper : When will you be able to provide a public statement on this issue? Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
Mr W.R. MARMION : We will be able to provide that information when we have it. I can give the house some information on the number of bushfires that happen each year. The figures each year—I will do the figures for the South West rather than the state—are 4 506 bushfires a year, of which 1.8 per cent, which represents 83, are the result of DEC escapes; 238 bushfires, which represents 5.3 per cent, are the result of non-DEC escapes; those that are deliberately or illegally lit total 2 309, which represents 51.2 per cent; and, very interestingly, lightning strikes in the South West account for 651 bushfires, or 14.5 per cent. That is why we have controlled burns. If we do not get the fuel load down to the right number of tonnes per hectare, we will have a dangerous situation. We have to make sure that we get the bush fuel load quantities down. That is why we have prescribed burns. As members can see from the figures, a lot of these prescribed burns are the result of illegal activity or lightning strikes that we have no control over. This government strongly supports prescribed burning.
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