❓ A parliamentary question addresses bushfire management in WA, following a federal report highlighting the need for better fuel load reduction. The Minister provides data on hectares burnt, controlled burns, targets, and assurances of efforts to minimise catastrophic fires, while acknowledging limitations.
AnsweredQoN 1656Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the recent House of Representatives report, “A Nation Charred: Report on the inquiry into bushfires” and the finding that the January 2003 fires would not have been so widespread if more had been done to reduce fuel loads and the management of the fires had been more aggressively directed at stopping them from spreading. (1) How many hectares of public land were burnt in Western Australia last year? (2) How much of that land was burnt under the auspices of the Department of Conservation and Land Management’s controlled or hazard-reduction burning program? (3) What is the target for controlled burns this year, and how much has been burnt to date? (4) Can the minister assure the people of WA that everything possible is being done to minimise the potential for catastrophic bushfires this summer? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
I seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) How many hectares of public land were burnt in Western Australia last year? (2) How much of that land was burnt under the auspices of the Department of Conservation and Land Management’s controlled or hazard-reduction burning program? (3) What is the target for controlled burns this year, and how much has been burnt to date? (4) Can the minister assure the people of WA that everything possible is being done to minimise the potential for catastrophic bushfires this summer? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(2) How much of that land was burnt under the auspices of the Department of Conservation and Land Management’s controlled or hazard-reduction burning program? (3) What is the target for controlled burns this year, and how much has been burnt to date? (4) Can the minister assure the people of WA that everything possible is being done to minimise the potential for catastrophic bushfires this summer? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(3) What is the target for controlled burns this year, and how much has been burnt to date? (4) Can the minister assure the people of WA that everything possible is being done to minimise the potential for catastrophic bushfires this summer? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(4) Can the minister assure the people of WA that everything possible is being done to minimise the potential for catastrophic bushfires this summer? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
I seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) How many hectares of public land were burnt in Western Australia last year? (2) How much of that land was burnt under the auspices of the Department of Conservation and Land Management’s controlled or hazard-reduction burning program? (3) What is the target for controlled burns this year, and how much has been burnt to date? (4) Can the minister assure the people of WA that everything possible is being done to minimise the potential for catastrophic bushfires this summer? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(2) How much of that land was burnt under the auspices of the Department of Conservation and Land Management’s controlled or hazard-reduction burning program? (3) What is the target for controlled burns this year, and how much has been burnt to date? (4) Can the minister assure the people of WA that everything possible is being done to minimise the potential for catastrophic bushfires this summer? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(3) What is the target for controlled burns this year, and how much has been burnt to date? (4) Can the minister assure the people of WA that everything possible is being done to minimise the potential for catastrophic bushfires this summer? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(4) Can the minister assure the people of WA that everything possible is being done to minimise the potential for catastrophic bushfires this summer? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
I seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
The following material was incorporated - ________________________________________________________________________________________________ I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question. (1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) There is no exact figure for the entire State. The number of fires attended by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (career and volunteer brigades and local government bushfire brigades) Statewide is 11,000. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), often in combination with FESA and volunteer bushfire brigades, attended 620 wildfires which burned out 1.2 million hectares of Crown lands and neighbouring private lands within the South West Land Division. Within the south-west foreign regions, the Department, as the lead combat agency, suppressed 549 wildfires covering about 140,000 hectares of which about 126,000 hectares were on Department-managed lands. This area burnt by wildfires in the south-west regions represents an eight-fold increase compared to the average over the past 10 years. (2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(2) CALM completed 255,519 hectares of prescribed burning Statewide. In the south-west forest regions CALM completed 144,835 hectares of prescribed burning. (3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(3) CALM has planned to burn between 200,000 hectares and 220,000 hectares in the south-west forest regions in the 2003/04 fire season. To the end of November CALM had completed approximately 60,000 hectares of prescribed burns. (4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
(4) It is impossible to give a guarantee that no catastrophic wildfires will occur this summer. CALM is taking every opportunity to complete the prescribed burning program given the limitations imposed by suitable weather. The Department has a full complement of permanent and seasonal firefighters as well as vehicles and equipment. CALM has made arrangements to have additional private bulldozers available on call for fire suppression. It is important to note that the report to which the Hon Member has referred stated in section 3.106 - “The Committee was impressed at the level of detail and accuracy in reporting and mapping of achieved areas of prescribed burns during a presentation by officers from CALM on its inspections of the Manjimup area on 5 August 2003”. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
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