Sophisticated data system scrapped, leaving CFS firefighters at risk, experts say

Firefighters’ lives could be at risk as spreadsheets have replaced a sophisticated system for collating important data – and IT experts say crews will be left unprepared.

Inadequate technology, including using spreadsheets for critical data, is putting the lives of firefighters at risk this bushfire season, it has been claimed.

Adelaide company Prodata Solutions, which until 2018 supplied an IT system to emergency services, said spreadsheets now were widely used and records could be manipulated or leave teams inadequately prepared for incidents.

Prodata’s system collated extensive data such as brigade backgrounds, training, medical issues and what equipment could be used at fires.

The sophisticated system was scrapped by the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM) in favour of another system.

Prodata launched legal action, claiming breach of copyright, but the action was dismissed in 2020 and SAFECOM was awarded costs.

Prodata managing director David Mifsud wrote of his “serious concerns” last year in letters to ministers and senior officials.

In a letter to then attorney-general Vickie Chapman, in November, he threatened supreme court action but has since ruled it out.

“Senior CFS officers are still required to use spreadsheets to manage personnel and are still unable to access critical data previously available to manage and deploy … to incidents,” he wrote.

A CFS firefighter watches as the Cherry Gardens bushfire rages. Picture: CFS Promotions Unit

CFS sources said problems were continuing with training administration systems.

“We were using this state-of-the-art system but now spreadsheets are all over the place,” one source said.

A review into the 2020 Kangaroo Island blaze highlighted similar IT problems.

Mr Mifsud said his system was available for a “nominal licence fee”.

“It beggars belief that despite … $97.5m of taxpayers’ money to eliminate manual data transfer, the risk to lives and property due to a lack of technology this bushfire season is as great as ever,” he said.

Labor MP Leon Bignell has asked questions in parliament but has yet to receive answers.

SAFECOM chief executive Julia Waddington-Powell said emergency services always explored new technology “to strengthen the state’s bushfire resilience”.

“The CFS uses a range of credible systems to assist in the safe deployment of personnel during fire emergencies,” she said.

“Former SAFECOM chief executive Malcolm Jackman, during the tenure of the former Labor government in 2017, made the decision to implement a modern solution not compatible with Prodata’s software.”