Tasmania Fire Service suspends training programs, planned hazard reduction burns to go ahead

Tasmania Fire Service training programs have been suspended to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19, but planned hazard reduction burns will go ahead.

THE Tasmania Fire Service has suspended training programs for at least three weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic, but has assured planned hazard reduction burns will go ahead.

TFS chief officer Chris Arnol advised members on Friday of the decision to suspend all supplementary training activities to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19.

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Mr Arnol said the move, which came into effect on Saturday, was made in line with social distancing advice.

Chris Arnol. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Up until then, individual brigades had taken their own independent measures to reduce the risk to their own members.

One of them was the Mount Nelson Fire Brigade, which had already cancelled training nights amid the coronavirus outbreak.

But despite training programs being put on hold, Mr Arnol said a number of “well-planned” fuel reduction burns will be conducted in the coming months. A number are already underway.

The TFS works with the Parks and Wildlife Service, Sustainable Timber Tasmania, local government and private land owners to implement the program on public and private land.

The TFS was asked whether the program of hazard reduction burns would be reconsidered due to the potential for respiratory impacts in the wake of coronavirus.

“In Tasmania, autumn is the best time to conduct fuel reduction burns due to the fuel dryness and stability of the weather,’’ Mr Arnol said.

“Smoke management is integral to the process of burning, including mitigating health impacts.

“Fuel reduction program burns are planned to minimise impacts on communities and individuals, through careful selection of site weather conditions, smoke modelling and participation in the state’s coordinated smoke management system.”

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Mr Arnol said planning was underway within the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management to ensure service continuity in the event of an escalation in coronavirus cases.

“Our level of service to the community remains unaffected, with the protection of life and property paramount in our planning,’’ he said.

“Tasmania Fire Service has a state-level COVID-19 response plan to guide our response to the pandemic.

“All staff are provided with regular updates and advice from the Department of Health regarding protocols to minimise their risk of infection.”

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