City of Hobart fire crews plot fuel reduction strategy as Mayor warns of long, hot summer ahead
City of Hobart fire crews have been put through their paces during a series of fitness tests and training scenarios as the capital braces for a long, hot bushfire season.
Tasmania
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City of Hobart fire crews have been put through their paces during a series of fitness tests and training scenarios in the foothills of kunanyi/Mount Wellington, as the capital braces for a long, hot bushfire season.
The team of 25 municipal staff who undertake planned burns and help reduce the fuel load in forests on the urban fringe launched into action on Wednesday, under the watchful eye of Fire and Biodiversity program leader Melanie Gent.
Ms Gent said that gear checks, equipment inspections, and pump testing were the order of the day, as the team prepared for a pre-summer campaign of controlled burns.
“It’s really important to do these preparation days and skills refreshers to ensure that everyone is comfortable with the gear and that we have done some drills and training to keep everyone’s skills and knowledge up to date,” Ms Gent said.
“We have been doing fuel reduction burns for many decades, to ensure that there’s a patchwork of fuel ages across the landscape.
“This spring we’re hoping to conduct burns in Lenah Valley, South Hobart, Ridgeway, and around the Queen’s Domain.”
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the council spent about $2 million every year preparing for bushfire, maintaining over 100km of fire trails and an extensive network of fuel breaks to help reduce Hobart’s risk profile.
Ms Reynolds said that with dry conditions experienced across Tasmania, and an El Nino event declared for Australia by the Bureau of Meteorology, there was no room for complacency.
“We are expecting a really serious fire season, and it’s important that everyone does their bit,” the Mayor said.
“We’ve got an El Nino, we’ve got climate change, and everyone has a role and responsibility to respond to these really dangerous fire conditions.
“We’re here today to acknowledge the great work of our staff in helping to get the City of Hobart’s bushland ready for fire season, but also to make the call for the community to ... recognise that we are in one of the most fire-prone cities in the world, and that we all need to do our bit.”
Ms Reynolds said it was important for residents to prepare homes by cleaning out gutters, removing flammable plants close to houses, and having a plan to leave early.
“Make sure you have a bushfire plan, talk about it with family, friends and neighbours, clear up your property and prepare an emergency kit,” she said.
Residents can learn how to create a bushfire plan by visiting the Tasmania Fire Service’s website bushfire.tas.gov.au
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