Money and staffing shortages stunt fire attack program

Financial and staffing restraints are among reasons an initiative aimed at responding quickly to fires in remote areas has not been fully implemented.

A helicopter on the ground at Lake Pedder as part of efforts to tackle the Gell River fire in the South West World Heritage area. Picture: SUPPLIED/Seven Tasmania

FINANCIAL and staffing restraints are among reasons an initiative aimed at responding quickly and efficiently to fires in remote areas has not fully implemented, the Tasmania Fire Service says.

The United Firefighters Union approached the TFS with a proposal for an initial attack program to complement existing rapid bushfire response initiatives in 2017.

A letter from the union sent to the Government and released by Tasmanian Greens senator Nick McKim on Thursday said the initial attack program would make available a remote access team to hit fires like that burning in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area with a “better organised and faster response”.

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The TFS confirmed elements of the program had been implemented in the North last bushfire season with some success.

But a spokeswoman said there were “some issues” to consider before the service could properly introduce the proposal, including financial and personnel resourcing, the participation of other agencies and volunteers, staff support for the program, aircraft contracts, the development of new protocols and specific training and safety.

“TFS is working through these issues and has committed to commencing a structured trial once they have been addressed,” the spokeswoman said.

Senator McKim claimed the proposal for a dedicated rapid response team could have created greater capacity for a stronger initial response to the Gell River bushfire, which has burnt about 20,500ha of mostly buttongrass and scrub.

World Heritage Values at risk from the fire include pencil pines, King Billy pines, peat soils and cushion plants.

“The [United Firefighters Union] proposal was comprehensive and cost-neutral, and it beggars belief that it was not accepted at least for a trial,” Senator McKim said.

He placed the blame at Emergency Services Minister Michael Ferguson’s feet, who responded by labelling Senator McKim an “armchair critic”.

“Frankly, we see this opportunism from the Greens each fire season, when experts and trained firefighters are focused on dealing with fire threat,” Mr Ferguson said.

“Our current focus is on keeping life and property safe.”

United Firefighters Union state vice president Leigh Hills said the union’s letter to Mr Ferguson explaining the initial attack program, sent two days ago, was yet to receive a response.

“We’re not as prepared as what we could be, and initial attack is a classic example of that to be able to get on top of a fire earlier and make those strategic decisions earlier in the event of a fire,” Mr Hills said.

“The UFU and our members are not armchair experts. They are the people on the ground that undertake this hazardous work, this high-risk work, and they do so for the betterment of the community.”