northern region Strategic Fire management Plan Northern Region... · 2015-01-14 · Northern Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, November 2009 3 Strategic Statement Parks and Wildlife

Northern Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, November 2009 1Depar tment of Pr imar y Industr ies, Par ks, Water and Environment

november 2009

northern region Strategic Fire management Plan

3

northern region Strategic Fire management Plan

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Fire Management Section, Parks and Wildlife Service, GPO Box 1751 Hobart , Tasmania 7001

Phone: 03 6363 5182 Fax: 03 6363 5124 www.parks.tas.gov.au

Published November 2009 © copyright State of Tasmania, 2009

ISBN 9780980637656

Northern Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, November 2009 1

ContentsStrategic Plan 2008–2010 Statement 1. Strategic Fire Management Planning1.1 Approach .......................................................................................................... 3

1.2 Chapter ............................................................................................................... 3

1.3 Objectives .......................................................................................................... 3

1.4 Development of the Strategic Fire Management Plan

1.4.1 Project Outputs ............................................................................. 4

1.4.2 Project Scope .................................................................................. 4

1.5 Fire Management for PWS in Tasmania ............................................ 6

1.5.1 Planning Structure ........................................................................ 6

1.5.2 Strategic Objectives ..................................................................... 6

1.5.3 Fire Management Policy and Legislation .......................... 6

2. Northern Region2.1 Project Background ...................................................................................... 7

2.2 Objective ............................................................................................................ 7

2.3 Area Description............................................................................................ 7

2.4 Fire History

2.4.1 Fire Frequency ..............................................................................10

2.4.2 Fire Regime.....................................................................................10

2.4.3 Fire Cycle .........................................................................................10

2.4.4 Fire Size ............................................................................................10

2.4.5 Fire Intensity ...................................................................................11

2.4.6 Fire Type ...........................................................................................11

2.5 Fire Environment

2.5.1. Climate and Weather ...............................................................12

2.6. Values at Risk ................................................................................................15

2.6.1 Constructed ...................................................................................15

2.6.2 Forest/Agriculture .......................................................................15

2.6.3 Natural ..............................................................................................15

2.7 Fuel Groups ....................................................................................................15

3. Bushfire Risk Assessment3.1 Bushfire Risk Assessment Process......................................................16

3.2 Regional Outputs

3.2.1 Ignition Potential ..........................................................................16

3.2.2 Suppression Capabilities .........................................................16

3.2.3 Values at Risk .................................................................................16

3.2.4 Fire Behaviour Potential ..........................................................16

3.3 Bushfire Risk Analysis .................................................................................16

4. Fire Prevention 4.1 Context .............................................................................................................19

4.2 Objective ..........................................................................................................19

4.3 Strategies and Actions ..............................................................................19

5. Preparedness5.1 Context .............................................................................................................25

5.2 Objective ..........................................................................................................25


6. Response – Reaction6.1 Context .............................................................................................................26

6.2 Objective ..........................................................................................................26


7. Recovery – Restoration7.1 Context .............................................................................................................29

7.2 Objective ..........................................................................................................29


8. Standards, Monitoring and Reporting8.1 Context .............................................................................................................29

8.2 Objective ..........................................................................................................29


9. Resource Requirements9.1 Managing the Strategic Fire Management Plan ...........................30

9.2 Implementation of the Strategic Fire Management Plan

........................................................................................................................................30

10. Reference Documents .......................................................31

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY PWS STAFF

2 Northern Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, November 2009

Lists of Appendices and Maps

Map 1: Constructed Values Map ...........................................................50

Map 2: Forest/ Agriculture Value Map ................................................51

Map 3: Natural Value Map.........................................................................52

Map 4: Flammability Map ...........................................................................53

Map 5: Fuel Group Map .............................................................................54

Map 6: Ignition Potential Map .................................................................55

Map 7: Suppression Capabilities Map .................................................56

Map 8: Values at Risk Map .........................................................................57

Map 9: Fire Behaviour Potential Map ..................................................58

Map 10: Likelihood Grid ............................................................................59

Map 11: Consequences Grid ..................................................................60

Map 12: Risk Grid ..........................................................................................61

Map 13: Freycinet National Park Risk Map .....................................62

Map 14: Narawntapu National Park Risk Map ..............................63

Map 15: Mt William National Park Risk Map .................................64

Map 16: Ben Lomond National Park Risk Map ............................65

Map 17: Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area Risk Map ................66

Map 18: Port Sorell Conservation Area Risk Map ......................67

Map 19: Cradle Mt/ Lake St Clair National Park Risk Map ....68

Map 20: Central Plateau Conservation Area Risk Map ...........69

Map 21: Walls of Jerusalem National Park Risk Map .................70

Map 22: Northern Regional Strategic Fire Trails ..........................71

Map 23: Northern Regional Fire Management Zones .............72

Map 24: Northern Regional Fire Mitigation Priorities ..............73

Table 1: Timeline Development Strategic Fire Management

Plan ...........................................................................................................................5

Table 2: Document of Authority or Direction .................................6

Table 3: Temporal Fire Distribution 1966 – 2007 ........................10

Table 4: Fire Size Distribution 1966 – 2007 ...................................11

Table 5: Classification of Fire Occurrence/ Area Burned ........11

Table 6: Forest Fire Danger Index Exceeds – Very High and Extreme /Decade ..........................................................................................12

Table 7: Fire Occurrence by Cause/Month/Decade ..................13

Table 8: Fuel Group/TASVEG Type ......................................................15

Table 9: Northern Region BRAM Risk Summary ........................16

Table 10: Major Reserve Summary ......................................................17

Table 11: Incidents within Coastal Reserves ...................................18

Table 12: Strategic Fire Trails ....................................................................21

Table 13: Threaten Flora Priority Areas .............................................24

Table 14: Preparedness Matrix ...............................................................25

Table 15: Suppression Strategies – Dry Sclerophyll ...................27

Table 16: Suppression Strategies – Moorland Buttongrass ....27

Table 17: Typical Rate of Spread for BRAM Fuel Group 1 and 2 ................................................................................................28

Table 18: Wildfire Management Decision Support Matrix ....28

Appendix 1: Northern Region Reserve Breakdown .................32

Appendix 2A: Ignition Potential Flow Diagram ............................36

Appendix 2B: Suppression Capabilities Flow Diagram .............37

Appendix 2C: Values at Risk Flow Diagram ....................................38

Appendix 2D: Fire Behaviour Potential Flow Diagram ............39

Appendix 3A: Consequence Table .......................................................40

Appendix 3B: Likelihood Table ...............................................................41

Appendix 3C: Qualitative Risk Matrix................................................41

Appendix 4: State Fire Commission Statement

Policy 1/07 .........................................................................................................42

Appendix 5: Infrastructure Development ........................................43

Appendix 6: Daily Fire Action Plan ......................................................44

Appendix 7: Fire Awareness Safety Briefing form .......................46

Appendix 8: AFAC Landscape Indicators .........................................47

Appendix 9: Parks and Wildlife Strategic Plan ...............................48

Appendix 10: Regional Local Council Groups ..............................49


Strategic StatementParks and Wildlife Service Strategic Plan 2008–2010

Vision Statement To protect, present and manage in concert with the community, Tasmanian unique and outstanding reserve systems for all the people, for all time.

Mission StatementTo create and maintain a representative and world renowned reserve system. To conserve the State’s natural and cultural heritage while providing for sustainable use and economic opportunities for the Tasmania community.

The Strategic PlanThe plan is set out in six core programs, with clear objectives, strategies and performance indicators. Our business is complex and therefore the objectives are listed according to their primary program areas, however cross-program relationships are acknowledged. Program five is now focused on fire management as this area is and will continue to be one of Parks and Wildlife Service core responsibilities. Identifying it as a program reflects the emphasis placed on the program.

Fire Management Program Objective 5.1To manage fire and minimize the risks of wildfires

1.The Strategic Fire Management Planning1.1 ApproachEffective wildfire management requires departmental commitment and expenditures of adequate resource over time. The allocation of sufficient funding is always a challenge with competing demands on government budget and the changing global economy. A balanced strategic approach is required to first determine what is at risk and what resources or actions are required to mitigate it.

The Strategic Fire Management Plan will provide a strategic approach to all facets of fire management planning. It covers a review for the state requirements for Fire Prevention, Fire Preparedness, Fire Reponses and Fire Recovery. It is intended to provide direction for the development of regional operational plans. The strength in the document lies with the wholly strategic approach across jurisdictional boundaries; all assumptions were applied statewide identifying statewide challenges. The bushfire risk is displayed and analyses to indicate

what the contributing factors that caused the level of risk, land management authorities then can determine whether they could mitigate or accept the risk.

1.2 Project CharterThe Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) is responsible for managing nearly 2.5 million hectares of reserved land and other Crown Land. Most of this land is covered by flammable native vegetation, with thousands of kilometres of boundaries with neighbouring private property and State forest. Like all land owners, the PWS has a legal obligation to keep fire on its own land.

However, the PWS has never undertaken a strategic assessment of the risk exposure in relation to wildfire and therefore, there is no logical basis for identifying priorities for works and expenditure, except at the local level.

The Operational Safety Audit of Fire Management within the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, (Ellis, 2005) recommended that the PWS undertake a statewide risk assessment and a review of Fire Management Risk (Rawson, 2006) recommended that the PWS undertake the preparation of a strategic fire management plan for each region. The PWS Strategic Plan 2008 – 2010 includes the strategy: Develop regional strategic fire management plans.

The Strategic Fire Management Planning project has been instigated to implement recommendations of the Ellis and Rawson reports and to address wildfire risk to land managed by the PWS by developing a wildfire risk assessment method, computer based tools to conduct the risk assessment, and a strategic fire management plan for each PWS Region to mitigate the bushfire risk.

1.3 ObjectivesThe objective of the Strategic Fire Management Planning Project is to develop a consistent approach to fire management planning that address the wild fire risk to land managed by the PWS, contributes to the PWS strategic plan and to facilitate compliance with recommendations of the Rawson review of fire management risk and the Ellis operational safety audit by:

1. Developing and Implementing of a fire management planning framework for the PWS and strategic fire management plans for each region;

2. Developing a risk management system to assess, identify, prioritise and manage the risk posed by wildfire hazard to or in relation to land managed by the PWS and its values;

3. Developing and implementing operational strategies and tactics for prevention, preparedness, response and recovery at a regional level that take into account environmental and cultural heritage requirements

4. Effectively involving the public and other stakeholders in the development of the PWS wildfire risk management system.


land owned or managed by infrastructure providers such as telecommunications companies, gas companies and the like, or Reserved land subject to a lease for exclusive use.

• The project will develop management prescriptions for strategic fire management zones as treatments for risk management.

1.4 Development of the Strategic Fire Management Plan

1.4.1 Project outputs1. A fire management planning framework for land managed

by the PWS providing a keystone for strategic fire management plans and subsidiary fire planning documents;

2. Strategic fire management Objectives for land managed by the PWS;

3. GIS tools and computer models to conduct wildfire risk assessments;

4. A dynamic AS/NZS 4360:2004 compliant landscape scale wildfire risk assessment of land managed by the PWS;

5. A strategic fire management zoning system and map for land managed by the PWS;

6. A strategic fire management plan for each Region of the Parks and Wildlife Service;

7. Community and other stakeholder satisfaction with the planning process and strategic plan;

8. Delivery to and facilitation with uptake of the plan by each Region and relevant stakeholders.

1.4.2 Project scope• The project will develop a wildfire risk assessment

process that complies with the Australian Standard AS/NZS 4360:2004 (see Figure 1);

• The project will develop GIS and other computer tools, or use those already available, to facilitate a landscape scale wildfire risk assessment based on Canadian and WA models;

• The project will work with relevant experts to develop flammability, fire sensitivity, value ratings, fire response and appropriate management actions for values and assets. The extent of these model inputs will be limited to what can be practically developed within the timeframes indicated later in this plan;

• The project will conduct a landscape scale risk assessment. This will include land of all tenure;

• The project will develop a map of strategic fire management zones for land that the PWS has management responsibility as treatment zones for risk management. This includes land reserved under the Nature Conservation Act 2002 and managed under the National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002, Crown Land, and Public Reserves. This does not include, private property, private property subject to a conservation covenant under the Nature Conservation Act 2002, State Forest or Forest Reserves, land owned or managed by Local Council, land owned or managed by Government Business Enterprises such as Transend, Aurora or Hydro Tasmania, land owned or managed by the Commonwealth,

ANALYSE RISK: Bushfire Risk Assessment Model

EVALUATE RISK: Reserve Assessment analysis review

TREAT RISK:

Prevention – Education, Enforcement, Engineering,

Fire Management Zones, Asset Protection

Methodology

Preparedness – Fire Action Plan

Response – Wildfire Management Decision

Support Matrix

IDENTIFY RISKS: Ignition Potential, Suppression

Capabilities, Fire Behaviour Potential, Values at Risk

CONTEXT: Manage fire and minimize the risk of wildfires

MONITOR and REVIEW: Performance Indicators, AFAC Landscape Performance Measures

COMMUNICATE and CONSULT: Stakeholder Committee, Newsletter, Community Forums

Figure 1: Risk Management Process Overview


ApproachThe Strategic Fire Management Plan process for PWS has been developed progressively over the last 18 months (see Table 1). An in-depth review occurred of interstate and international agencies to see what was being presently being utilized in the field. It was then determined that before PWS develops a Fire Management Strategy it must first determine where and if a risk actually existed. Work commenced on the development of a Bushfire Risk Assessment model and the other fire agencies (Tasmania Fire Service, Forestry Tasmania) indicated that there was a need for a statewide seamless output. Therefore entire state values have been collected where possible regardless of tenure. Commitments to provide for annual updates have been made by the various suppliers of data.

Table 1: Time lines of Development

Date Task

01/06/07 Development of Project Plan, Charter and Scope

18/06/07 Development of Communication Plan

30/06/07 PWS Executive Approval of Project Plan

10/07/07 Draft Project Objectives

15/08/07 Research Risk Assessment Models

November/ December 07

Formation of Steering, Stakeholder Committees and Working Groups

15/12/07 GM Approval of Objectives

01/01/08 Commence data collection for Risk Model

15/02/08 Research defining Fire Management Zones

22/02/08 IT Consultant commencing development of Context layers

June/August/08

Ignition Potential layer complete June 15

Suppression Capabilities layer complete June 30

Values at Risk layer complete July 15

Fire Behaviour Potential layer complete August 1

07/07/08 Stakeholder Committee support for Bushfire Risk Assessment Model

14/07/08 Support for SFMP project from Tasmania National Parks Association

August/08 Commence Northern Region SFMP

Date Task

September/08 Draft Bushfire Risk Assessment threat map produced

October/08 Commencement of Interface development for Bushfire Risk Assessment Model(BRAM)

October –December/08 Q/A testing of beta version of interface model

06/10/08 PWS endorsement for BRAM model

30/12/08 Draft Northern Region SFMP complete

15/01/09 BRAM Phase 1 complete

On completion of the strategic fire management planning project the process in which planned burns and wildfires will be managed on PWS managed land will be a function of the available funding and the implementation of the entire fire management planning framework.

The success of the Strategic Fire Management Plans will be dependent on these measures being implemented over a number of years and will not be measurable during the life of this project (i.e. next two years).

ConsultationA communication plan was developed early on in the process.

The objectives of this communication plan were to:

• Raise community and other stakeholder awareness of the strategic fire management planning project;

• To facilitate community and other stakeholder consultation in the project allowing a method to capture local knowledge and review community concerns;

• To keep interested stakeholders informed and involved during the process;

• To reduce possible misinformation about the project objectives, outputs and tenure of land covered by the strategic fire management plan;

This was achieved by the development of various working groups with the identification, categorization of stakeholders and target groups being developed. The message was disseminated to the various audiences by the use of an Information Newsletter, Intranet and Internet sites.

The Stakeholder Committees consisted of membership from the following organizations;

Parks and Wildlife Service

Department of Primary Industries and Water

Tasmania Fire Service

Forestry Tasmania


Forest Industries Association of Tasmania

State Emergency Service

Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association

Local Government Association of Tasmania

Department of Premier and Cabinet

Natural Resource Management North

Natural Resource Management South

Cradle Coast Natural Resource Management

Tasmanian Aboriginal Land and Sea Council

1.5 Fire Management for the Parks and Wildlife Service in Tasmania

1.5.1 Planning StructurePlanning for fire management in the Parks and Wildlife Service will operate in a multi tiered structure:

First tier will be at the state level which will address legislation, code or practices and policy and procedure requirements.

Second tier will be at the regional level, involving the development of Regional Strategic Fire Management Plans, regional operational procedures, reserve plans and annual operational plans.

Third tier will be at the Field Centre level which will address daily prevention preparedness, and the development of individual works plans for specific areas of interest.

1.5.2 Strategic ObjectivesThe Parks and Wildlife Service has the following responsibilities in relation to wildfire:

• to protect people – visitors and neighbours;

• to protect values on neighbouring properties from fires that spread from reserved land and Crown land;

• to protect the conservation values of reserves, particularly fire sensitive vegetation and species for which wildfire is a threat;

• to provide a safe work environment for staff and fire-fighters from other agencies engaged in fire suppression operations.

Historically, the focus of fire management statewide has been fire suppression. Current practices need to shift and take in consideration both the positive and negative impacts of wildfires. Natural or Planned fires remove fuel accumulation, therefore resulting in less intense and severe wildfires. Natural fire cycles will differ in frequency and intensity depending on geographic location. The interruption of the natural cycle results in a build-up of fuels which have the potential to create larger fires and higher fire intensities than may have occurred naturally. A strategic and adaptive approach will recognise the need to

allow natural fire regimes to resume in the landscape where feasible.

The objective of the development of the Strategic Fire Management Plan for the Parks and Wildlife Service is to present an opportunity to change from existing fire management practices in order to develop a landscape approach strategy that minimizes human manipulation and suppression activities while achieving key goals.

To assist in the implementation Fire Management will follow a two fold approach:

First with Wildfire Management through the development and implementation of Fire Management Zone protocols, this will provide direction for assessing and actioning wildfire within each identified zone (see page 22 Fire Management Zones).

Second in the application of a Planned Fire component the introduction of various sizes, arrangements and intensities of fire can achieve a variety of management objectives (see page 23 Planned Fire Strategy). The various strategic burns will assist in the implementation of the Wildfire Management Zone protocols.

1.5.3 Fire Management Policy and LegislationThe authority and direction for the Parks and Wildlife Service in regard to fire management comes from legislation and departmental policy (see Table 2). Fire Management Section is presently reviewing and updating policies as required and in future will look at amendments to the existing legislation to assist in the management of fire protection.

Table 2: Document of Authority or Direction

Legislation Relevant Section

Fire Services Act 1979 Section 45

National Parks and Reserve Management Act 2002 Section 30 and 88A

Crown Lands Act 1976

Threatened Species Protection Act 1995

Aboriginal Relics Act 1975

Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Forest Practices Act 1985

State Coastal Policy 1996

Water Management Act 1999/ State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997

Note: only the most relevant legislation is listed here.


PWS Fire Management Policies

Subject

PR-057 Fire Duties Availability and recall

P-048 Fire and Developments (buildings)

P-049 Fire fighter fitness policy

P-050 Fire Management Policy

P-052 Planned Burning

PR-019 Wildfire Database Reporting Procedures

PR-045 Fire Duty Officer Procedures

PR-046 Inexperience fire fighters on the fire ground

PR-047 Fire fighter Personal Protective Equipment procedures

PR-048 Wildfire Response Procedures

PR-052 Vehicle Emergency Lights Procedures

PR-100 Fire Vehicle Specifications

SWP-010 Fire fatigue management

G - 101 PWS Incident Management Teams

2. Northern Region2.1 Project BackgroundThe Parks and Wildlife Strategic Plan identifies the need to develop Regional Strategic Fire Management Plans, along with performance indicators showing that the percent and area negatively impacted by wildfire decreases over time.

The Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council are in the process of developing National Landscape Fire Performance Indicators and when complete PWS will adjust its indicators to align with these.

2.2 ObjectivesThe objective of the Strategic Fire Management Planning Project is to develop a consistent approach to fire management planning that addresses the bushfire risk to land managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS), contributes to the departmental strategic plan and to facilitate compliance with recommendations of the Review of Fire Management Risk (Rawson 2006) and the Operational Safety Audit for

the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service (Ellis 2005) by:

1. Development and implementation of a fire management planning framework for the PWS, and strategic fire management plans for each region;

2. Developing a risk management system to assess, identify, prioritise and manage the risk posed by wildfire hazard to or in relation to land managed by the PWS

3. Develop and implementing operational strategies and tactics for prevention, preparedness, response and recovery at a regional level that take into account environmental and cultural heritage requirements

4. Effectively involve the public and other stakeholders in the development of the PWS wildfire risk management system.

A Bushfire Risk Assessment was developed for the entire state of Tasmania in 2008. An analysis of the extracted data will be the basis for the mitigation strategies in the regional strategic fire management plans, as each region will have unique challenges and opportunities. The goal is to develop a process that allows systems to be in place before, during and after a wildfire that would reduces injuries, loss of life, damage to environment, heritage and cultural values, economic loss and social disruption.

2.3 Area Description:The Northern Region encompasses an area from the Mersey River in the west, to the far NE coast, and south to Coles Bay and the Central Plateau Conservation Area in the SW. It also includes the islands of the Furneaux and Kent Groups. Major reserves of the region include Walls of Jerusalem National Park, Central Plateau Conservation Area, Trevallyn State Reserve, Ben Lomond National Park, Tamar Island Wetland Centre, Mole Creek Karst National Park, Narawntapu National Park, Freycinet National Park, Douglas Apsley, Mt William, Strzelecki and the Kent Group National Park. 1539 individual land area with a combined area of 439,248 hectare are managed by Northern Region staff. (see Appendix 1: Northern Region Reserve breakdown). This Parks and Wildlife Service jurisdiction incorporates fifteen local government councils in part or whole (see Appendix 10 and Figure 2) and is along side multi land tenures (see Figure 3).


Figure 2: Map of Council Boundaries


Figure 3: Map of Land Tenure


2.4 Fire History

2.4.1 Fire FrequencyFire frequency is defined as the total number of fires that occurred over a period of time. The PWS or its past authority maintained records of fires attended by its staff on or near the land that it manages. The earlier years records are incomplete and for the purpose of this report only the information on fires that have affected PWS reserve land and fought by Forestry Tasmanian and or PWS staff were used. Records that were available indicated that in the 42 years since 1966 a total of 426 fires have occurred in what is now the Northern Region, burning a total of 156,170.24 hectares. In 2006 -3 fires occurred which burnt 36,353.54 hectares of forested land. Annual fire frequency has been variable from 1966 to 2007, ranging from zero to 22 fires occurring per year. Fire statistics had a wide variation from numbers /year to area burned (see Table 4).

Table 3: Temporal Fire Distribution in Northern Region 1966–2008

Time Period Number of Fires Area Burned (ha)

2000 – 2008 173 90,847.66

1990 – 1999 173 32,772.85

1980 – 1989* 52 15,786.70

1970 – 1979* 22 10,392.2

1966 – 1969* 0 None recorded

*Records prior to 1990 are very incomplete.

2.4.2 Fire RegimeFire plays an important role in maintaining species diversity in most of the native vegetation in Australia, particularly in eucalypt forest, coastal heathlands and related shrubby communities (e.g. Gill & Groves, 1981; Harris, 1991; Bradstock et al., 1995).

There is good evidence that the indigenous people applied regular burning to at least some areas in Tasmania for thousands of years, although the extent to which Aboriginal burning has modified or influenced the vegetation is a controversial topic (Bowman, 1998). Before the arrival of the Aboriginal people, lightning strikes were the only source of ignition which probably produced a very different pattern of burning to that imposed by aborigines. It is certain, however, that fire has been present in the Tasmanian environment for a long time. As a consequence, most native plant and animal species are adapted to cope with fire at least to some extent.

The concept of a ‘fire regime’ is an important one for land managers. Together, the variables of fire frequency, season of fire occurrence, fire severity and fire size comprise what is known

as the ‘fire regime’. The variability of all of these factors is also known to be very important and contributes to determining the species present in an area. Variability contributes to maintaining biodiversity.

The season, intensity and frequency of burning are all factors which must be considered when prescribing fire as an ecological management tool. Fires must be sufficiently intense to stimulate flowering and germination of plants (e.g. Jones, 1988; Auld & O’Connell, 1989; Bradstock & Auld, 1995), frequent enough to prevent the dominance of tall shrub species in heathlands (e.g. Specht & Specht, 1989; Keith & Bradstock, 1994), but not so frequent as to eliminate plant species which require time to reach flowering age and produce seed (e.g. Benson, 1985; Gill & Bradstock, 1992). It is also essential to allow variation in the inter-fire interval to maintain species diversity (e.g. Bradstock et al., 1995; Morrison et al., 1995; Cary & Morrison, 1995).

Notwithstanding the lack of knowledge about the long-term fire history of the reserves in the PWS Northern Region of Tasmania, the fire-adapted nature of most of the native vegetation is well recognised. A single wildfire is not thought to be a threat to the long term survival or continued presence of any plant or animal species, except in the wetter vegetation communities such as rainforest or wet eucalypt forest and alpine and sub alpine communities. An inappropriate fire regime, however, may lead to the reduction in abundance of some species or their complete extinction within some areas.

The objective of vegetation management in reserves is to maintain a range of successional ages of vegetation communities and fire intervals. In so doing, it is hoped that all of the species which are present may be maintained in perpetuity. The PWS recognises that, to see this objective realised, it is necessary to deliberately burn some areas: fire is considered to be a natural part of the environment. The PWS also appreciates that even with an ecological burning program, we cannot be certain that we will maintain all species populations, because of the very limited knowledge of appropriate fire regimes which is currently available.

2.4.3 Fire CycleFire cycle is defined as a period of time within which an area equal to the total vegetation type will be burned (Tolhurst 2000). This detail fire cycle information is not presently available for the region. A study of similar geographic areas could be undertaken to look for similar conclusions. In general, the fire cycle in this area has a high level of complexity due to the number of small size vegetation types.

2.4.4 Fire SizeBecause detailed fire information is not available for the region prior to 1966 only the statistics since that time can be reviewed. In the Northern Region there have been 420 wildfires recorded between 1966 and 2008. The largest fire that affected a reserve occurred in 2006 and burned 30,900 which was 20 % of the area burned during this period in time. Over 75% of the fires during that timeframe were under 100 ha (see Table 5).


Table 4: Fire Size Distribution in Northern Region 1966 – 2008

Size Count %Occurrence Area Burned (ha) % Total Area

<1 106 25.2 32.38 0.02

1 to 4 77 18.3 192.08 0.12

5 to 10 38 9.0 291.66 0.19

11 to 40 62 14.8 1512.61 0.97

41 to 100 34 8.1 2232.72 1.43

101 to 1000 76 18.1 23,426.18 15.0

1001> 27 6.4 128,482.61 82.3

Total 420 156,170.24

2.4.5 Fire IntensityFire intensity is a measurement of the amount of energy released per given length of flame front (kw/m). The fire regime in the area can be best described as having frequent small, low intensity fire surface fires. The majority of the region falls within a dryer climate zone of Tasmania which supports low surface fuel decomposition rates, high surface fuel accumulation rates. This combination can develop areas that support high intensity stand replacing fire events in wet eucalypt forests and regular fires in dry eucalypt forest, scrub and heath communities.

2.4.6 Fire TypeFire Type refers to the true cause of the fire, either human caused or ignited by lightning. The total leading cause of fires for the Northern Region from 1966 -2008 was human caused which accounted for 98.6% of the total fire occurrences and about 89 % of the area burned. Human caused fires can be further broken down by true causes as defined by PWS causes; Table 6 outlines the further detail which allows for analysis and target groups for prevention strategies.

Table 5: Classification of Fire Occurrence by Cause / Area burned in Northern Region 1966–2008

General Cause Count % Occurrence Area Burned (ha) %Area Burned

Lightning 6 1.4 17,234.02 11.0

Human 414 98.6 138,936.22 89.0

Total 420 100 156,170.24 100

Cause Detail

Lightning 6 1.4 17,234.02 11.0

Other 45 10.7 7827.96 5.0

Escape 65 15.5 72,214.48 46.2

Unknown 59 14.0 11,871.43 7.6

Accident 17 4.0 1900.36 1.2

Resident 2 0.5 11 0.01

Not Identified 17 4.0 4030.14 2.6

Arson 204 48.6 37,475.92 24.0

Wildfire Spot 1 0.2 2896.86 1.8

Planned Burn Escape 4 0.9 708.07 0.5


When reviewing the data supplied in Table 7 one can draw some general conclusions that the trend for exceeding Fire Danger Index triggers of 25 and 50 are on a sufficient increase since 2000 to past records available.

Monthly variations in the occurrence of bushfires can be explained by variations weather patterns and correlates with periods of time when there is high visitor use, since 89 % of all fires are human caused. With global weather changes the definition of a “normal” fire season is likely to change. Table 8 will show the breakdown of fire by month, but will require further analysis by decades to determine whether any major shifts are occurring with global change.

2.5 Fire Environment

2.5.1 Climate and WeatherA fire season is defined as the period of time in which fires are most likely to occur. Fire seasons can vary geographically and helps to define fire regimes. Across the southern part of mainland Australia, above- normal fire potential have existed in recent times, these conditions persist in eastern parts of Tasmania. Fire potential depends on multiple factors; the stage is often set by the antecedent rainfall, which factors in with the amount of fuel availability and time of grass curing.

The fire season in the Northern Region of Tasmania extends from August to April; this extended period usually falls along the east coastal region due to moisture deficit conditions. Major fire events usually occur when the Fire Danger Index (FDI) exceeds 25, at or above this value in which fire behaviour normally precludes successful suppression capabilities. Table 7 indicates historically daily records when reporting weather stations exceeded critical FDI values.

Table 6: Fire Danger Index Exceeds – Very High and Extreme /Decade

Weather Station No. of Days Exceed FDI 25 No. of Days exceed FDI 50 90 Percentile FDI

Number Station <2000 2000–08 <2000 2000–08 2000–08

92038 Swansea (96-99) 5 21 (96-99) 0 5 12

92114 Friendly Bch (97-99) 2 9 (97-99) 0 1 11

92012 Fingal (94-99) 11 31 (94-99) 0 1 15

92003 Bicheno (98-99) 0 4 (98-99) 0 0 6

91219 Scottsdale (94-99) 2 2 (94-99) 0 0 11

91126 Devonport (93-99) 2 10 (93-99) 0 0 12

93053 Ross (96-99) 15 62 (96-99) 1 2 20

91306 Cressy (99) 2 27 (99) 0 0 17

91104 Launceston (93-99) 19 20 (93-99) 0 17

94201 Mowbray (99) 5 74 (99) 0 8 21

96033 Liawenee n/a 13 n/a 0 11

95018 Tarraleah (94-99) 1 2 (94-99) 0 0 10

99005 Flinders (94-99) 10 4 (94-99) 0 2 10

92120 St Helens n/a 4 n/a 0 9

92019 Lake Leake (99) 0 1 (99) 0 0 8

92027 Orford (99) 0 3 (99) 0 0 7

(Based on 15:00 Actual Weather readings)


Table 7: Fire Occurrence by Cause/ Month by Decade in the Northern Region 1966–2008

1966–2008 Arson Lightning Unknown Residence Other Escape Accident Not Identified

Wildfire Spot

Planned Burn

January 30 3 11 6 10 4 2

February 27 1 7 6 5 2 3

March 15 6 3 4

April 9 3 1 1

May 5 1 2 1

June 1 1

July 4 1

August 10 1 4 1

September 19 4 1 5 7 1 1 1

October 28 7 2 11 3 3 2

November 24 2 11 1 9 14 1 1 1

December 32 8 7 10 5 5 1

No date 1 1

Total 204 6 59 2 45 65 17 17 1 4


Wildfire Spot

Planned Burn

January 2 1 1 1

February 3 1 3

March 1

April

May 1

June

July

August

September

October 1

November 1 1

December 2 1 1 1

Total 8 5 2 6 1



Wildfire Spot

Planned Burn

January 5 1 2

February 9 1

March 4 1 1

April 1 1

May

June

July

August

September 1 1

October 5 1 1

November 4 2 3

December 3 3 1 1

Total 28 11 1 4 8


Wildfire Spot

Planned Burn

January 12 1 6 4 5 2 1

February 7 5 2 2 1 1

March 7 3 2 1

April 2

May 2

June

July 1

August 3 4 1

September 8 2 2 4 1

October 11 3 2 4 1 3 2

November 10 5 1 6 3 1

December 12 2 1 5 5 3 1

Total 74 1 26 1 24 24 11 8 1 3


Wildfire Spot

Planned Burn

January 11 2 4 1 2 1 1

February 8 1 4 1 2

March 4 1 1 2

April 6 2 1 1

May 3 2 1

June 1 1

July 4

August 7 1

September 10 2 3 3 1 1

October 12 2 6 2

November 13 2 2 1 7 1 1

December 15 2 4 3 2

1 no date

1 no date

Total 94 5 17 15 27 5 9 1


2.6 Values at RiskValues are defined as objects or locations that hold a relative economic, social or environmental worth. Spatial data, for analysis in a geographic information system (GIS), were collected state wide from a variety of sources to attempt to develop a comprehensive collection of “values”. The objects collected were then classified into three categories: Constructed; Forest/Agriculture; and Natural values. Impacts from wildfires were based on fire passage not impacts that might occur due to fire suppression activities.

2.6.1 ConstructedThe items in this classification are values that have been built or constructed by humans, including both historical structures and modern. Inputs into this classification have been broken down into the following three sub groups; (see Appendix Map 1).

Life: spatial locations that have a high probability of temporary visitor use.

Wildland Urban Interface: locations of single, multiple and high density populations.

Critical Infrastructure: locations of facilities that if temporarily disrupted would cause extensive economic or social impact.

Burnable Infrastructure: locations of facilities that if disrupted would cause some economic or social impact but could be replaced in a relatively short timeframe.

Non-burnable: values which can not be negatively affected by the passage of a wildfire.

2.6.2 Forest/AgricultureThis is a relative economic value classification of managed forested land, research monitoring plots along with locations of vineyard production sites. Forest values were broken into 6 relative economic classes ranging from Class 0 to Class 5, with Class 5 being the highest value of commercial plantation, through to Class 0 which are areas that are presently not managed for commercial economic return (see Appendix Map 2). At this time data on other agricultural values are not readily available in spatial format. Examples of other values which could be captured are stone fruit production, apiary operations and high value grazing locations

2.6.3 NaturalThe items in this classification are specific flora, fauna or geo-conservation point and or polygon locations which have been identified that require special protection from impacts of wildfires. Flora and Fauna were categorized relative to their individual restricted range and vulnerability to the impacts from wildfires. Geo-conservation areas were categorized by their sensitivity to impacts from wildfires (see Appendix Map 3).

Data on Aboriginal cultural values is not presently available for this project.

2.7 Fuel GroupsWithin the reserve system in Tasmania there exists a variety of vegetation communities. The intent of the management objectives of these landscapes often precludes the modification of the communities and is usually designed to conserve and protect. This type of conservation strategy usually leads over time to an accumulation of forest fuels which if ignited under high fire weather danger days can lead to the rapid growth of fire and potential damage to values.

The existing vegetation in Tasmania is inventoried through TASVEG Version 1.0. The underlying attributes were interpreted as “Flammability Classes” (Pyrke and Marsden-Smedley, 2005) and “Fuel Groups” which were used in this project to assist in the analysis of fire behaviour in Tasmanian vegetation communities.

Flammability classes were assigned to 5 categories from Extreme to Low (see Appendix Map 4) with Fuel Grouping broken up into 13 broad types based on fuel structure (see Appendix Map 5 and Table 9).

Table 8: Fuel Groups/ TASVEG type

Fuel Group TASVEG Types Covered

Fuel Group 1 Dry Sclerophyll Forest, Dry Sclerophyll Woodlands

Fuel Group 2 Buttongrass Moorland

Fuel Group 3a Heathland, Dry Scrub, Coastal Scrub, Swamp and Wetland

Fuel Group 3b Wet Scrub

Fuel Group 4 Grassland, Native Grassland

Fuel Group 5 Radiata and Eucalypt Plantations

Fuel Group 6 Wet Sclerophyll Woodlands – Forests, Mixed Forests

Fuel Group 7 Gorse, Flammable Weeds

Fuel Group 8 Rainforest

Fuel Group 9 Slash

Fuel Group 10 Shelterwood Coupes

Fuel Group 11 Alpine, Subalpine with conifers and deciduous beech

Fuel Group 12 Alpine, Subalpine sedgy and grassy

Fuel Group 13 Alpine, Subalpine with-out conifers and deciduous beech


3. Bushfire Risk Assessment3.1 Bushfire Risk Assessment ProcessBoth the Ellis and Rawson reports recommend the development of a risk assessment to help PWS focus on a strategic direction in regard to fire risk mitigation.

International literature research was undertaken to review what existing computer models were presently being utilized. Models from the following locations were reviewed: New Zealand, Western Australia, Canberra, South Africa, Greece, United States, British Columbia, and Alberta.

Ideas and processes were used and enhanced to come up with the model which was required and developed for Tasmania. The processes helped evaluate four key input components to the model which help identify challenges or shortfalls with the existing management direction. The model is built in a geographic information system utilising various spatial data, fire behaviour equations and climate records from many sources. The Bushfire Risk Assessment Model (BRAM) is the result.

3.2 Regional BRAM Outputs

3.2.1 Ignition Potential — which is defined as historical ignition records or natural occurrences which could lead to a risk of ignition (see Appendix Map 6). A variety of input data was used to determine the final ignition potential output used (see Appendix 2A: Ignition Potential Flow Diagram).

3.2.2 Suppression Capabilities— which is defined as areas within the state where occurrences can be detected and actioned within existing fire management procedures (see Appendix Map 7). A variety of input data was used to determine the final suppression capabilities output used (see Appendix 2B: Suppression Capabilities Flow Diagram).

3.2.3 Values at Risk— which is defined as any item or area that has either an economic, social or environmental worth (see Appendix Map 8). A variety of input data (see page 14) was used to determine the final values at risk output used (see Appendix 2C: Values at Risk Flow Diagram).

3.2.4 Fire Behaviour Potential— which is defined as factors that would effect the development and propagation of a fire (see Appendix Map 9). A variety of input data was used to determine the final fire behaviour potential output used (see Appendix 2B: Fire Behaviour Potential Flow Diagram).

3.3 Bushfire Risk AnalysisTo determine overall risk we attempted to follow guidelines which are outlined in the NERAG (National Emergency Risk Assessment Guidelines August 2009) document (see Appendix 3). The level of risk is determined by combining consequences and likelihood (see Table 10).

Table 9: Qualitative Risk Matrix

Consequence (Values at Risk)

Lik

elih

oo

d

1 2 3 4 5

5 High High Extreme Extreme Extreme

4 Mod High High Extreme Extreme

3 Low Mod High Extreme Extreme

2 Low Low Mod High Extreme

1 Low Low Mod High High

Likelihood is defined as a qualitative method to assess the likelihood rating to the consequences occurring. The likelihood of an event (see Appendix Map 10) was generated by the average combinations of the output generated from the following: Ignition Potential, Suppression Capabilities and Fire Behaviour Potential, followed by assigning these output values to categories in a likelihood matrix.

Consequences are defined as a qualitative consequence rating to the consequence occurring. The consequences (see Appendix Map 11) was taken directly from the output generated through the Values at Risk spatial layer output. A representation of risk (see Appendix Map 12) is developed when you combine the factors of likelihood and consequence . The output map generated of risk shows qualitative areas of risk, not areas of perceived risk. Thus, the model assists in objectively defining areas where genuine risk is present. In-depth analysis will indicate what factor is the major contributing cause of the risk.

It must be noted that the BRAM and therefore the consequences, likelihood and risk outputs are based on available data. While the maps are presented as complete maps of Tasmania, there are significant gaps in the data outside of areas of reserved land managed by PWS. For example, the mapped fire history which contributes to the Ignition Potential and therefore Likelihood layers is not complete on private land (ie outside of reserved land and State Forest) and high value agriculture land(ie stone fruit) that contribute to Values at Risk and therefore the Consequence layer.

It is anticipated that an updated BRAM will be available by December 2009 and will provide a better basis for implementation of the strategies of this plan.

An analysis occurred on individual reserves parcels which identified specific locations of risk by type and an overall summary breakdown for the entire reserve (see Table 11). This information provides some guidance in what percentage of the reserve is under a specific risk category.


Table 10: Major Reserve BRAM Risk Summary

NameRisk(Percentage)

Low Moderate High Extreme

Freycinet National Park (see Appendix Map 13) 33 41 24 <1

General Analysis indicates Ignition Potential – extreme(high density of starts), Suppression Capability – slow(outside normal conventional fire fighting forces reach)

Narawntapu National Park /Briggs RR (see Appendix Map 14)

53 34 13 <1

General Analysis indicates Ignition Potential – extreme(high density of starts), Fire Behaviour Potential – high ( fuel type and high load)

Mount William National Park (see Appendix Map 15) 23 35 41 1

General Analysis indicates Ignition Potential - extreme(high density of starts), Suppression Capability – poor to slow(outside normal conventional fire fighting forces reach)

Ben Lomond National Park (see Appendix Map 16) 5 19 75 <1

General Analysis indicates Ignition Potential – extreme(high density of starts), Suppression Capability – poor to slow(outside normal conventional fire fighting forces reach)

Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area (see Appendix Map 17) 0 8 85 7

General Analysis indicates Ignition Potential – extreme(high density of starts), Fire Behaviour Potential – mod, Values – very high(mixed number of constructed assets)

Port Sorell Conservation Area (see Appendix Map 18) 23 60 17 0

General Analysis indicates Consequences – moderate (located near critical Infrastructure)

Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair National Park (see Appendix Map 19)

2 37 60 1

General Analysis indicates Ignition Potential – extreme(high density of starts), Suppression Capability – slow(outside normal conventional fire fighting forces reach)

Central Plateau Conservation Area (see Appendix Map 20)

4 54 42 0

General Analysis indicates Ignition Potential – high to very high(moderate density of starts), Suppression Capability – poor to slow(outside normal conventional fire fighting forces reach)

Walls Of Jerusalem National Park (see Appendix Map 21) 7 71 22 0

General Analysis indicates Fire Behaviour Potential – moderate, Suppression Capability –poor to slow(outside normal conventional fire fighting forces reach)


The initial analysis indicates that a large number of the Parks and Wildlife Service reserves are in fact not a risk and contribute very little to the risk in surrounding areas.

Formal regional working groups should be developed with the three fire agencies represented and local area stakeholders to do an in-depth review of the outputs generated by the model to determine the contributing factor(s) of areas at risk. Through community engagement, education can be focused on developing a better understanding of the areas of genuine qualitative risk, not on areas of perceived risk.

Further analysis will occur for areas within reserves identified as high or extreme risk to determine if the risk is intolerable, tolerable or acceptable. Mitigation strategies will presently be focused on areas of highest risk due to budget constraints.

The BRAM maps at the end of this plan are indicative – it is intended that detailed analyses will utilise GIS and the GIS model.

The focus for mitigation strategies will be three main fronts:

1. Prevention to reduction of the number of wildfires occurring

2. Pro-active response instead of a reactive response to minimize the negative impacts which could be caused by wildfires

3. The correct response requirements once a wildfire is detected to minimize the extent of the impact.

Coastal Reserve AnalysisThere has been a perception that coastal reserved land tenure poses an elevated wildfire risk and requires immediate mitigation treatments. A review of the data provided for the development of the BRAM model indicated that only 11% of the fires initiated within 250 meters from the coastline within the study period. This data shows a non elevated ignition potential.

The fuel group in these areas is predominantly Type 3a - Heathland, Dry Scrub and or Coastal Shrub. The propagation of a fire includes an initial acceleration and build up phase. A minimum forward spread distance from the ignition source and head fire width (usually greater than 100 m) is required before a fire can achieve its maximum equilibrium rate of spread usually. Narrow coastal reserves offer limited forward areas of uninterrupted fuel sources for fires; this is due to the fact that wind direction is normally on or off shore which is perpendicular to the available fuel supply. Fires that are ignited within these areas usually have just begun the acceleration stage in development when they run into roadside verges and road surface areas which act as a natural fire break. Thus, these fires usually lack sufficient intensity to cause problems for suppression resources. The risk to neighbouring houses is therefore generally not high.

Research done on open fuel type’s show that firebreaks of 7 to 15 meters is sufficient to stop head fires with winds under 20 km/hr (Alexander and Fogarty, 2002). Table 12 indicates the breakdown of bushfire incidents within coastal reserved land, these reserves make up 13% of the total area managed by the region.

When reviewing these factors the coastal areas appear not to have an increased bushfire risk compared to the other reserves managed by PWS. An appropriate management strategy would be to target specific reserves that are under high risk due to increase ignition potential through prevention methods.

Table 11: Incidents within Coastal Reserves 1966–2007

Reserve Name Total Number of Fires

Fires within 250m of Coastline

Freycinet National Park 12 5

Coles Bay Conservation Area 7 2

Unnamed Public Reserve 2 2

Denison Rivulet Conservation Area 1 1

Seymour Conservation Area 1 1

Lagoons Beach Conservation Area 1 1

Scamander Conservation Area 17 16

St Helens Conservation Area 10 0

Parnella Conservation Area 3 3

Humbug Point Nature Recreation Area

15 9

Bay of Fires 9 2

Mt William National park 19 1

Musselroe Bay Conservation Area 2 2

Waterhouse Conservation Area 9 1

Granite Point Conservation Area 6 0

Narawntapu National Park 3 1

Pardoe Northdown Conservation Area 1 0


4. Fire Prevention4.1 ContextPrevention controls are designed to prevent the occurrence of a wildfire and or facilitate easier control.

4.2 ObjectiveIn fire prevention the focus is to reduce the likelihood of incidents occurring through the initiation of or changes to; Education, Enforcement or Engineering programs.

Fire ignition occurs by two factor types; natural (lightning), human caused.

The Education program will focus on human-cause bushfires. When analysis occurred it was determined that the cause breakdown in the Northern Region is as the follows:

Escape 16% occurrences, being 46 % area burned

Other 11 % occurrences, being 5 % area burnedArson 49% occurrences, being 24 % area burned

4.3 Strategies and ActionsEducation program should target industrial and agricultural neighbours which account for 27 % of all the fires which are occurring in the reserves. A community awareness package should be developed and delivered. Through individual meetings and workshops the messages can be given and adjusted by regional user group trends.

The fire management awareness component of the existing Discovery Ranger program should be upgraded, as only through education can we enact change on culture. A new fire awareness kit should be developed and presented to the Discovery Ranger staff so knowledge transfer from fire management staff can be initiated. Fire Management staff will accompany Discovery Rangers in their rove activities so that the fire management message can be passed on to the recreational public. Additional support should be provided to the Discovery Ranger program off season so that the awareness message can be provided to both school and youth groups through presentations. All existing departmental pamphlets should include fire awareness and fire management information to the general public and provide additional contact leads for interested individuals or groups.

Enforcement program should be developed and directed toward malice and irresponsible individuals or companies that show disregard to the legislation and the damage that they cause by bushfires. A process should be developed to investigate all human-caused fire and if negligent found then charges should be laid under the existing legislation. Options will be investigated to review existing legislation to allow the department to recover fire suppression costs.

Arson still accounts for 49% of fire occurrence, thus areas with a high incidence of suspicious ignitions should be monitored closely by random patrols, particularly at times of severe fire weather.

The PWS should develop a close working relationship with investigators from the Tasmania Police and Tasmania Fire Service with case files being developed and logged for all fires of suspicious origin. All efforts should be made to assist in the apprehension of these individuals.

A significant percentage of the fires have been caused by escapes from adjacent landowners. Existing 2008 incident statistics from the Tasmania Fire Service indicate a drop in vegetation fire response of 30 percent in the Southern Region and an overall trend reduction once the permit season was initiated. These data seem to indicate that either individuals show more duty of care when permits are required or site inspections from the permit officers are disallowing unsafe burning practices. Discussion should be initiated with Tasmania Fire Service to encourage the development of a standard permit season policy as statistics clearly support a reduction of vegetation fires incidents occur once the declared permit period is in place.

Engineering Program will be focused on all infrastructure located within the reserve system both PWS and privately owned.

Specific values can be safeguarded through engineering methods. Reserves which continue to allow the use of open fires should install properly engineered fire rings and enforce their use only or evaluate the social impact of initiating a total open fire ban. Infrastructure should be designed as per Australian Standards AS3959-1999.

Developed sites should be designed in accordance to Tasmania Fire Service document “Guidelines for Development in Bushfire Prone Areas in Tasmania”. Existing PWS structures which do not reach the standards should be tracked through the Information Management System with the scheduled maintenance to convert facilities to standards when possible (see Figure 9). All sites should be assessed on whether they are presently defendable, so pre-incident triage can occur enabling the most effective use of the limited suppression resources of the PWS in line with State Fire Commission Policy Statement 1/07(see Appendix 4). Visitors to sites deemed un-defendable may be protected by the development of an effective Emergency Response Plan with pre-identified escape routes and safety zones.


Figure 9: Freycinet Visitor Centre

Private infrastructure or companies operating through the existing lease and license program should be externally audited to determine the level of wildfire risk to their operations and assets (see Appendix 5). Conditions could be applied through the lease or license renewal program through Section 48 of the National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002. This legislation will provide a framework to allow the department to apply fire management operating conditions to individual or companies that operate within the reserves. If due to design or site location compliance is not economic, socially or environmentally possible, individual site fire control plans should be initiated to help mitigate the risk of loss. Where ever possible all new sites should conform to the above referenced documents.

Fire Behaviour PotentialFuel is the only component of a fire environment that can be altered to reduce the probability of occurrence of intense wildfires (McArthur 1962). For reserves where they exist, the statutory management plans provide some direction as to which mitigation strategies are acceptable. The PWS will use the “Fire Management Zone” framework (see below) which is aligned with the draft “General Management Plan – Southern Region” (soon to be released internally) to help guide what the site specific strategy process will be.

Fire Trail Guidelines Through-out the reserve system lie a network of fire trails which should be maintained using the standards specified in the PWS document called Fire Management Infrastructure Categories and Standards as a guide. Each reserve fire trail system has been assessed to determine which ones are strategically required and maintained to the required standard; all others not required should be decommissioned and stabilized or reassigned for another purpose (see Figure 12). Table 13 identifies Strategic fire trails that are to be retained in the Northern Region. To be of strategic value; fire trails should be located in the following situations:

1. adjacent to the assets which they require to protect

2. to lead to strategic water sources

3. to break up large tracts of contiguous flammable vegetation and fuels

4. to facilitate access and egress from reserves

5. to provide boundaries for prescribed burning blocks

All built up fuel loads within the perimeter of the asset protection zone (see below) must be identified and dealt with or the integrity of protection will be in question. Fire trails which are located on multi-jurisdictional land tenure (eg unallocated Crown Land or local government land) should be identified and formal memorandums of understanding should be developed with clear direction and authority identifying responsibilities (see Appendix Map 22). Fire trail access should be controlled through gating and locked with a single standard regional key with key controlled and coordinated through the Regional Fire Management Officer.

Figure 12: Bradley Trail Class 5


Table 12: Strategic Fire Trails

Reserve Name Trail Name Class Type ID #

Narawntapu/Briggs

Campground Class 5 23

Wentworth Hill Class 5 26

Dazzler Fire Trail Class 5 25

Dazzler-Link Briggs Class 5 24

Point Vision Class 5

Mount William

Little Boggy Creek West Class 3 18

Ratty Track Class 3 17

Big Boggy Track Class 5 16

Bayley Hill Fire Trail Class 5 22

West Boundary Fire Trail Class 5 19

North Boundary Fire Trail Class 3 20

Anson Bay Protection Class 5 21

Tucker Fire Trail upgrade to Class 5 15

Ben LomondRagged Jack Track assess upgrade to Class 5 37

SW Rossarden assess upgrade to Class 5 35

Cradle Mountain Payton Road assess upgrade to Class 5 34

Central Plateau Pillans Track assess upgrade to Class 5 32

Westane Extension assess upgrade to Class 5 33

Douglas Aspley

Organ Hill Fire Trail Class 5 7

Eastern Fire Trail Class 5 9

Aspley Causeway Class 3 – water access 8

Aspley Link Class 5 10

South Aspley Class 5 11

Penny Fathers Class 5 – water access 12

West Douglas Class 5 14

Tin Mine Class 3 6

E-MG Link assess upgrade to Class 5 13

Freycinet

Courland Bay Rd Class 5 – MOU council 4

Tar Hill Class 3 5

Nevilles Track Class 5 1

Bradley Trail Class 5 3

Ranger Creek Class 3 2

Mt Cameron Mt Cameron Fire Trail Class 5 extension 36

Trevallyn

Upper Gorge Class 5 29

Archery Fire Trail Class 5 27

Read Gully Class 5 30

Workshop Fire Trail Class 5 28

Walls of Jerusalem none

Port Sorell none

Humbug Point Humbug Class 5 31


Fire Management ZonesThe development of Fire Management Zone protocols will assist in providing operational direction for dealing with wildfires occurring within landscape areas along with providing direction for mitigation strategies. Zoning protocols along with all strategies will be re-assessed on an on-going basis to determine whether objectives are being achieved or require modifications. The aim is to designate all reserved land into one of the four categories of Fire Management Zone. Some reserves may have one or more areas designated to one or more of the zone categories. The four zone categories and protocols associated with each are described below. Appendix Map 23 indicates the zones at a very general scale – for detailed examination and analysis of the zones it is necessary to utilise a geographic information system on computer which enables zooming in to a suitable scale (only PWS tenure displayed). It also highlights the impact of adjacent neighbouring assets have on our reserves system (e.g. narrow reserves which have no inventoried values may show up as a APZ1 due to adjacent asset) The Strategic Fuel Management Zone is developed using the inventory of TASVEG on all tenure (only PWS tenure displayed).

• An asset for the purpose of the zoning methodology is defined as a feature either human made or natural of significant value in which a fire would have a negative impact, or in the case of some natural assets, fire exclusion may also have a negative impact

Asset Zone

Primary Purpose – geographic location of asset(s) of high value or importance

General Location – the physical boundary of the asset

General Characteristics – area involved could be variable in size dependant on value in question (e.g. hut or threatened flora and fauna polygon)

Suppression Guidelines – use of a full range of pre-suppression and suppression tactics unless prohibited by a management plan.

Asset Protection Zone

Primary Purpose – area of high strategic importance to protect values in Asset Zones, wildfires will be managed on a priority basis to confine spread and extinguish

General Location – areas generally adjacent or upwind from locations of high significant values in Asset Zones

Level 1 <50 m wide identifying where further assessment is required to determine mitigation actions

Level 2 < 1 kilometre wide identifying where further assessment is required to determine mitigation actions

Mitigation Actions – treated areas will be variable in size and shape dependent on the type of value that requires protecting and spatial characteristics of the site which is available to be modified. Treatments may include mechanical fuel modification (e.g. slashing), fuel reduction burning, evacuation or engineering (e.g. a sprinkler system). Not all parts of all Asset Protection Zones will be treated – the zones are intended to help guide treatment options, priorities and location. Consideration must be made for natural and human made features when defining the treatment boundaries such as fuel type/load, slope, hydrology and access trails. Conservation values within Asset Protection Zones must be considered and protected as far as possible in the design of treatments.

Suppression Guidelines – use of a full range of pre-suppression and suppression tactics unless prohibited by a management plan

Strategic Fuel Management Zone

Primary Purpose – area of management that will increase the likelihood of controlling a wildfire within or the forward spread through the area, along with minimizing the potential for a bushfire to achieve a size greater than 5,000 hectares.

General Location – areas will be located strategically in fuel types of high or greater flammability (see Forest Fuels); size greater than 5,000 hectares; taking into consideration natural and man-made attributes to provide anchor points.

General Characteristics – fuel will be managed by prescribed burning of areas of suitable vegetation of sufficient size and continuity to act as a barrier to fire spread by reducing rate of spread, intensity, spotting under 90th percentile (see Table 7) of fire weather by methods and resources available. The aim will be, however, to maintain appropriate fire regimes as far as possible throughout as much of the vegetation as possible.

Suppression Guidelines – use of a full range of pre-suppression and suppression tactics unless prohibited by a management plan.


Land Management Zone

Primary Purpose – fire management in the zone is to maintain appropriate fire regimes for the landscape vegetation communities, species diversity and cultural heritage.

General Location – areas remote from significant visitor use and assets that are damaged by fire.

General Characteristics – vegetation burning will be managed in such a fashion to provide a mosaic of post-fire ages which falls within the range of ecological requirements of the flora and fauna present. Specific fire regimes can be managed for single species management (e.g. Orange-Bellied Parrot).

Suppression Guidelines – use of suppression tactics of minimal intervention only to maintain appropriate fire regime or to ensure a fire location stays within the zone.

Planned Fire StrategyThe application of planned fire is used for vegetation management; habitat management and value protection (i.e. fuel reduction or modification). Planned fire is also used as a means to restore fire disturbance patterns on the landscape by the introduction of controlled burns that closely mimic the natural range of fire variation in the area. With a coordinated approach, a prioritization hierarchy can be developed so that multiple land management objectives can be achieved in a single burn.

Planned burning will be undertaken primarily in Asset Protection Zones and Strategic Fuel Management Zones, with priority given to areas where the risk to values is the highest, as identified by the BRAM. Planned burning may also be undertaken in all zones when and where there is an identified need for species or communities that require fire. Table 14 identifies areas of priority for ecological management, these sites require the introduction of fire to maintain population diversity and richness; once areas can identified for fauna purposes they will be added, however, at this time that information is not available.

• Not all of the native vegetation within Asset Protection Zones, Strategic Fuel Management Zones and Land Management Zones is amenable to planned burning. For example, most of the Asset Protection Zone identified by Map 23 on the central plateau is Eucalyptus coccifera forest and woodland or Eastern alpine heathland. Planned burning would not be appropriate in these vegetation types because of the very long fire intervals required to maintain biodiversity and vegetation structure.

• As a general principle, only those vegetation communities identified by Pyrke and Marsden-Smedley (2005) as having a low fire sensitivity are suitable for planned burning, including: buttongrass moorland; dry sclerophyll forest and woodland; dry scrub; coastal scrub; heathland and native grassland.

Methodology for the Identification of Regional Priority Areas within Asset Protection ZonesThis section describes the methodology that needs to be followed to translate the fire management zones and strategies described above into plans for operations that will be implemented within the region.

The Northern Region will be sub-divided into workable management units, for example, either by Parks and Reserve Manager jurisdictional areas or by Local Government Council boundaries. Within the defined area all reserves will be examined utilising the methodology listed below. The summary outcome will be a list and maps of priority blocks by method of treatment.

Step 1: overlay the extreme and high risk outputs from the BRAM model against the layer developed for Asset Protection Zones (APZs) ( see Appendix Map 24 – Northern Region Fire Mitigation Priorites), along with Threaten Flora priority areas. APZs adjacent to Asset Zones from built up areas will be a priority.

Step 2: assess the common area identified and then determine what management option is acceptable: mechanical fuel reduction (e.g. slashing), prescribed fire, engineering, or evacuation

Step 3: overlay existing approved plans for planned burning and mechanical fuel reduction (e.g. fire management plans, fire management strategies and burn programs approved through the RAA process or equivalent) against the common area identified in Step 2

Step 4: the areas not covered off by the existing approved plans should then be assessed for treatment options

Step 5: site specific treatments will then be developed for the areas (i.e. engineering, evacuation planning, planned burns), including consideration and utilisation of existing features for unit boundaries i.e trails, topography, fuel load and type. The fire sensitivity and suitability of the vegetation type for prescribed burning must be considered.

Step 6: prepare a map, or maps, at an appropriate scale of the ‘defining’ treatments within the designated management unit

Step 7: the proposed plan will be assessed through the annual planned burning RAA or annual fire management works RAA.

In areas within APZs where the above assessment has identified that fuel modification is required, hazards and fuel loads within the zone will be mitigated to a level to enable wildfire containment under 90th percentile of fire weather (see Table 7) by methods and resources available.

Within Level 1 APZs, modification of fuel arrangements will be intended to allow for the safe deployment of suppression resources within the zone to defend the asset value, or modified in such a fashion that would increased success rate for suppression action if not pre-deployed. Fuel Hazard Levels should be maintained at low (“Overall Fuel Hazard Guide for South Australia”).


Witin Level 2 APZs, modification of fuel loads is intended to facilitate increased success rate for suppression action. Fuel Hazard Levels should be maintained at or below moderate (“Overall Fuel Hazard Guide for South Australia”).

Based on the draft data available, Appendix Map 24 has identified the initial areas in Step 2 to be re-evaluated for mitigation priorities. Existing approved plans along with Threaten Flora priority areas will be evaluated against the outputs generated by this process for verification on prioritisation for mitigation areas. The process will be redefined as the model goes through its improvement stages.

Table 13: Threaten Flora Priority Areas

Location Target SpeciesSeason of

ApplicationPriority

Mt Vision Track Thelymitra antennifera, Phylloglossum drummondii Summer or autumn 1

Dukes Marsh Boronia hippopala Summer or autumn 1

Black Marsh Euphrasia scabra, Boronia hippopala Summer or autumn 1

Blindburn Creek Stonesiella selaginoides, Epacris grandis Summer or autumn 1

Waterhouse Point CA Prasophyllum secutum Summer or autumn 1



Granite Point CA Thelymitra antennifera, Prasophyllum apoxychilum Summer or autumn 1

Albert Marsh (north) Boronia hippopala Summer or autumn 2

Albert Marsh Boronia hippopala Summer or autumn 2

Horseshoe Marsh Boronia hippopala Summer or autumn 2

Hardings Falls (north) Stonesiella selaginoides, Epacris grandis Summer or autumn 2

Hockeys Marsh Euphrasia scabra Summer or autumn 2

Narawntapu NP Thelymitra antennifera Summer or autumn 2

Mt William NP Thelymitra antennifera, Prasophyllum apoxychilum Summer or autumn 2

Mt William NP Thelymitra antennifera, Zieria veronicea Summer or autumn 2

Castle Cary RR Caladenia congesta Summer or autumn 2

Cooks-Bryans Corner Thryptomene micrantha Summer or autumn 3

Douglas Apsley NP Caladenia congesta Summer or autumn 3


5. Preparedness5.1 ContextPreparedness controls are designed to mitigate the “impact”. Preparedness means all the activities that make organisations ready and better able to respond to wildfires.

5.2 ObjectiveA program should be in place to have sufficient staff, resources or processes in place to action incidents.

Alert levels need to increase as the fire weather danger increases.

The existing suppression system will be reviewed to determine whether any enhancement can be made to the program to improve suppression effectiveness. In the course of the development of the Suppression Capabilities layer of the Bushfire Risk Assessment Model (BRAM), a comprehensive list of factors were inputted and evaluated to determine where the existing standard procedures provided adequate detection and suppression coverage state wide. Significantly, areas of no coverage or little coverage were also discovered and are viewable as a separate output layer of the model.

Whenever and wherever possible fire fighting resources should be placed in areas which exhibit” High to Extreme” risk as long as the existing and forecasted weather intelligence supports that decision. It should be noted that the BRAM is a decision support tool and should be used in conjunction with staff knowledge to make the best informed decision.

Additional computer support models can be developed as an enhancement to the BRAM to determine daily and forecasted bushfire risk.

5.3 Strategies and ActionsThe objective is to provide sufficient initial attack capability with the aim of suppressing, within one burning period, any fire that threatens values. When the Fire Danger Index is 18 or higher, any fire will be difficult to contain with initial attack unless several crews are on the scene within 30 minutes. In some situations the critical time period for the fire to escalate to uncontrollable size may be even shorter than 30 minutes.

Fire Danger Rating Index values triggers will be used to assist staff determine the level of readiness or positioning of resources that are required (see Table 15).

Table 14: Preparedness Matrix

Fire Danger Index Shift Times ON DUTY Dispatch Times Actions/Resource Requirements

Fire Season Regular hours < 60 minutes Fire equipment serviceable.

1 to 11 Low – Moderate Regular hours < 30 minutes Vehicle equipped with appropriate fire gear.

12 to 24 HighRegular start with possible evening extension based on risk

< 15 minutesAll staff must carry PPE and remain contactable.

Assess the need for pre-positioning of fire crew.

25 to 49 Very High

Fire Weather WarningPossible staggered shifts with evening extensions 5 minutes

Spotter flights required based on risk.

Pre-position fire crew to area of concern.

Loaded patrols by rotary wing and ground units.

Activation of Incident Management Team will be considered.

Trail and reserve closure will be implemented.

Suspension of all hazardous activities which are occurring in reserves.

Campfire restrictions implemented.

50 plus Severe, Extreme, Catastrophic

Fire Ban

Staggered shifts with evening extensions 5 minutes

MAC group assess the availability of interstate support resources.

Total closure of reserves and trails implemented.

Level 3 Incident Management Teams along with resources may be pre-positioned.


6. Fire Response6.1 ContextFire Response controls are designed to mitigate the “impact” once the incident occurs.

6.2 ObjectivesFire suppression response process is the ability to send the correct amount and type of resources to an incident for the predicted fire behaviour or value at risk.

6.3 Strategies and ActionsThe goal of a successful program is arrive on scene when the fire is in such a state and size that the available resources dispatched can control and contain within the first burning period (before 10 am the following day). The Bushfire Risk Assessment Model has attempted to collect a thorough database of all the constructed, forest/agriculture and natural values which are located within and or adjacent to our parks reserves. The “Values at Risk” layer will display the priorities of values which can be used to help identify high “value” areas.

The department has existing policies and procedures to guide our fire response. Additional procedures will be developed as information and resources become available.

Fire Danger Index value triggers are recommended to be in place to help assist staff on what the predicted fire behaviour in fuels will be and the type of suppression tactic which will be successful. Note increased fuel loads in conjunction with high SDI values drastically increase fire behaviour. The below information (see Table 16, 17, 18, 19) will be used as a guide to assist staff in determining the correct type and amount of resources to dispatch to a fire at a given Fire Danger Index.

A Daily Fire Action Plan has been developed to assist PWS staff evaluate risk and determine whether threats are located adjacent to areas of high value. The plan will assist making appropriate adjustments or pre-placement of additional response units to as close geographically to the threat and improve effectiveness (see Appendix 6: Daily Fire Action Plan). This “Pro Active” process will reduce the assembly and response time of resources to a fire location and therefore support increased containment success rate and decrease area and or value loss.

A Fire Awareness Safety Briefing document (see Appendix 7: Fire Awareness Safety Briefing form) will be part of this Daily Fire Action Plan and will be used by fire management staff to provide summary fire behaviour information to staff and allow for some tactical and strategy development pre-incident. It will be completed by the RFDO supported by a fire behaviour analysist and will be further developed for the 2010/11 fire season.

A detection plan will be developed to ensure that the appropriate detection agent’s are in place (e.g. Fire Towers, Spotter Flights) and operating when the fire danger risk is forecast. A Fire Danger Index value of 24 and or forecasted lightning event over areas will trigger the need for the initiation of spotter flights. The Bushfire Risk Assessment Model Detection Layer indicates where the existing detection gaps are located. The flight paths of spotter flights will be adjusted to ensure that gaps are covered between manned fire towers coverage.

Strategy Appropriate Level of Action Who to Action

PlanningDevelop a standard Daily Fire Action Plan along with a standard level of fire cover

Fire Management Section

Detection Develop a detection plan Region

Planning Develop a fire action plan Region

Resourcing Develop a process to assess annual resource allocation Region

ResourcingDevelop and activate the appropriate fire rosters when required


Training

Ensure staffs are trained and competent to meet departmental requirements through standardization of training packages and certification processes.



Fire Danger Index Head Fire Intensities (Kw/m)

Rate of Spread (Km/hr)

Head Fire Flame Height (m) Strategy/Tactic

< 5 < 675 .09 2.0Direct Attack

Hand Tools

5 – 12 675 - 1589 .26 5.0Direct Attack

Hand Tools

12 – 241589 - 3105

.40 8.Anchor-Flank

Tankers/Aircraft

24 – 50 3105 - 7650 .85 14Indirect

Tankers/ Aircraft

50 - 100 7650 – 12,600 1.6 CrownIndirect

Burn-out

100 + >12,600 CrownIndirect

Aerial Ignition

Moorland Fire Danger Index

Head Fire Intensities (Kw/m) Rate of Spread (Km/hr) Head Fire Flame

Height (m) Strategy/Tactic

<3 <900 .30 2.0Direct Attack

Hand Tools

7 900 – 1800 .60 3.0Anchor–Flank

Hand Tools

14 1800 – 3600 1.20 5.0Indirect

Tankers/ Aircraft

30 3600 – 7200 2.40 7.5Indirect

Aircraft

50 7200 – 10,800 3.60 10.0Indirect

Burn–out

Table 15: Suppression Strategies Dry Sclerophyll (fuel load@15 tonnes/ha)

Table 16: Suppression Strategies Moorland Buttongrass (fuel load@10 tonnes/ha; 10 year old, medium productivity site)


Table 17: Typical Rate of Spread for BRAM Fuel Group 1 and 2, Time to 1.0 ha. and size at 1 hour response( after fire has established100m flame front)

Fire Danger Index

FUEL TYPE

(fuel load 15t/ha)

TYPICAL FIRE BEHAVIOUR

(Based on fire having already accelerated and established an 100m flame front)

FROS (m/min.) TIME TO 1.0 ha.

Size in 60 Minute TYPICAL FIRE TYPE

Range Average

FDI < 5 Dry Sclero <1.5 <1.5 37.3 min 2.5 ha Ground Surface

MFDR 1 – 3 Moorland <4. 2.2 25.5 min 5.5 ha Surface

FDI 6 – 12 Dry Sclero 1.6 – 3.5 2.6 21.5 min 7.6 ha Surface

MFDR 4 – 5 Moorland 4.5 – 8 6.3 8.9 min 44.9 ha Running Surface

FDI 13 – 24 Dry Sclero 3.6 – 6.8 5.3 10.6 min 31.8 ha Vigorous Surface/Torching

MFDR 6 – 12 Moorland 8 – 17 12.5 4.5 min 176.6 ha Vigorous Surface/ Spotting

FDI 25 – 50 Dry Sclero 7.2 – 14.2 10.7 5.2 min 129.4ha Torching/Crown

MFDR 13 – 24 Moorland 18 – 34 26 2.2 min 764.1 ha Long Distance Spotting

FDI 51 – 100 Dry Sclero >14.2 14.2 4 min 228 ha Active Crown

MFDR 25 – 50 Moorland 35 – 70 52.5 1 min 3115.7 ha UnpredicTable

FDI > 101 Dry Sclero Active Crown

MFDR 51 – 100 Moorland > 70 > 70 UnpredicTable

The Wildfire Management Decision Support Matrix along with the Fire Management Zone protocols was

Table 18: Wildfire Management Decision Support Matrix

Zone Season/FDI Initial Attack Sustained Action

Asset All Yes Yes

Asset Protection All Yes Yes(will assess if required if it occurs in a proposed burn block)

Strategic Fuel Management

Fire Season : FDI High or > Yes – for the first burning period Fire will be assessed on whether it will stay within confines of the zone or if it

occurs in a proposed burn block. If confirmed fire may be monitored or if in question indirect attack tactics may be utilized to maintain fire within zone.

Outside season: FDI < High No

Land ManagementFire Season : FDI High or > Yes – for the first

burning periodFire will be assessed on whether it will stay within confines of the zone, if confirmed fire will be monitored.

Indirect or direct suppression tactics will be employed if fire leaves zone.Outside season: FDI < High No


Action Once a fire is reported, dispatch the closest and appropriate number of resources, if available Regional Fire Duty Officer

Action Ensure that staff making the decision are competent at that level Manager Fire Operations

Action Ensure, within limits of overall resource constraints, that sufficient support resources are in place to back up initial attack or shifting requirements Regional Fire Duty Officer

Action Ensure decisions are made consistently Manager Fire Operations

NOTE: Table based on McArthur Mk5 (FDI) and Moorland Fire Danger Rating Models (MFDR). Drought Factor assumption 10

developed to assist fire management staff to determine what the appropriate tactic and strategy for the specific reserve locations.


7. Recovery – Restoration7.1 ContextOnce a bushfire has been controlled and extinguished there is a need to have a system in place to prevent the recurrent and further degradation of the effected values.

7.2 ObjectiveAn effective, transparent and efficient management process to restore the social, environmental and economic impact to a working and balanced state is required to be implemented as soon as is possible.

7.3 Strategies and Actions


Critical Incident Management

Actively manage Critical Incident stress through incident debriefing and support mechanisms.

Provide counselling to staff when required through the departmental “Employee Assistance Program”.

Conduct external and internal all party debriefs.

Manager Fire Operations

Fire Restoration

Assess the need for formal fire rehabilitation plan during and after every fire.

In the short term perform burn area stabilization and rehabilitation work to protect social, economic and environment values.

Development of rehabilitation guidelines, policies in regards to ecological impacts

Incident Controller

Fire Management Section – Planning/Policy Assurance

8. Standards, Monitoring and Reporting8.1 ContextAn adaptive management process is imperative to having a successful and positive fire management program. Establishment of standards, monitoring and reporting procedures will support, validate current and future program direction.

8.2 ObjectiveTo provide measurement standards to assess the effectiveness of the Strategic Fire Management Plan, subordinate operational plans and to provide a means to collect data that can be used in submission to the AFAC -Landscape Fire Performance Measures and PWS Strategic Plan- Performance Indicators.

8.3 Strategies and Actions

Landscape Fire Performance Measures (Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council)Provide “Phase 1” data for the national reporting by 2010; “Phase 2” by 2011(see Appendix 8).

Performance Indicators (Strategic Plan 2008–2010 Provide annual reporting figures on the following a) percentage and area of land negatively impacted by wildfire b) percentage and number of scheduled controlled burns successfully completed c) percentage and number of staff trained and actively involved in fire suppression.

Annual statistics will be analysed, taking in consideration seasonal and yearly fluctuations, to determine whether the Fire Management program of the Strategic Plan is supporting a reduction of negative impact caused by bushfires (see Appendix 9).

Operational IndicatorsTrack and monitor annual wildfire statistics to determine whether implemented operational strategies are successful and make adjustments where required.


ReportingConsistent monitoring and reporting is crucial and required against identified performance indicators. A two tier reporting system will capture information at both strategic and operational levels. The Fire Management Section is to report against set targets which are identified within the PWS Strategic Plan and will develop additional targets in the Regional Strategic Fire Management Plans. Regional Fire Management Officers will report against individual targets set at the regional operational plans. Reporting will be used to track program achievements, performance and assist in decision making. A review of the Fire Management Program will occur on an annual basis, but major directional changes should not occur solely based on yearly statistical figures. A comprehensive review of the Strategic Fire Management Plan will occur every five years with annual assessments of operational plans to capture recent operational and scientific developments.

9. Resource RequirementsPWS should ideally develop a transparent and consistent approach for the identification, prioritization of resource allocations for the implementation of the Strategic Fire Management Plan. The existing approaches used to evaluate resources required should not be discarded but should be used as support with the Strategic direction.

9.1 Management of the Regional Strategic Fire Management PlanThe Fire Management Section, Parks and Wildlife Service along with its regional representatives is responsible for the implementation of the plan. The functions required to monitor the implementation demand human, technical and physical resources and will be required consistently for the life of the plan.

The development of the Strategic Fire Management Plan version 1 aims to provide a workable document framework that can be adapted to the changing internal and external pressures. This collaboration from the PWS states its both legal and moral responsibilities and helps to identify its potential resource implications. It is clear that effective and efficient fire management strategies will require the sustained effort and resources of all fire management agencies within Tasmania.

9.2 Implementing the Strategic Fire Management PlanSpecific aspects of the Strategic Fire Management Plan will generate demands on the PWS and specific individuals responsible from them. In some areas significant effort will be required to keep the strategic focus through the life of the plan. Requirements outlined in version 1 of the Northern Region Strategic Fire Management Plan will be reviewed, analysed and redefined with new data when available during the development of sequential versions therefore providing a living document.


10. Reference Documents

• Gill, A. M., and Groves, R. H. (1981). Fire régimes in heathlands and their plant-ecological effects. In ‘Ecosystems of the World 9B. Heathlands and related shrublands’. (Ed R. L. Specht.) pp. 61-84. (Elsevier : Amsterdam.)

• Gill, A. M., and Bradstock, R. A. (1992). A national register for the fire responses of plant species. Cunninghamia 2, 653-660.

• Harris, S. (1991). Coastal vegetation. In ‘Tasmanian native bush: a management handbook.’. (Ed J. B. Kirkpatrick.) pp. 128-147. (Tasmanian Environment Centre: Hobart.)

• Jones, D. (1988). ‘Native orchids of Australia.’ (Reed: Forest, NSW.)

• Keith, D. A., and Bradstock, R. A. (1994). Fire and competition in Australian heath: a conceptual model and field investigations. Journal of Vegetation Science 5, 347-354.

• McArthur A.G (1962)Control Burning in Eucalypt Forests

• Morrison, D. A., Cary, G. J., Pengelly, S. M., Ross, D. G., Mullins, B. J., Thomas, C. R., and Anderson, T. S. (1995). Effects of fire frequency on plant species composition of sandstone communities in the Sydney region: Inter-fire interval and time-since-fire. Australian Journal of Ecology 20, 239-247.

• Pyrke, A. F., and Marsden-Smedley, J. B. (2005). Fire-attributes categories, fire sensitivity, and flammability of Tasmanian vegetation communities. Tasforests 16, 35-46.

• Rawson, R. (2006). Review of Fire Management Risk Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service

• Specht, R. L., and Specht, A. (1989). Species richness of sclerophyll (heathy) plant communities in Australia-the influence of overstorey cover. Australian Journal of Botany 37, 337-350

• Tolhurst, K. (2000) Guidelines for Ecological Burning in Foothill Forest of Victoria

The following documents were used in the development of the Northern Strategic Fire Management Plan.

• AS/NZS 4360:2004 Australian Standard Risk Management

• Bushfire Risk Assessment Project Methodology

• Fire Management Infrastructure Categories and Standards

• Guidelines for development in Bushfire Prone Areas in Tasmania ( TFS 1995)

• Landscape Fire Performance Measures ( Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council 2008)

• Northern Region Strategic Fire Management Plan Project Plan

• Parks and Wildlife Service Strategic Plan 2008-2010

• Alexander & Fogarty (2002) New Zealand Forest Research – Fire technology Transfer Note)

• Auld, T. D., and O’Connell, M. A. (1989). Changes in predispersal seed predation levels after fire for two Australian legumes, Acacia elongata and Sphaerolobium vimineum. Oikos 54, 55-9.

• Benson, D. H. (1985). Maturation periods for fire-sensitive shrub species in Hawkesbury Sandstone vegetation. Cunninghamia 1, 339-349.

• Bowman, D. M. J. S. (1998). Tansley Review No. 101. The impact of Aboriginal landscape burning on the Australian biota. New Phytologist 140, 385-410.

• Bradstock, R. A., and Auld, T. D. (1995). Soil temperatures during experimental bushfires in relation to fire intensity: consequences for legume germination and fire management in south-eastern Australia. Journal of Applied Ecology 32, 76-84.

• Bradstock, R. A., Keith, D. A., and Auld, T. D. (1995). Fire and conservation: imperatives and constraints on managing for diversity. In ‘Conserving biodiversity: threats and solutions.’. (Eds R. A. Bradstock, T. D. Auld, D. A. Keith, R. T. Kingsford, D. Lunney, and D. P. Sivertson.) pp. 323-333. (Surrey Beatty and Sons: Chipping Norton.)

• Cary, G. J., and Morrison, D. A. (1995). Effects of fire frequency on plant species composition of sandstone communities in the Sydney region: Combinations of inter-fire intervals. Australian Journal of Ecology 20, 418-426.

• Ellis, S. (2005)The Operational Safety Audit of Fire Management within the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service


Appendix 1: Northern Region Reserve Breakdown

Tenure Type – Conservation Area

Name Area (ha)

Ansons Bay Conservation Area 101

Apsley Conservation Area 456

Bay of Fires Conservation Area 3462

Bouchers Creek Conservation Area 127

Briggs Islet Conservation Area 5

Brougham Sugarloaf Conservation Area 1221

Cape Portland Conservation Area 202

Cat Island Conservation Area 49

Central Plateau Conservation Area 87240

Chalky Island Conservation Area 56

Coles Bay Conservation Area 2441

Coswell Beach Conservation Area 5

Cressy Beach Conservation Area 6

Dans Hill Conservation Area 713

Darling Range Conservation Area 5476

Denison Rivulet Conservation Area 100

Double Sandy Point Conservation Area 711

Egg Beach Conservation Area 15

Five Mile Pinnacles Conservation Area 483

Foochow Conservation Area 1879

Foochow Conservation Area 4006

Forsyth Island Conservation Area 189

Four Mile Creek Conservation Area 86

George Town Conservation Area 126

Goose Island Conservation Area 108

Granite Point Conservation Area 167

Great Lake Conservation Area 8627

Great Western Tiers Conservation Area 22870

Gull Island Conservation Area 12

Jacksons Cove Conservation Area 158

Jones Rivulet Conservation Area 64

Kelvedon Beach Conservation Area 30

Lackrana Conservation Area 856

Lagoons Beach Conservation Area 127

Liawenee Conservation Area 61

Lime Pit Road Conservation Area 29

Little Beach Conservation Area 68

Little Boobyalla River Conservation Area 489

Little Green Island Conservation Area 93

Logan Lagoon Conservation Area 4861

Low Head Conservation Area 25

Low Point Conservation Area 220

Mayfield Bay Conservation Area 26

Medeas Cove Conservation Area 83

Mile Island Conservation Area 6

Morass Bay Conservation Area 138

Moss Gully Conservation Area 408

Mount William Conservation Area 13

Mulligans Hill Conservation Area 1177

Musselroe Bay Conservation Area 1672

Night Island Conservation Area 14

Oyster Rocks Conservation Area 7

Pardoe Northdown Conservation Area 177

Parnella Conservation Area 17

Patriarchs Conservation Area 4049

Port Sorell Conservation Area 87


Rainbow Point Conservation Area 23

Redbill Point Conservation Area 33

Reef Island Conservation Area 6

Rocky Point Conservation Area 51

Scamander Conservation Area 473

Sensation Gorge Conservation Area 248

Sensation Gorge Conservation Area 59

Seymour Conservation Area 114

Shag Lagoon Conservation Area 1008

Sister Islands Conservation Area 1376

Spiky Beach Conservation Area 6

St Helens Conservation Area 1119

Storehouse Island Conservation Area 27

Summer Camp Conservation Area 45

Swansea Conservation Area 12

Tamar Conservation Area 4660

Tea-Tree Bay Conservation Area 28

The Dutchman Conservation Area 185

The Steppes Conservation Area 59

Top Marshes Conservation Area 2727

Waterhouse Conservation Area 6957

Whalers Lookout Conservation Area 4

Wright and Egg Islands Conservation Area 12

Wybalenna Island Conservation Area 21

Wye River Conservation Area 427

Unnamed 531

Unnamed 9

Unnamed 41

Unnamed 208

Unnamed 32

Unnamed 81

Unnamed 75

Unnamed 0.062

Unnamed 0.049

Unnamed 0.265

Unnamed 3036

Unnamed 53

Unnamed 22

Unnamed 61

Unnamed 43

Unnamed 67

Unnamed 2

Unnamed 27

Unnamed 17

Unnamed 17

Tenure Type – Game Reserve

Name Area (ha)

Little Dog Island Game Reserve 92

Moulting Lagoon Game Reserve 4786

North East River Game Reserve 2552

Sellars Lagoon Game Reserve 7824

Tenure Type – Historic Site

Name Area (ha)

Eddystone Point Lighthouse Historic Site 13

Entally House Historic Site 30

Low Head Historic Site 19

Mount Direction Historic Site 181

Ross Female Convict Station Historic Site 1


Sydney Cove Historic Site 61

Waubadebars Grave Historic Site 0.001

Yorktown Historic Site 19

Tenure Type – National Park

Name Area (ha)

Ben Lomond National Park 18166

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park 14793

Douglas-Apsley National Park 15810

Freycinet National Park 16851

Kent Group National Park 28880

Kent Group National Park 2373

Mole Creek Karst National Park 1373

Mount William National Park 18673

Narawntapu National Park 4496

Strzelecki National Park 7629

Walls of Jerusalem National Park 30743

Tenure Type – Nature Recreation Area

Name Area (ha)

Emita Nature Recreation Area 122

Humbug Point Nature Recreation Area 1569

Kate Reed Nature Recreation Area 109

Killiecrankie Nature Recreation Area 844

Mount Tanner Nature Recreation Area 4224

Palana Beach Nature Recreation Area 59

Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area 435

Tenure Type – Nature Reserve

Name Area (ha)

Alma Tier Nature Reserve 34

Bass Pyramid Nature Reserve 0.01

Baynes Island Nature Reserve 10

Big Green Island Nature Reserve 196

Butlers Ridge Nature Reserve 2880

Chappell Islands Nature Reserve 249

Curtis Island Nature Reserve 156

Dead Dog Hill Nature Reserve 40

Devils Tower Nature Reserve 7

Diamond Island Nature Reserve 8

Dry Creek East Nature Reserve 273

Dry Creek South Nature Reserve 120

Dry Creek West Nature Reserve 205

East Kangaroo Island Nature Reserve 198

Foster Islands Nature Reserve 21

George Rocks Nature Reserve 11

Governor Island Marine Nature Reserve 53

Hawley Nature Reserve 49

Isabella Island Nature Reserve 15

Little Christmas Island Nature Reserve 5

Little Swan Island Nature Reserve 20

Little Waterhouse Island Nature Reserve 6

Low Islets Nature Reserve 5

Mersey Hill Karst Nature Reserve 43

Moriarty Rocks Nature Reserve 1

Native Point Nature Reserve 123

North East Islet Nature Reserve 1

Paddys Island Nature Reserve 4

Powranna Nature Reserve 269


Rodondo Island Nature Reserve 113

Tenth Island Nature Reserve 1

Tom Gibson Nature Reserve 1013

West Moncoeur Island Nature Reserve 14

Wingaroo Nature Reserve 10714

Wright Rock Nature Reserve 6

Tenure Type – Regional Reserve

Name Area (ha)

Avoca Regional Reserve 933

Barway Spur Regional Reserve 171

Briggs Regional Reserve 2093

Cameron Regional Reserve 20268

Castle Cary Regional Reserve 5988

Dog Kennels Regional Reserve 582

Gog Range Regional Reserve 0.001

St Pauls Regional Reserve 4396

Tenure Type – State Reserve

Name Area (ha)

Alum Cliffs State Reserve 1584

Bradys Lookout State Reserve 0.8

Devils Gullet State Reserve 1119

Fairy Glade State Reserve 40

Forest Vale State Reserve 72

Holwell Gorge State Reserve 352

Liffey Falls State Reserve 105

Little Beach State Reserve 936

Logan Lagoon State Reserve 72

Lookout Rock State Reserve 2

Mount Barrow Falls State Reserve 101

Mount Barrow State Reserve 1577

Mount Pearson State Reserve 4590

Notley Gorge State Reserve 11

St Columba Falls State Reserve 450

St Marys Pass State Reserve 366

St Patricks Head State Reserve 1336

The Steppes State Reserve 385

Wye River State Reserve 2642

Tenure Type – Public Reserves

Name Area (ha)

total unnamed public reserved = 1347 9501


Appendix 2A: Flow Diagram – Ignition Potential

Lightning Probability BOM Professional Observation

Historical Fire Records

Human Caused Fires 1966–2007

Optical Transient Detector

Strike Data 2006–2007 Fire Season

Lightning Caused Fires 1966–2007

Ignition Potential

Likelihood


Appendix 2B: Flow Diagram – Suppression Capabilities

Likelihood

Supression Capabilities

Optimum Bucketing Capabilities Detection Capabilities

Ground Attack Coverage

Rotary Wing Attack Coverage

Hydrology – Large River/Lakes

Fire Towers

Spotter Flights TFS Brigade Bases TFS Base

Commercial Fixed Wing Routes

PWS Bases PWS Bases


Appendix 2C: Flow Diagram – Values at Risk

Consequences

Values at Risk

Natural ValuesForest/Agriculture ValuesConstructed Values

PWS–IMS Production Forest Flora and Fauna

Wildland Urban Interface

Research Monitoring Geo-Morphic

High Life Risk Vineyard Production Water Catchment

Multi Occupancy

Single Occupancy

Infrastructre

Critical Infrastructure

Burnable/Replaceable Infrastructure

Values – Non Burnable


Appendix 2D: Flow Diagram – Fire Behaviour Potential

Fuel Flammability Grid

Slope Factor Grid

Head Fire Intensity

90 Weather Percentile

Fuel Group

Rate of Spread

Fire Behaviour Potential

Likelihood


Appendix 3A: Consequence Table


Appendix 3B: Likelihood Table

Appendix 3C: Qualitative Risk Matrix


Appendix 4: State Fire Commission Policy


Appendix 5: Infrastructure Development

Freycinet Lodge (in background)

Bradley Drive (new development)


Appendix 6: Daily Fire Action Plan

PWS Region? Region Daily Fire Action Plan

Date: ?

Duty Officer: Name and duty officer contact number

Situation:

Permit period? (yes/no)

Current fires in region

Staff deployments

General weather conditions / SDI

Recent trouble spots

Campgrounds with recent illegal fires

Likelihood of fire escapes

PRMs, Snr Rangers or Rangers In Charge or delegate — please instruct staff to:

Action Details provide details appropriate to the fire weather forecast

Carry PPE

No of slip on units ready / field centre

Staff rostered on / FDA

Walking track closures

Reserve closures

Monitor weather if conducting hot works*

No hot works*

Reserve fire restrictions

Total Fire Ban

1st response IMT nominated

* Hot work includes the use of grinders, welders, brush cutters, chainsaws, earth moving equipment and other tools and equipment likely to create sparks.


Fire Weather Forecast: Cut and paste in the regions section of the BOM fire weather forecast like the example below:

IDT13130Bureau of Meteorology, HOBARTFire Weather ForecastIssued at 3:47pm on Friday the 27th of March 2009valid for Saturday 28/03/09---------------|----------|-------------------------|------------------|---- | Rain mm | Max Wind km/hr | Fire Danger Index|DrgtStation | 24hr 6hr|Temp RH% Dir Spd Dew | Forest Scrb Moor |Fact---------------|----------|-------------------------|------------------|----Tunnack | 0.0 0.0| 24 25 NW 25 3 | H15 N/A N/A | 7---------------|----------|-------------------------|------------------|-------------------|----------|-------------------------|------------------|----Hobart Apt | 0.0 0.0| 26 24 NNW 30 4 | VH24 N/A N/A | 9Hobart City | 0.0 0.0| 26 24 NNW 30 4 | VH24 N/A N/A | 9Mt Wellington | 0.0 0.0| 15 33 WNW 65 -1 | H15 H17 VH35 | 5Geeveston | 0.0 0.0| 25 28 NW 30 5 | H16 H23 H13 | 7Dover | 0.0 0.0| 24 31 NW 30 6 | H14 H23 H13 | 7Moogara | 0.0 0.0| 22 29 WNW 25 3 | H12 H19 N/A | 7Palmers Lookout| 0.0 0.0| 23 36 NW 20 7 | M8 M10 N/A | 6---------------|----------|-------------------------|------------------|----Ouse | 0.0 0.0| 27 23 WNW 30 4 | VH28 N/A N/A | 10Bushy Park | 0.0 0.0| 27 23 WNW 30 4 | VH25 N/A N/A | 9Maydena | 0.0 0.0| 24 31 W 20 6 | M11 H14 M8 | 7Low Rocky Point| 0.5 0.0| 20 53 NNW 55 10 | N/A N/A H12 | 9Scotts Peak | 0.5 0.0| 23 33 NNW 45 6 | H12 M10 M10 | 5---------------|----------|-------------------------|------------------|----SITUATION: A ridge of high pressure over Victoria will move over the Tasman Seatomorrow bringing a moderate to fresh northwest stream. An approaching troughand cold front to cross the state from the southwest on Sunday with a moderatesoutheast stream to develop on Monday as a high passes to the south of thestate. Moderate easterlies on Tuesday as the high moves away to our southeast.

WEATHER SUMMARY: Patchy drizzle tomorrow in the west, mostly clearing duringthe day. Fine elsewhere. Mild to warm with moderate to fresh northwest winds,locally strong in the southwest but lighter in the east.

Haines Index 5 High 1500m Temp= 13 1500m Dewpoint= -4 Fairly Dry

Region? IMT – First Response:

Position Name Mobile Backup

Incident Controller

Operations

Logistics

Planning

Air Base Manager

Safety Advisor

Div Com 1

Helicopters:

Crew deployment for Date?

Location Unit Staff Patrol Map

Deploy Time

Return Time PRM Contact Instructions

Field Centre P25Joe Bloggs

Fred Nerk1 0800 1800 Ima

Nickanoff

Patrol:

Normal works + Fire Patrol 1, Mt Field and Mt Bethune

(list any specific instructions)

All patrols to maintain Communication Plan:

• Patrol supervisor FOO?

• Radio channels to use

• Comms instructions, eg call hourly


Appendix 7: Fire Awareness Safety Briefing Form Safety Briefing Location____________________ for time___________ for date __________

Weather ForecastMax temp Low RH Wind Precipitation Lightning Haines Index

Comments:

Fire Behaviour (Note: These predictions are based on the weather forecast above and are specific to the location and time mentioned above.

Any changes in the weather and/or time of day may cause changes in fire behavior.

Location FFDI Scrub Moorland Drought Factor

Fuel type description Danger rankForward rate of spread (m/min)

Type of fire (creeping, running, torching, active crown)

Spotting potential (m)

Approximate flame height (m)

Forest (McArthur MkV)

Forest (Vesta)

Heathland (Catchpole)

Moorland Buttongrass (Marsden-Smedley

FFDI 1-5 FFDI 6-12 FFDI 13-24 FFDI 25 -50 FFDI 51-100 FFDI 100+

Flame lengths <2m

No Spotting

Direct Attack

Flame lengths <5m

Spotting up to 200m

Direct Attack

Flame lengths <8m

Spotting up to 600m

Anchor/Flank

Flame lengths <14m

Spotting up to 850m

Indirect/ Anchor/Flank

Active Crown Fire

Long Range Spotting

Indirect Attack/ Suppression Action likely to fail

Active Crown Fire

Long Range Spotting

Indirect Attack/ Suppression Action likely to fail

Other Safety Concerns:

□ Falling Snags (winds over 20 km/h or high SDI values) □ Topography – slopes greater than 10%

□ Heavy Equipment – give briefing daily □ R/W Transport Date crew had last R/W briefing _______________

□ Snakes □ Dehydration

□ Powerlines □

LACES (if work assignments change, LACES must be re-evaluated)

LOOKOUT: L ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

AWARENESS: A ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

COMMUNICATIONS: C ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

ESCAPE ROUTE(S): E ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

SAFETY ZONE(S): S .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Accidents/Injuries/Near Misses: ............................................................................................ Were there any incidents within the last 24 hrs? Y N

Details.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

NAME OF 1st. AIDER.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Crew Concerns:

Duty Officer


Appendix 8: Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council Landscape Indicators

Objective Performance Measure Phase and Reporting

A

Reduced loss of life and injuries

A1 Fire deaths per 100,000 persons 1 Report of Government Services(RoGS)

A2 Fire injuries per 100,000 persons 1 RoGS

B

Reduced economic loss

B1 Number of primary dwellings destroyed 1 RoGS

B2 Percentage of area of high value/high risk zones burnt by wildfire. 1

B3 Percentage of area of commercial plantations lost 1

B4 Number of stock killed 1

B5 Kilometres of fencing destroyed 1

C

Reduced disruption to the community and its ability to function

C1 Total number of hours by volunteers on wildfire suppression 1 RoGS

D

Reduced damage to the environment, heritage and cultural assets.

D1 Number of cultural heritage sites damaged by wildfire. 1

D2 Number of times the National Environmental Protection Measures standard for PM10 particulates resulting from wildfire and prescribed burns is exceeded each year in major population areas.

2

D3 Proportion of harnessed water catchments impacted by high intensity wildfire 2

E

Number of prevenTable fires are reduced

E1 Number of deliberate ignitions 1

E2 Number of accidental ignitions 1

F

The community is more informed of the role of fire in the landscape and supports prescribed burning

F1 Percentage of community who understand the role of prescribed burning 2

F2 Percentage of community supporting prescribed burning as a necessary act in the protection of the community 2

G

The community is informed about the risk they face from wildfire, are prepared for wildfire, and behave appropriately when a wildfire occurs.

G1 Percentage of households in high risk areas that have prepared in accordance with community education guidelines. 2

G2 Percentage of households that understand risk and know what to do 2

G3 Number of people that implement appropriate behaviours 2

H

Fires are contained to as small as possible

H1 Percentage of fires contained to within determined standards in high value zones. 2

H2 Percentage trend in median fire size in high risk/ high value zones. 2

H3 Percentage of specified fires not contained prior to 1000 the next day 2

I

Fuel reduction is maintained to within specified standards

I1 Percentage of target area that is treated to specified standard

– % of target area burnt during prescribed burns2


Appendix 9: Parks and Wildlife Service Strategic Plan


Appendix 10: Regional Local Council Groups

Name Office Business # After Hours # Fax

Break O Day St Helens 6376 1281 0417 368 750

Central Coast Ulverstone 6429 8900 6425 1224

Central Highlands Hamilton 6286 3202 6286 3334

Derwent Valley New Norfolk 6261 8500 6261 8500 6261 8546

Devonport City Devonport 6424 0511 6423 3074 6424 9649

Dorset Scottsdale 6362 6500 6352 6510

Flinders Island Whitemark 6359 2131 6359 2083

Kentish Sheffield 6491 2500 0418 122 994 6491 1659

Launceston Launceston 6223 3000 6223 3333

Latrobe Latrobe 6426 1041 6426 2653 6426 2121

Meander Valley Westbury 6393 5300 6393 5300 6393 1474

Glamorgan Spring Bay Triabunna/Swansea 6257 3113 0417 512 719

West Tamar Riverside/ Beaconsfield6223 9300

6383 63506398 2281

George Town George Town 6382 8800 6382 1211

Central HighlandsHamilton

Bothwell

6286 3202

6259 5503


w

ContaCt details

Fire Management section

Parks and Wildlife service

GPo Box 1751, Hobart

tasmania 7001

ContaCt detailS

Fire management Section

Parks and Wildlife Service

GPo box 1751

Hobart , tasmania 7001