Are you bushfire ready?
How would the North‑East respond to a bushfire emergency?
• Scottsdale Fire Brigade on the ground at a fire in Lulworth in November. Photo supplied.
January 29, 2020
In light of the catastrophic bushfires which have devastated communities across the nation in recent months, we looked into the plans in place to prevent and manage a bushfire emergency in the North-East.
Tasmania’s fire agencies
The state has three fire agencies: Tasmania Fire Service (TFS), Parks and Wildlife Services (PWS) and Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT).
The three agencies have a close working relationship in bushfire preparation and response.
They work collaboratively to reduce bushfire risk to communities across private and public land through the statewide Fuel Reduction Program.
According to a joint statement from the three fire agencies, since the start of the Program six years ago, the statewide relative bushfire risk has reduced four per cent.
The statewide relative risk is the lowest it has been in 15 years.
TFS also works closely with local government in all aspects of emergency management.
While local government is not an emergency service, it performs an important role in emergencies, supporting TFS activities in response and performing a crucial role in recovery.
Depending on the location of the fire and the land ownership, there are different response management authorities.
DPIPWE Parks and Wildlife Services are responsible for fires in national parks and other reserves.
Council provides support by issuing community information and providing vehicles and machinery.
Fires in declared forest land and state forest are managed by STT and Council works to provide community information and supply vehicles and machinery as needed.
TFS is responsible for fires in urban and privately-owned rural land.
Council assists with property identification, road closures and providing vehicles and machinery.
Council’s role
Each local government area has a Municipal Emergency Management Committee (MEMC) which is made up of stakeholders including local government, utilities companies and land managers.
During an incident, fire agencies will engage with stakeholders through the MEMC structure.
Dorset Council director of works and infrastructure Dwaine Griffin is the Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator.
In the case of an emergency, operations throughout Dorset will be coordinated from the Municipal Emergency Coordination Centre, which will be established at the Council Chambers in Ellenor Street, Scottsdale.
You can read more about council’s role and its response and recovery plans in the Dorset Municipal Emergency Management Plan (2018).
The DMEMC is responsible reviewing this plan once every two years, ensuring it is adequate and up to date.
The current plan is available via the Council’s website.
In terms of bushfire prevention and mitigation, the Council also has the power to issue private landowners with fire abatement notices.
Preparing for a bushfire
Familiarise yourself with your relevant community protection plan and establish a personalized bushfire survival plan.
Decide what you would do in the event of a bushfire and write down your plan.
Refer to the TFS Bushfire Prepare to Survive booklet or DVD for tips on preparing your home.
Even if you plan to leave early, preparing your home gives you another shelter option and gives firefighters a better chance of saving it.
Lloyd Haywood TFS Dorset Group Officer said there are some simple steps homeowners can take to reduce fire risk around their home.
“Clean up around your house and yard, make sure the grass is mowed, trees are trimmed and no rubbish is lying around, and clean the gutters out,” he said.
“The more you can do to stop ember attack, that has all got to help.”
Dorset Mayor Greg Howard added managing the fuel load is critical.
“In terms of Dorset, private land owners could do more burns in and around their properties to reduce the fuel load,” he said.
If possible, discuss your bushfire survival plan with your neighbours and be aware of their plans.
Ensure your insurance policy is up to date and your home and contents are covered for bushfire.
Community Bushfire Protection Plans
Developed by the Tasmania Fire Service in collaboration with other agencies, Community Protection Plans provide local, community-specific information to assist with bushfire preparation and survival.
The plans focus on bushfire safety options, such as Nearby Safer Places, evacuation routes and emergency information.
Community Protection Plans are intended to be used in the development of personal Bushfire Survival Plans before a bushfire threatens, and to assist people to identify safety options when a bushfire threatens.
In the North East, there are currently bushfire protection plans available for Ansons Bay area, Bellingham, Derby area, Gladstone area, Golconda area, Lilydale area, Musselroe Bay area, Pyengana area, St Helens area, Tomahawk, Weldborough and Weymouth Area.
Bridport has a draft Community Protection Plan that is due for release later in 2020.
A joint statement from TFS, PWS and STT said there may be many reasons why other North-East communities do not have a plan in place.
“It may be that a Community Protection Plan is not considered necessary as part of the risk management strategy, or it may be that planning has not yet commenced for that particular community,” the statement said.
“TFS has a range of risk management tools to draw on, such a Community Protection Planning, that are packaged together to form the risk management strategy for a region.
“For example; the risk profile and characteristics of a particular community may result in a risk management strategy that is inclusive of Community Protection Planning, fuel reduction burning and community development initiatives.
“Whereas, and for various reasons, the appropriate strategy for a different community may include a fuel break and community development initiative. In addition, TFS has taken the approach to undertake Community Protection Planning in those communities at highest risk of bushfire as a priority.”
When fires are likely or nearby
Check the weather forecast and fire danger rating daily, and watch for smoke and fires.
If there is a bushfire in your area, don’t wait for an official warning.
Refer to ABC Local Radio and the TFS website for the latest information.
Put your bushfire survival plan into action and consider leaving your home immediately if ‘severe’, ‘extreme’ or ‘catastrophic’ fire danger ratings are forecast for the following day.
If leaving your home, be prepared to stay away for several days, ensuring you have important documentation, keepsakes, medication and sufficient food and water.
Leave nothing to chance and avoid being in a bushfire area unless absolutely necessary.
Mr Haywood explained that in the event of an emergency, an incident management team would determine the best course of action.
“Every situation is different; an incident management team would be set up and would get ramped up as the situation required,” he explained.
Evacuation centres
Potential evacuation centres are identified by the Council along with TFS and other government services.
They are often public buildings that offer temporary shelter, drinking water and toilet facilities.
An evacuation centre will be opened if required in a bushfire emergency, based on weather conditions and fire activity.
There will not be a centre available for all bushfires and there will not be one in every community.
If an evacuation centre is opened, TFS will advise the community via ABC local radio and the TFS website.
Nearby Safer Places
A nearby safer place is a place of last resort for people during bushfire emergencies.
If you have no bushfire survival plan, or your plan has failed, a nearby safer place may be your last resort when there is an imminent threat of bushfire.
If you leave early, you should relocate to somewhere well away from the bushfire affected area.
Nearby Safer Places identified in local Community Protection Plans are as follows:
- Ansons Bay area: Acacia Drive Foreshore
- Bellingham: Bellingham Beach (access from Albert Street and Clifford Street) and Bellingham Hall.
- Derby area: Crank it Café and the maintained open space next to the fire station.
- Gladstone area: Gladstone Fire Station
- Musselroe Bay area: Musselroe Boat Ramp
- Pyengana area: Pyengana Hall and recreation ground
- Tomahawk: Tomahawk recreation ground and boat ramp
Information in an emergency
During a bushfire emergency, you can keep up to date with the latest information by visiting www.fire.tas.gov.au and ABC Local Radio as the official emergency broadcaster.
TasAlert is an important portal for all emergency information, and includes links to the relevant agencies sites for additional information such a road and school closures.
Emergency services share important updates such as public safety warnings and evacuation instructions on social media in real time.
By following these simple steps, you can sign up for alerts on Twitter and Facebook.
On Facebook, ‘Like’ the key agencies to ensure you receive their posts.
You can also select ‘Get Notification’ on each agency’s page to make sure you don’t miss them.
For Twitter users, Alerts can be set up for any organisation of interest, which will appear highlighted on your personal timeline and be sent to your device as a notification.
You can also opt to receive Alerts via text message.
For life threatening emergencies and to report a fire - phone Triple Zero (000)
Tasmania Fire service, for non-emergencies - phone 1800 000 699
The Dorset Municipal Emergency Management Plan can be viewed at www.dorset.tas.gov.au/emergency-management-and-recovery
For the latest bushfire information and community protection plans, visit www.fire.tas.gov.au
