INQ124

TitleLong
Examination of Prescribed Burning Practices
INQAuthor
Emergency Services Commissioner
Year
InquiryType
DisasterType
State
Status

Recommendations for this Inquiry

INQ-ref REC-UID CODE SubCode SrcNUM Recommendation
INQ124 REC124-3884 B - Preparedness 5 - Hazard reduction burns Recommendation 2

Develop new prescriptions for prescribed burning to accommodate local conditions in those areas where standard prescriptions are assessed to be inappropriate: 
• develop prescriptions for heathland/peat at Wilsons Promontory
• finalise development of prescriptions for the Mallee

INQ124 REC124-3885 B - Preparedness 5 - Hazard reduction burns Recommendation 3

Align policies and processes, within the year round 365 day focus on fire management, to provide consistency in the approach to fire regardless of its origins,- that is fuel reduction burning, regeneration and ecological burning or unplanned fire;

INQ124 REC124-3888 C - Response 8 - Communications and warnings Recommendation 6

Strengthen internal and external communications to ensure adequate stakeholder involvement throughout the prescribed burning program: 
• coordinate public information and media about prescribed burns in the DSE corporate communications policy

INQ124 REC124-3883 C - Response 15 - Inter-service cooperation Recommendation 1

Integrate information management systems relating to the prescribed burning program to provide consistency across the networked emergency organisation:
• upgrade FireWeb as a map based application
• include risk management tools on FireWeb

INQ124 REC124-3889 C - Response 15 - Inter-service cooperation Recommendation 7

Develop a component of the DSE Workforce Strategy to build organisational capacity and sustainability of the prescribed burning program across the networked emergency organisation: 

INQ124 REC124-3890 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 8

Update education and training programs relating to prescribed burning to reflect revised organisational priorities including year round (365 day) fire management program:
• update training manuals
• revise content of training programs

INQ124 REC124-3886 E - Agency Organisation 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform Recommendation 4

Clarify, strengthen and document roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of DSE and its partner organisations in the prescribed burning program: 
• fire management should be added as core business • update and reissue policies and procedures

INQ124 REC124-3887 E - Agency Organisation 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform Recommendation 5

Give priority to the establishment of risk management processes across all stages of prescribed burning within the Department’s broader risk management strategy: 
• incorporate risk management skill development in training programs