INQ183

The DEC corporate statement should affirm a strong commitment to fire management.

A DEC fire management staff succession plan would minimise the loss of core fire management skills and experience in the future and provide a planned approach to development of prospective fire management staff.

Maintaining the DEC fleet of tankers, bulldozers and low loaders is crucial to DEC’s fire management and control capability.

The development of a three year aerial firefighting strategy for W.A. would ensure optimal development of a joint air capability.

A Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Chief Executives of DEC and FESA would be a valuable statement of joint commitment between the two agencies.

The Interagency Bushfire Management Committee and its sub-committees are the logical central platform for developing and strengthening future joint bushfire strategies and common systems of work between bushfire management agencies in Western Australia.

Triggers and a process for transfer of command and control from DEC to FESA should be developed and documented.

The Hazard Management Agency for bushfire has not been defined. Defining the HMA for bushfire should be addressed.

Higher level DEC guidance to Level 3 Incident Controllers could be improved by introducing a more explicit and robust process of questioning, engagement, monitoring and oversight of Level 3 Incident Controllers.

A summary Incident Action Plan could allow the Incident Controller to more quickly appreciate the situation and articulate a plan early in an incident.

DEC’s incident management capability could be enhanced by: – Appointing a Deputy Incident Controller for every Level 3 IMT. – Establishing a fast response “short” IMT capability for each Level 3 IMT. – Establish clear triggers to initiate sending in a “short” IMT to a fire.

Conducting a pre-fire season exercise for each Pre-Formed Incident Management Team could be used to “re-accrediting” each team on an annual basis.

DEC should emphasise the principle of foresight by adopting an appreciation and decision making process and training staff in that process.

It is sensible that, in considering planning development proposals on land adjacent to the DEC estate, that development authorities invite comment from DEC on the fire management consequences of development proposals.

DEC should consider publishing a new reference document that describes policy, doctrine and key systems of work of the fire management system.

The DEC Fire Management Policy should be reviewed and updated.

A staff recognition and reward framework for service to fire management should be considered for DEC fire staff.