Page 3150 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 17 November 1992

MINISTER FOR URBAN SERVICES

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NO 367

Bushfires - Precautions and Disaster Strategy

Mr Westende - asked to the Minister for Urban Services:

(1) With good spring rains is the Minister expecting the fire danger to be greater than normal

in the summer months this year.

(2) What preparation will be made to minimise the danger.

(3) Will there be fire breaks prepared between fire danger zones such as bushland and open

paddocks and the suburban and industrial areas.

(4) Will there be soave judicious burning off before the height of the bush fire season.

(5) Is the urban fire service and the rural firefighting service adequately equipped to handle

major bush fires particularly if there are two major fires at the same time.

(6) Is a strategy in place for handling the repercussions of a bush fire actually entering and

destroying suburban areas where not only property could be destroyed but lives threatened.

(7) 1s there a procedure fire handling large scale casualties.

Mr Connolly - the answer to the Members questions are as follows:

(1) Spring rain will reduce the danger of grass and forest fires in early summer. However it

may encourage vigorous grass growth, and there may be potential fix high fire dangers, if

rain does not continue late into summer.

(2) The bushfire season is always treated as a potential danger. The bushfire prescribed

period commenced on 1 November 1992 and will be in force until 28 February 1993. This

may be add by the ACT Bush Fire Council if conditions warrant. The Rural Fire

Fighting Service has an adequate detection, standby and readiness arrangement with

departmental and volunteer Bushfire Fighters. Grass and Bush Fires will be responded to

well within the acted standard for rural fire response.

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