LOCAL knowledge and experience must be given greater weight in the management of large scale bushfires to prevent the destruction of stock and property – that’s the message from Dunedoo locals in the wake of the Sir Ivan fire.
A volunteer and landholder who did not wish to be named said less ground would have burnt if local Rural Fire Service volunteers had more power to make decisions.
“We were fighting on the southern end of the fire – not the front. Relying on our local knowledge and RFS training we knew could attack the fire safely to save valuable pasture and stock but the ability to make decisions was taken away from volunteers and the focus was placed solely on asset protection. Each patch of dirt should be different,” they said.
“Our frustration isn’t aimed at the volunteers – it’s up the chain.”
Disillusioned local volunteers may now leave the RFS in the belief they will have a better chance of saving property if they operate under their own steam, albeit with less resources.
“I’ve had fellow RFS members tell me they will just hop on the back of their farm utes next time. As volunteers on trucks they felt helpless they couldn’t assist their friends and neighbours in need - their hands were tied.”
Following the Wambelong bushfire near Coonabarabran in 2013, a Parliamentary Inquest made 29 recommendations to the NSW Government to consider. Number 18 outlined steps to ensure greater respect for volunteers’ knowledge and experience, including providing for local knowledge at every level of decision making; requiring a local firefighter be stationed in every command vehicle and in every out of area crew. This recommendation was rejected by government.
A spokesperson for the RFS said volunteers and local knowledge were essential in all operational aspects of its business.
“Their expertise is used within incident management teams, field command and control during major incidents as well as during hazard reduction activities.
“Local volunteers are local field commanders and where possible ‘out of area’ crews will be under the control of a local commander.”
But David Knyvett, “Broombee”, Leadville, said local knowledge was blatantly disregarded during the chaos of Sir Ivan. “A highway patrol car blocked a road which stopped fire crews and farmers accessing the fire. They said it was a one-way road which had no escape route but many of us knew that wasn’t the case,” he said.
“While appreciated, a lot of the crews that came from other districts didn’t know how to fight a grass fire. They were attacking it all wrong and making very little impact. It was bizarre to watch.”
