Albany fire strategy under review

The City of Albany is set to overhaul its bushfire management strategy at a council meeting at the end of the month.

The strategy, which sets out the best practice for Albany to prevent, prepare and respond to bushfires, was informed by reports and inquiries carried out after the 2012 bushfire at Two Peoples Bay and the tragic death of firefighter Wendy Bearfoot.

The Morrison Report, released in 2013, found Albany’s fire and emergency management was understaffed, had no clear chain of command and lacked training.

To address these issues, the Strategic Bush Fire Plan 2014-19 states that a training program will be created for the 16 volunteer brigades to create a “culture of continuous improvement” and a volunteer brigade members training database will be developed.

The City will develop a community fire prevention educational and awareness program for people living in high fire-risk areas, undertake a recruitment campaign to ensure volunteer numbers and review public information and warning procedures as well as bulk rubbish collection practices.

City planning and development services executive director Dale Putland said the plan, which replaces a 2000-2005 strategy, would bring the City in line with current practices.

“If the plan is adopted by council, the Strategic Bush Fire Plan will come into effect and will guide future planning for bushfires,” he said. “The plan is designed to strengthen the role of the Bushfire Advisory Committee as a formal committee of council.

“It is also designed to strengthen the relationship between volunteer bushfire brigades, the City of Albany and the community.”

Mr Putland said the City would work towards entering into a memorandum of understanding between agencies such as the Department of Fire and Emergency Services to “strengthen relationships and improve effectiveness in bushfire response”.

Chief bushfire control officer Derek Jones said the tragedy at Two Peoples Bay was less likely to be repeated under the new plan.

“If we are better prepared, we are less likely to be confronted with a similar situation — the City has taken steps to reduce that possibility,” he said.

Mr Jones said training would be more ongoing, rather than carried out on a one-off basis.

“There is a change in focus and there will be training now to get back in touch with skills,” he said.

“It’s about providing training as an ongoing process, refreshing volunteers each year before the fire season so their brains are in fire mode.”

Mr Jones said community education was an important part of the new plan.

“It’s about working with the community, clearing blocks and having firebreaks,” he said.

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