Alliance calls for burn inquiry

The WA Forest Alliance has renewed calls for a thorough inquiry into the Department of Environment and Conservation’s prescribed burning policy after the DEC lit a 2500ha area of national park north of Walpole last week on a 39C day.

WA Forest Alliance spokeswoman Jess Beckerling said the fire, lit last Thursday in the Mitchell and Crossing blocks of forest, was another example of reckless prescribed burning by the DEC.

“It was 39C here and the forest was hot and dry. It’s madness to be lighting fires in this weather,” Ms Beckerling said.

“DEC should be focusing on monitoring and suppression through the summer, not ignition.

“WAFA, the Fire Fighters Union, the Shire of Nannup, the State opposition, Conservation Council WA, The Wilderness Society and a large group of affected Margaret River residents have called on the Premier to urgently broaden the scope of the upcoming bushfire inquiry.”

Ms Beckerling said initially she was told it was going to be a very narrow inquiry and her subsequent queries had been ignored by the Premier’s office.

On Tuesday, the Premier’s office confirmed the independent review, which was announced on December 5 last year, would be restricted to investigating the cause of the Margaret River catastrophe that razed 32 homes.

“The Government’s commitment was always to have an independent inquiry into the Margaret River fire, which destroyed 32 houses, nine chalets and four sheds,” Mr Barnett said.

“It was never intended to be a broad-ranging inquiry looking at other fires and the pros and cons of prescribed burning.”

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