Two water-bombing aircraft to be based in South-West this fire season

5/1/00
Two water-bombing aircraft will be based in the South-West this fire season as part of a $250,000 State Government initiative, Emergency Services Minister Kevin Prince announced today.
Mr Prince, who is also acting Environment Minister, said the planes would be an integral tool in the South-West bush fire attack plan code-named Operation Southern Skies.
The operation has been modelled on a highly successful and cost-effective system based at Perth airport to contain wildfires in the outer-metropolitan area over the past three years.
It is a joint initiative between the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) and the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA).
Mr Prince said that while the planes would be based in Bunbury, CALM had established water filling facilities at several airstrips including Dwellingup, Collie, Busselton, Nannup and Manjimup to provide forward bases from which the aircraft could also attack fires in their early stages of development.
"These aerial bombers can provide an effective, initial attack capability that can greatly reduce the size and damage of wildfires which threaten lives and property in our State," the Minister said.
"Their usefulness was clearly demonstrated last week when three bombers were used to hinder huge fires which threatened properties in the Glenn Forrest area.
"The aerial fire suppression provided by these planes is yet another key tool that will significantly help our well-trained ground fire-fighting officers in delivering a comprehensive fire prevention, management and control plan for the State."
Mr Prince said there was no doubt that WA had one of the worst fire environments in the world.
CALM's fire incidence data indicates that over the past 18 years, there has been a steady increase in the annual number of fires within the South-West forest districts.
"If there is one thing we can guarantee, it is that every year we will have bushfires, either caused by lightning strikes, accidents or, unfortunately, arson," Mr Prince said.
"However as a result of a highly successful fire management program in WA over the past 40 years, we have been spared the devastation of widespread wildfires such as those in Sydney five years ago and in Victoria and South Australia in 1983."
Mr Prince said the extension of aerial fire fighting tactics to the South-West would assist ground crews. However, he emphasised it would not replace conventional fire preparedness, prevention or suppression strategies and tactics.
"Fire prevention and fuel reduction are essential if suppression is to be effective," he said.
"Perhaps the single most important message is that the community at large must bear a reasonable share of the responsibility for preventing and preparing for wildfires and minimising their impact when they inevitably occur.
"Consequently, the biggest contribution the community can make is to pick up on these initiatives and to look around their own houses and along their streets and take steps to minimise the fire hazards."
Media contacts: Minister Kirsten Stoney 9220 5000
CALM Terry Maher 018 932 944
FESA Greg McKay 0418932481