More than 200 Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service firefighters are training for the new bushfire season, boosted by newly updated vehicles.
Parks Minister Nick Duigan says training sessions partly involved refreshers on leadership practices and policy briefing.
“Physical strength and endurance were also assessed with a pack hike test,” he says.
The minister says the state government has spent $600,000 over two years on 34 redesigned firefighting vehicles that have been recently delivered.
“The new replacement units have been delivered around the state from Huonville to Arthur River to St Helens, including Flinders and Bruny islands.”
TASMANIA PARKS CALL TO PUBLIC
The State Fire Manager for PWS, Katy Edwards says training is critical ahead of the new bushfire season.
Every year, staff prepare for the new season through the recruitment of seasonal firefighters, fuel reduction burning, training courses, preparation days, updating fire policies and procedures, checking equipment, staff medical and fitness assessments, and other seasonal activities such as enforcing campfire restrictions.
“The public can help us during the fire season by keeping up to date with the latest safety alerts on the PWS website,” Edwards says.
“When there’s a high fire danger day, ensuring you are prepared is critical and also check the upcoming weather reports.
“If you’re planning a walk in an area where there is forecast high fire danger, you may need to rethink and reschedule your walk.
“We also have campfire bans which are implemented as the conditions dry out and we ask people not to light campfires when we have these restrictions in place,” Edwards says.
“We just want the public and our staff to be prepared and to stay safe.”
The service says they not only manage fire on parks and reserve land but also in Future Potential Production marked forests and Crown-reserved land.
This results in the service managing around 51% of the island state for bushfire prevention and suppression.
For the latest safety alerts, visit the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service website.
OTHER BUSHFIRE NEWS: SE Qld plans reduction burns ahead of season
