Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) has given insight into its preparations for this year’s bushfire season, with more than 600 seasonal firefighters recruited, trained and ready for action and more firefighting aircraft ready for take-off.
Chief Fire Officer at FFMVic, Chris Hardman said a further 154 Fire Operations Officers had also been added to the Agency’s ranks, creating a firefighting workforce that was more than 1,000 strong.
Mr Hardman said FFMVic was adapting to the impacts of climate change by delivering a year-round planned burning program to minimise bushfire risk.
“We look for opportunities to conduct our planned burns 365 days a year, focussing on precision burns to protect where people live; we also put more work into slashing and mulching and expanding our strategic fuel break network to protect lives, homes and property,” he said.
“FFMVic crews completed more than 470 burns in the 2020-21 financial year, which covered more than 133,000 hectares of public land.
“An additional 49 burns covering more than 2,000 hectares were completed between 1 July 2021 and the end of October.”
Mr Hardman said that, throughout this period, FFMVic had been able to do more precision burning close to where people lived to help protect homes; catchments; power supplies; schools; hospitals; and key transport routes.
The Chief Fire Officer said the Agency had also enhanced the State’s strategic fuel break network, with more than 484 kilometres now upgraded and a further 963 kilometres scheduled for completion by June.
“Fuel breaks are vital to protect communities and the environment from the impacts of bushfire and assist firefighters to manage and suppress fires,” he said.
Mr Hardman said FFMVic and Country Fire Authority ground crews would be supported this season with 50 strategically placed aircraft, including a mix of firebombing, air supervision and airborne information gathering aircraft.
He said the fleet provided greater flexibility and firebombing capacity than in previous years, as well as higher speed and increased carrying capacity.
“There are several new additions to the fleet this summer, including a CH47 Chinook with a capacity of 11,000lts, and a larger capacity Aircrane capable of holding 9000lts, and a Super Puma with a tank of up to 4000lts.
“Victoria will have two Large Air Tankers based at Avalon Airport, one of which will be shared with Queensland and will be based in Victoria for our peak summer period,” Mr Hardman said.
