Locals call on State Government to fund aerial firefighting efforts
Uncontrolled fires in the East Kimberley wilderness are a danger to tourists, said Kununurra residents who want the State Government to fund aerial fire fighting.
Naturally lit fires can burn for weeks in the East Kimberley bush. Authorities do not try to put out bush fires unless they are a risk to lives or infrastructure, though the Department of Environment and Conservation and Fire and Emergency Services Authority of WA co-ordinate burns to minimise larger fires.
Kununurra Visitor Centre manager Nadia Donnelly is among a group of people who believe letting fires burn puts lives at risk.
After the Kimberley ultramarathon tragedy, in which two women were severely burnt during a cross-country race, Ms Donnelly wrote to Premier ColinBarnett to raise concerns about tourists at remote attractions.
“Bush walking is very popular and, with many people heading out into the bush for days at a time, who knows if they would be walking into a planned burn,” she said.
“Why can’t we have fires put out that are threatening our wildlife, landscape and visitors?”
Kununurra resident John Storey had been lobbying State and Local Government to fund aerial firefighting before he was
involved in the rescue of the two women burnt during last year’s ultramarathon.
Mr Storey has concerns about prescribed burning as he believes there is no way to properly clear an area before it is set alight.
But an Environment and Conservation spokeswoman said safety precautions were in place.
“Before commencing a prescribed burn, DEC flies over the proposed prescribed burn area to check that there are no people in the vicinity, and ensures facilities and roads are closed to the public,” she said.
The spokeswoman said the agency was aware of the benefits of aerial suppression in open country but it was not suitable for remote fires across the Kimberley.
“Because of the size of fires, terrain, large distances between fires and airstrips, limited access for ground-based support crews, and public and firefighter safety, aerial suppression is generally not considered suitable,” she said.
She said aerial firefighting was often limited to areas within 90km of fuel and water-filling bases.
Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley chief executive Gary Gaffney said aerial fire services should be available for defending assets.
He said DEC and FESA were responsible for ensuring prescribed burns did not put lives at risk. FESA did not provide comment by the Echo’s deadline.
