Who manages bushfires in Tasmania?
collaborative approach. State Fire Management Council oversees and provides leadership - TFS, Parks and Wildlife Services, Sustainable Timber Tasmania
What is the role of the TFS?
Operational response to bushfires, community protection, vegetation fire management programs, delivering emergency management services across the state.
What is the role of Parks and Wildlife Service?
Manages fire risk and response to bushfires on lands under its control, implementing fire management policies and procedures
What is the role of STT?
Manages fire on Permanent Timber Production Zone land, including controlling unplanned fires and conducting planned burns to reduce fuel loads.
How are bushfires mitigated / prevented?
CHILL - C = CC, health care, infrastracture, land use planning / codes, landscape management, community resilience
C - Policies for climate action
H - Health care - climate action
I - Infrastructure - fire resilience, especially bushfire prone areas, protecting power lines, telecoms, transport routes
L - land use planning and building codes;
L - landscape management - fuel management plans by each of the agencies - TFS, PWS, STT / cultural burning by traditional owners - clearing, strategic fuel breaks, planned burns
C - community resilience - education, awareness, engagement - knowlege / behaviours; Fire Danger Ratings, restrictions, total fire ban days
How are fuels managed to prevent bushfires?
Prescribed activities that reduce fuel and bushfire risk
Clearing works, strategic fuel breaks, and planned burns.
How are bushfires planned and prepared for?
P - FLEMISH
Plans - TEMA, bushfire sub-plans, regional and municipal bushfire plans; developing and testing plans
Forecasting - risk forecasting ahead of season; SFMC, BOM
Leadership / governance - plans, protocols,
Evacuation procedures, centres, resources
M - resources, assets e.g. PPE, filters, clean air shelters, fire refuges
I - communications; SMS alert services, pre-tested messages, warning systems, channels; Fire Danger Ratings
Society - community, business, individual preparedness e.g. bushfire plans, sprinkler installation
H - health service preparedness; surge capacity
What are Fire Danger Ratings based on?
Temperature, humidity, wind speed, and fuel state
These ratings are determined by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
What plans are available for bushfire management in Tasmania?
TEMA
Community Bushfire Protection Plans
Bushfire Survival Plans
Bushfire Response Plans
It includes regional and municipal bushfire plans at the community level.
What is the primary lead agency for bushfire response?
TFS (mainly)
But also PWS and STT for the lands they manage
These agencies coordinate the response efforts during bushfire incidents.
What types of data sources are used during bushfire response?
- Air quality monitoring data
- Smoke plume modelling
- Meteorological data
These data sources help assess the impact and manage the response.
Fill out the SAWFISH acronym for bushfires.
Safety - from immediate threat, fire, burns, heat > evacuation
Air quality - PM, gases, VOCs, dioxins, metals; other hazardous materials - asbestos, household/agricultural chemicals, timber ash (esp. treated timber with copper arsenate - arsenic exposure)
Water - contamination of rainwater, drinking water, recreational water
Food safety - crops growing (long-term); contaminated water
Insects / vectors / infections - less so
Sanitation / hygiene - damage to waste infrastructure; water safety; health promotion
Health resources - TNSS (temp assessment, triage); disupted access to medication, services; support system - primary, aged; surveillance inc mental health in the long-term;
What are immediate health threats from bushfires?
Burns, injuries (debris, building safety, MVAs)
Apart from fire itself, what is the main hazard from bushfires?
Poor air quality:
* Particulate matter: PM2.5, PM10
* Gases: CO, NO2, SO2, ozone
* VOCs
* Metals, dioxins
What are some short-term health effects of poor air quality due to bushfires?
- Nasal irritation
- Throat irritation
- Eye irritation
- Acute exacerbations of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases
These effects can be significant during and shortly after bushfire events.
What long-term health effects can arise from exposure to poor air quality during bushfires?
- Increase in cardiovascular disease
- Respiratory disease
- Slightly reduced birth weight
- Cancer
Long-term exposure can lead to serious health consequences.
Who are considered vulnerable populations at risk during bushfires?
- Elderly
- Children
- Pregnant women
- Individuals with chronic illness (CVD/resp)
- Residents of aged care facilities, homeless, or high-risk accommodation settings
These groups may require additional support during bushfire events.
What should individuals monitor for during bushfire events?
Symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, palpitations, and nausea
Monitoring for these symptoms can prompt timely medical attention.
True or False: Community education and engagement are key components of bushfire preparedness.
True
Educating the community helps improve knowledge and behaviors related to bushfire safety.
What are important risk communication messages for bushfires?
- Monitor for Sx - cough, SOB, wheeze, chest pain, palpitations, nausea and seek medical attention
- Have usual medications available, follow asthma action plans
- Reduce exposure: close doors and windows, N95s, air purifiers, aircon to recycle
- Clean air / heat shelters
- Reschedule outdoor events, outdoor work to stop, avoid strenuous activity
- Boil water alerts and safe food handing advice if applicable
