Prescribed Burning Operational Planning and Logistics

Senior Firefighter – Robert Strauch (Bushfire Officer)

Operational Capability – Specialised Operations – Bushfire Section

First Recorded Ecological Prescribed Burn

28th May 1788

First Recorded Ecological Prescribed Burn

Source: Dr. Geoff Lambert

Endangered Ecological Community (EEC)

Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS)

Original: 5300 haCurrent: 146 ha

Current ESBS on Managed Lands: 18%

ESBS (EEC) – FRNSW Open Burning Sites

North Head - Broad Area

La Perouse NSW Golf Course - Windrow

Centennial Park - Piles

North Head – Broad Area Burning

Operations – Planning – Logistics – Lining all the ducks up!!

Waiting

Plan

Operations

Locations of Hazard Reductions – Prescribed Burning

North Fort (1.5 ha)

Third Quarantine Cemetery (0.8 ha)

Blue Fish Drive (1.8 ha)

Operational Structure - North Head Complex

North Head Complex Incident

Controller

North Fort Div Com

North Fort Operations

FRNSW Pumpers x 5

RFS CAT 1 Tankers x 2

NPWS CAT 9 x 1

FRNSW Bulk Water

FRNSW BFO

FRNSW HR Support Trailer

Quarantine Div Com

Quarantine Operations

FRNSW Pumpers x 2

RFS CAT 1 Tankers x 2

NPWS CAT 9 x 1FRNSW BFO

RFS Bulk WaterFRNSW HR

Support Trailer

Blue Fish Div Com

Blue Fish Operations

FRNSW Pumpers x 2

NPWS CAT 9 x 4

NPWS Ground Crews x 6

FRNSW Ladder Platform x 1

FRNSW HR Support Trailer

NPWS Hose Trailer x 1

Deputy Incident Controller

Agency Commander

Police

SES

OEH - NPWS

SHFT

RFS

Safety Advisor

Air Attack Supervisor

FB 273 PolAir 4

FRNSW Commissioner

Director Metro Operations

Area Commander Metro East

FRNSW Media Officer

Incident Control Vehicle

Rehab 1

Fire Duty Pod

Air Base

Flying Pumper

Resource Management Overview

FRNSW

•55

OEH - NPWS

•31

RFS

•19

Police

•5

SES

•5

SHFT

•6

Total

•121

• 10Pumpers

• 4Tankers CAT 1

• 6Tankers CAT 9

• 2Bulk Water Carriers

• 1Ladder Platform

• 1Incident Control Vehicle

• 1Rehab Pod

• 1Fire Duty Pod

• 2Aircraft (Helicopter)

• 4Hazard Reduction Trailers

• 4Command Vehicles

• 36 Fire ApplianceTotal

Burn Plan & Operational Map

•Aim and objectives•Site Description / characteristics•Fuel Loads / characteristics•Environmental prescription •Environmental considerations •Control lines and contingences•Optimum fire behaviour•Optimum weather conditions•Ignition strategy •Resources•Water sources / type•Traffic management•Smoke management •Escape routes (public & FFs)•Refuge areas •Incident Management Plan•Administration / logistics •Notification / media

Operations – Planning – Logistics

•Mitigation works along sandstone wall for protection and to compartment the headland into strategic areas. (+ $100K – NDRP funding).•Timeframe and season to conduct the burning operations.

•Breeding season for native species (Bandicoots, Penguins).

•Q-Station operations – Numbers in residents.

•Liaise with Sydney water police and Sydney Ferries re: water evac.

•Harbour Control due to smoke drift in shipping channel. •Set up a stakeholders notification group (email SMS)

•Commitment from Senior FRNSW management to conduct proposal.

•Joint planning with FRNSW, NPWS, SHFT, SWTP.

•Funding for Air support.

•IR issue for crews working in the field for a extended time including Rest and Rehab areas. •Media Management Plan and L/O for the day.

•Traffic Management Plans and approvals (RMS, LGA, Police).

Operations – Planning – Logistics Considerations

•Historical buildings and built facilities•Sandstone walls•Smoke management (Wind direction)•Under ground ventilation intake•Above group electricity supply•ANZAC walkway and monument •Gallipoli Lone pine location •Threaten Species •Site access / safe working areas for crews •Fall back containment lines•Pedestrian / Vehicle movement & access•UXOs •Use of Saltwater•Erosion control

Operations – Planning – Logistics Considerations

•COMPLETE fire exclusion of Cemetery area •Minimise impact when constructing required control lines•Height of vegetation•Open area fire run to West•Fire appliance staging on roadway•COMPLETE fire exclusion from Sydney Water Treatment Plant•Smoke management of underground ventilation for SWTP•Fire protection / management for SWTP biogas bubble•Manly hospital, Schools and Child care•Isolation of installed fire protection FIPs•NO Water on Head land

North Head Video

The results at North Head

Before

During

After

La Perouse NSW Golf Course Windrow Burning

ESBS Management LA Perouse NSW Golf Course

•Cut and lay dominant larger vegetation

•Cure vegetation allow to dry seed

•Isolated pockets – controlled burning

•High intensity burning

•Fence treated area post fire

•Mosaic burning pattern

La Perouse – New South Wales Golf Course.

The results at La Perouse NSW Golf Course

Before

During

After

Centennial Park Pile Burning

ESBS Management Centennial Park

•Cut and thin dominant larger vegetation

•Pile to allow vegetation to Cure

•Cover cured piles

•Isolated pockets – manual thinning

•High intensity burning

•Fence treated area post fire

•Mosaic thinning and pile burning

The results at Centennial Park

Before

During

After

Questions ?????