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Gippsland Fuel Reduction Burns Successful Despite Damp Weather

The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), with the assistance of the CFA have conducted a number of successful fuel reduction burns in the region, despite inclement weather conditions for the start of spring.

By Dept of Sustainability & Environment - 11th November 2003 - Back to News

To date, there have been 27 burns completed in the Orbost, Nowa Nowa, Bairnsdale, Cann River, Erica and Bendoc Fire Districts, covering in excess of 1100 hectares.

DSE staff have been working closely with local CFA Brigades to manage these burns in partnerships that have been extremely effective in the strategic planning and completion of the burning operations.

CFA Region 11 Manager Mark Reid said that everyone concerned has put a lot of time and effort into developing good relationships between CFA and Department fire staff.

"We are now seeing some great results where the two agencies are working side by side on fuel reduction burns," Mr Reid said.

"Particularly on the interface of public and private land where the CFA has put a lot of effort into the planning process, we're working well together."

Mr Reid said that a lot of trust has been developed where local brigades who know the bush and know what they're doing can work with the DSE in managing fuel reduction burns to protect assets.

"It all comes down to relationships and we're all putting a lot of effort into those relationships," he said.

"We were already seeing huge improvements in the relationships between the two agencies even before the Alpine fires this year. We're building on that foundation and utilising all our skills and knowledge to prepare for the coming season."

DSE is following through on the recommendations of the Victorian Bushfire Inquiry into last summer’s Alpine fires and is conducting a rigorous, tight schedule of fuel reduction burning across the State in preparation for this summer.

Members of the public can access DSE’s external web site to obtain fire information, for example maps and brief summaries of current fuel reduction burns and wildfires. The site is easy to access and contain a very broad range of supportive information.

The web site can be accessed at www.dse.vic.gov.au/fires

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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