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Firefighters criticise Yarloop bushfire inquiry, saying it should be broader Firefighters criticise Yarloop bushfire inquiry, saying it should be broader
(7 months later)
Volunteer firefighters have criticised the limited scope of an investigation into a bushfire that destroyed the West Australian town of Yarloop, saying it should be broadened to include the fatal Esperance bushfire.Volunteer firefighters have criticised the limited scope of an investigation into a bushfire that destroyed the West Australian town of Yarloop, saying it should be broadened to include the fatal Esperance bushfire.
The WA premier, Colin Barnett, announced the review, which will be headed by former Victorian Country Fire Authority and South Australian Country Fire Authority chief Euan Ferguson, in Waroona, one of the towns affected by the fire, on Wednesday.The WA premier, Colin Barnett, announced the review, which will be headed by former Victorian Country Fire Authority and South Australian Country Fire Authority chief Euan Ferguson, in Waroona, one of the towns affected by the fire, on Wednesday.
Related: When a bushfire destroyed our home we had moments to react but needed years to recover | Ashleigh Davis
It will be conducted under the Public Sector Management Act 1994, which provides powers to compel witnesses, demand documents, and requires witnesses to give evidence under oath.It will be conducted under the Public Sector Management Act 1994, which provides powers to compel witnesses, demand documents, and requires witnesses to give evidence under oath.
Barnett said the inquiry would have powers similar to a royal commission and the final report would be made public.Barnett said the inquiry would have powers similar to a royal commission and the final report would be made public.
However, the Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades, in a joint statement with the Emergency Services Volunteers Association, State Emergency Services Volunteers Association and WA Farmers Federation, has called for the review to include the November bushfires that killed four people near Esperance, on the southwest coast.However, the Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades, in a joint statement with the Emergency Services Volunteers Association, State Emergency Services Volunteers Association and WA Farmers Federation, has called for the review to include the November bushfires that killed four people near Esperance, on the southwest coast.
“We all agree that the inquiry needs to be about building community resilience, safety, protecting lives and property from the ravages of bushfires,” the statement said.“We all agree that the inquiry needs to be about building community resilience, safety, protecting lives and property from the ravages of bushfires,” the statement said.
“Therefore the inquiry needs to look at the whole way bushfire risk is managed in WA across the whole spectrum of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery and over a longer time frame than the past five years as set out in the terms of reference.”“Therefore the inquiry needs to look at the whole way bushfire risk is managed in WA across the whole spectrum of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery and over a longer time frame than the past five years as set out in the terms of reference.”
Instead, the review will be narrowly focused on the Waroona-Yarloop fire, which destroyed 128 homes and killed two people when it razed the historic sawmill town on 7 January. About 180 properties were destroyed across the 70,000ha fire area.Instead, the review will be narrowly focused on the Waroona-Yarloop fire, which destroyed 128 homes and killed two people when it razed the historic sawmill town on 7 January. About 180 properties were destroyed across the 70,000ha fire area.
The terms of reference, which have been made public, are to examine the response to that fire, “the effectiveness of public messaging including the adequacy and timeliness of emergency warnings”, and lessons learned from inquiries from previous fires, dating back to the landmark 2011 Keelty report into the Perth Hills bushfires, and the need for further reform.The terms of reference, which have been made public, are to examine the response to that fire, “the effectiveness of public messaging including the adequacy and timeliness of emergency warnings”, and lessons learned from inquiries from previous fires, dating back to the landmark 2011 Keelty report into the Perth Hills bushfires, and the need for further reform.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has confirmed that Yarloop was not named in an emergency warning alert until half an hour before fire struck the town, but defended the omission saying the town was included in the boundary of the warning area.The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has confirmed that Yarloop was not named in an emergency warning alert until half an hour before fire struck the town, but defended the omission saying the town was included in the boundary of the warning area.
Bushfire management researcher with the University of Sydney, Billy Halworth, told Guardian Australia that the desire of fire agencies to tightly control information about an incident meant that the community was less likely to feel a shared responsibility for preparing for and responding to a bushfire.Bushfire management researcher with the University of Sydney, Billy Halworth, told Guardian Australia that the desire of fire agencies to tightly control information about an incident meant that the community was less likely to feel a shared responsibility for preparing for and responding to a bushfire.
“The main thing that prevents people from actively engaging in preparation to reduce their risk is complacency, thinking it won’t happen to them,” Halworth said. “There’s also the influence of the media – there’s so much saturation of reporting of these things that people actually switch off after a while.“The main thing that prevents people from actively engaging in preparation to reduce their risk is complacency, thinking it won’t happen to them,” Halworth said. “There’s also the influence of the media – there’s so much saturation of reporting of these things that people actually switch off after a while.
“The combination of these two things means that people when they see a warning may not react to in in the way that emergency service authorities might like.”“The combination of these two things means that people when they see a warning may not react to in in the way that emergency service authorities might like.”
Barnett told ABC radio in Perth on Thursday that the fire at Esperance would be covered in a separate standard inquiry.Barnett told ABC radio in Perth on Thursday that the fire at Esperance would be covered in a separate standard inquiry.
“Like Esperance, there was a loss of life very sadly, but there were also 180 properties destroyed, it was a massive scale. So we’re concentrating on this fire,” he said.“Like Esperance, there was a loss of life very sadly, but there were also 180 properties destroyed, it was a massive scale. So we’re concentrating on this fire,” he said.
The WA government also appointed the former WA governor Ken Michael to oversee recovery and rebuilding plans for Yarloop.The WA government also appointed the former WA governor Ken Michael to oversee recovery and rebuilding plans for Yarloop.
About 100 Yarloop residents met with Barnett at Yarloop Bowls Club on Wednesday night, in his first visit to the town since the devastating fire.About 100 Yarloop residents met with Barnett at Yarloop Bowls Club on Wednesday night, in his first visit to the town since the devastating fire.
When challenged by one resident on whether Yarloop had a future, Barnett reportedly said that Michael would be tasked with assessing its viability as a town.When challenged by one resident on whether Yarloop had a future, Barnett reportedly said that Michael would be tasked with assessing its viability as a town.
Related: Harsh bushfire lessons: when alerts fail, towns like Yarloop burn to the ground
“My view is that there will be a Yarloop, how large it will be, and talking to people today, some totally determined to come back [while] others not seeing a future, that will be a key component of Ken Michael’s role, assessing the viability of Yarloop,” he said, according to the ABC.“My view is that there will be a Yarloop, how large it will be, and talking to people today, some totally determined to come back [while] others not seeing a future, that will be a key component of Ken Michael’s role, assessing the viability of Yarloop,” he said, according to the ABC.
The fire commissioner, Wayne Gregson, has defended the decisions made by both the state control centre and firefighters in managing the fire, but said they would cooperate with the review.The fire commissioner, Wayne Gregson, has defended the decisions made by both the state control centre and firefighters in managing the fire, but said they would cooperate with the review.
“I know that we had our best people on the job. I know that they’re feeling this. I believe they’ve done their best,” Gregson said. “We are open and transparent, there’s no secrets here. Everybody involved wants to do better.”“I know that we had our best people on the job. I know that they’re feeling this. I believe they’ve done their best,” Gregson said. “We are open and transparent, there’s no secrets here. Everybody involved wants to do better.”
The review is expected to be completed within months, well ahead of the next bushfire season.The review is expected to be completed within months, well ahead of the next bushfire season.