The following paper was presented by Phil Cheney, of the CSIRO
Bushfire Research Unit to the A.F.A.C. Conference, Hobart, October
1998.
THE SAFETY OF BUSHFIRE FIGHTERS
By N P Cheney
CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products
Summary
The reduction of forest workers and the increase in the number of
volunteers engaged in forest fire fighting may be leading to more
inexperienced firefighters being trapped in forest fires. The
provision of personal protective shelters should not be seen as a
panacea but rather fire Authorities must emphasise training in forest
fire suppression and safe work practices. Training and experience on
grassfires does not prepare firefighters for forest fire suppression.
Fire tankers can not withstand forest fire intensities on more than
2000 - 3000 kW m-1 and brigades must not expect tankers to provide
protection in forest fires or even on narrow densely tree-lined roads
on days of very-high to extreme fire danger.