Putting the bushfire season in the spotlight

The Green Triangle hardwood plantation companies are on standby providing a strong line of defence protecting the region this summer fire season alongside their industry partners.

With the official fire season now underway, Australian Bluegum Plantations (ABP), PF Olsen, SFM and their Green Triangle Fire Alliance (GTFA) colleagues have undertaken extensive training and on ground preparation, whilst broadening community engagement in readiness for the forecast above average fire season risk.

This preparedness includes a $20 million investment in critical fire fighting resources including a water bombing helicopter, sophisticated AI fire camera surveillance system and state-of-the-art ground based firefighting tankers to protect plantation resources and the broader community from the heightened fire threat.

The GTFA’s nine member companies showcased the sector’s extensive firefighting inventory as part of a community showcase in Casterton and Dartmoor at the weekend featuring the CFA, Forest Fire Management, State Emergency Service, Victoria Police, the Department of Health and Glenelg Shire Council, encouraging people to make a fire plan and to prepare their properties by reducing fuel loads.

The community events included a demonstration by the GTFA’s Bell 204B helicopter, which is equipped with a 1250 litre bucket capable of drawing water from various sources providing a more agile defence. Crews also provided a demonstration of the alliance’s AI-powered fire detection cameras, which now extends across 15 locations delivering 24/7 surveillance, supporting the traditional fire tower network cover 1.2 million hectares of landscape.

These important resources were put to the test as part of a comprehensive air ground operational exercise by the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) near Mount Gambier on Friday, simulating real-world fire scenarios. This provided an opportunity to evaluate and refine the performance of the extensive aerial and on ground assets.

ABP harvest planning manager Simon Malseed said the plantation sector took a year-round approach to fire management, working closely with state agencies to mitigate risk and build strategy.

“The Green Triangle Fire Alliance resources include 300 highly trained forest fire fighters who have been undertaking extensive training in recent months to prepare for this heightened fire risk to protect our community,” he said.

“Extensive time has also been spent reviewing the effectiveness of our camera network, which detected 40 unplanned fires last season, identifying smoke up to six minutes before another detection source in some scenarios. We want to expand this network in western Victoria in the short term to provide more comprehensive coverage to protect not only our plantation assets, but the broader regional community, environment and agricultural assets.”

SFM’s Noel Bull, who is also a long-term volunteer with the Dartmoor CFA, said it was important everyone was prepared for this fire season.

“Bushfire safety is a shared responsibility and it’s important that we all have a fire plan to be prepared for the worst on these warmer high fire danger days,” he said.

“The region has already recorded one Spring fire resulting in a significant loss of key assets. It is important we all work together to reduce this risk as the conditions get warmer.”