"The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) leads the Victorian Government's efforts to sustainably manage water resources and catchments, climate change, bushfires, parks and other public land, forests, biodiversity and ecosystem conservation."But locally many people know the DSE as the Dept. of Sparks and Embers. The DSE are infamous for the number of times they have let a fire get the better of them and and up burning twice their quota for the job.
In Healesville, Victoria they were even known for burning half of Mt.Riddell which in turn actually saved Healesville from the Black Saturday fires. Lucky break for DSE.
But how do they lose control of fires so readily? Perhaps it is the way they go about it? An anonymous member of DSE quoted that
"On an 1100 hectare job in the middle of nowhere, we only need three people. One will drive the tractor as the other two sit on the side with fire starters. Then after we have lunch, check the fire and knock off about 4pm. We dont need to return till 9am the next morning."
I could not believe my ears. the horror people would feel if they knew this is how the DSE operates on certain jobs.
Though to the credit of DSE, a "small job" of only 8 hectares did require a crew of 40 to properly maintain the fire throughout the day. This crew had the full resources of the two tankers and around 30 utes they had brought with them.
This is all well and good while lighting the fires in the area but then the night crew to watch over 8 hectares of smoldering ashes and still much unburnt fuel only consisted of 4 personel and 1 tanker.
While I am a supporter of fuel reduction burns around Victoria because I believe they are neccessary, I also believe there is a way of doing this responsibly. But this is not shown by the DSE. So I would advise caution, if they plan a fuel reduction burn around your area, look at where they want to do it. If the wind were to suddenly change, how safe is your area? and is your place fire ready?
