MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday 28 October 2009
VICTORIAN FIRE CRISIS
204 DAYS OF INACTION PRIOR TO THE START OF THE FIRE DANGER PERIOD
Victoria faces a Fire Crisis this summer, following over six months of inaction by the
Brumby Government to provide adequate firefighting resources.
Despite the Premier acknowledging that Victoria is facing the worst fire season ever, there
has been a complete lack of action to implement the decision of the independent Board of
Reference of April 2009, that identified an urgent need for more CFA professional
firefighters throughout Victoria.
The independent Board of Reference, comprising CFA Deputy Chief Officer Steve
Warrington, Independent Chair Bob Merriman and MFB Commander Ken Brown and using
CFA’s own data determine that the evidence was beyond doubt
that increased
professional firefighters were required at 24 locations throughout Victoria.
Due to the present and foreseeable risk identified by the independent Board of Reference,
the CFA Board approved a submission to the State Government seeking an additional 684
professional firefighters. To date there has been no word whether CFA’s submission will be
approved by Government and if so, in what timeframe.
United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall says action is required now to avert the
bushfire risk this summer.
“Mapping the 52 hotspots announced by the Premier on August 18 2009, against the 24
fire stations requiring additional professional firefighters indicates a strong relationship
between the areas identified at high risk of bushfire (the hotspots) and those areas where
CFA fire stations are not meeting service delivery standards,” Mr Marshall said.
“Of the 52 hotspots, 34 would benefit from increased firefighters as determined by the
Board of Reference.
“Two out of three hotpots identified would have their risk of bushfire mitigated as these
additional locations and professional firefighters would form the initial rapid response or
support crews for future wildfire emergencies in those areas.”
For more information
Peter Marshall, National Secretary, United Firefighters Union
0419 127 004
Greg Pargeter, Senior Industrial Officer, United Firefighters Union
0425 790 676
NEWS 
