Surf Coast Times & Bellarine Times

Victoria’s Future Fire Project team has been awarded the prestigious Motorola Innovation Knowledge Agency Award at the recent Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council conference.

The Future Fire Management project and the Barwon Otway Bushfire Management Planning Pilot – a joint initiative between the Department of Sustainability and Parks Victoria – received the award as one of Australia’s most progressive and innovative projects in the fields of fire and emergency.

“The work DSE and Parks Victoria are doing to constantly improve knowledge and planning around bushfires is vital in helping to protect communities from the threat of future bushfires,” said DSE Chief Fire Officer Ewan Waller.

The projects use Phoenix-Rapidfire, a cuttingedge bushfire modelling technology that simulates bushfires and models their potential impacts on human assets, values and ecosystems.

“It’s an exciting development that will help reduce the impacts of severe and damaging bushfires on Victorian communities.
“By using new technology, science and research, we obtain a more comprehensive and accurate picture of bushfire risk to lives and property, and can plan preparedness works such as planned burning accordingly.

“This approach to fire management will be adopted progressively across Victoria,” said Mr Waller.

A pilot plan exemplifying the work of the Future Fire Project, the Barwon Otway Bushfire Management Plan, will be released for public comment in coming months. The project was supported by the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre and the University of Melbourne.