Bushfires – Safety to Social Responsibility

Bushfires – Safety to Social Responsibility Denis Sweeney

Agenda • The bushfire phenomenon • Who is responsible for what • Social responsibility • Environmental plans • A bit of history • What are the penalties • A case history • Suggested bushfire response • Points for discussion Brisbane | 19 March 2013

The Bushfire Phenomenon For a bushfire to start and to be sustained, three things are needed: there must be fuel available to burn there must be sufficient heat to cause and maintain ignition • Heat can come from as simple as a match / cigarette butt or dramatic as lightning strike there must be sufficient oxygen to sustain combustion • The oxygen required for combustion is provided by the atmosphere and is constantly being replenished by the winds, either created by the fire itself, or by the atmospheric winds • Higher winds mean more oxygen and more intense flames Brisbane | 19 March 2013

The responsibility of landowners(firebreaks / no firebreaks) Northern Territory (no professional fire service) • The basic principle for fire management established in the Act is that responsibility for bushfire management rests with the landholder Western Australia • Landholders are regarded as primarily responsible for fire management activities New South Wales • Property owners must comply with a direction from the NSW Rural Fire Service to carry out bushfire reduction works South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland • The occupier of any land is responsible for reporting any unauthorisedfire Australian Capital Territory • Landholders must take all reasonable steps to prevent and prohibit the outbreak and spread of fire Brisbane | 19 March 2013

The responsibility of the explorer Northern Territory • Obligation to fight fire as much as possible, then call 000 and leave area • Basic fire fighting equipment should be available (fire extinguishers) in vehicles • NT Work Safe needs to be notified ASAP on 1800 019 115 and filling out form FM137 Queensland • No legislation on specific equipment requirements • Mandatory risk assessment on every worksite and fire extinguishing equipment at discretion of company • Every vehicle should have fire extinguishers for containment of spot fires • If fire out of control, retreat from area and call 000 South Australia • There used to be a regulation on equipment needed on site, but it has been removed • Obligations are to keep an updated Emergency Management Plan • The suggestion is to check the bushfire risk in the area daily and plan accordingly • If bushfire occurs, try to put it out with fire extinguishers, then leave area if it gets out of control Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Social responsibility when exploring Sample portfolio of mitigation and prevention measures addressing social hazards Business Critical Non-core – landowner side Ethics & Standards HSE Community Economic Content Capacity Building Community Outreach Longer term business development as well as contributing to development Serving short and medium term business needs as well as contributing to development Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Code of Conduct for Mineral Explorers in the Northern Territory of Australia * The Code recognises that mineral activity is a temporary land use and therefore its goal is to keep land available to multiple land users, particularly for the future. Exploration activities can occur simultaneously on common ground without undue interference to other users provided that the needs of each group are recognised, understood and respected. 7.3 Bush Fires and fire Control Fire legislation given by the NT Police, fire and emergency Services and the Northern Territory Bushfires Council must be followed precisely Minimise fire risk by placing combustible material within cleared areas Burning off is strongly discouraged but, if necessary may be permitted with the prior permission of the landowner and the authorities In the event of a bush fire on the pastoral property, all possible assistance should be given to the landowner All explorer vehicles should carry an appropriate extinguisher and in high-risk areas, field vehicles should carry backpacks as well * Northern Territory Minerals Council – seismic surveys listed in code Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Order of importance People Assets Environment Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Environmental plans Northern Territory DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND ENERGY - Mineral Titles Act and Regulations RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE LAND OWNER There is a general expectation that explorers will conduct themselves in a professional manner and the Department strongly encourages consultation between the holder and the landowner to ensure a harmonious relationship between the parties. ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN (EP) REQUIREMENTS 4. Environment Description This section should: Include the key values and sensitive aspects of the environment; whether within, or immediately close to, the project activity: Sacred and Cultural Heritage sites Protected areas/Conservation Areas Rare or endangered flora and fauna Areas of significant habitat Fire regime Brisbane | 19 March 2013

A bit of history* 2012 1997 2011 1998 2008 1993 2002 2013 YTD 1995 1996 1999 2000 2003 2005 2006 2007 2001 2004 2009 1994 2010 Geoscience Australia * The Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (Bushfire CRC) Brisbane | 19 March 2013

NT Bushfires Act 2009 40 Fires not to be left (1) A person shall not leave a fire in the open which he has lit or used unless he has thoroughly extinguished it Penalty: $25 000 or imprisonment for 5 years (2) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (1) that the defendant had, before leaving the fire, arranged with a responsible person who also used the fire to remain at the place where the fire is and not leave it unless that person has: (a) thoroughly extinguished the fire; or (b) made a similar arrangement with another responsible person who used the fire Brisbane | 19 March 2013

A case history Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Reminder of bushfire requirements There must be fuel available to burn There must be sufficient heat to cause and maintain ignition There must be sufficient oxygen to sustain combustion Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Various outcomes when fuel, heat and oxygen meet 10-Sept: pick strike – ~500m2 area 10-Sept: vehicle strike – ~3m2 area 14-Sept: vehicle strike – ~150m2 area 11-Sept: grader strike – ~0.01km2 area Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Various outcomes when fuel, heat and oxygen meet 20-Sept: Lightning incident – ~0.015km2 area 20-Sept: Vibrator incident – ~0.26km2 area Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Alternate line preparation machinery

Suggested bushfire response Tier 1 Tier 1 is a level at which an outbreak of fire is considered at a low-medium level where the flames range up to between 1.0 to 1.5m in height (knee to waist height) and spot fire in nature At this level seismic crew personnel who have received an agreed level of fire awareness trainingmay attempt to extinguish the fire and only if they deem it safe to do so Above dependent on wind speed and direction and advance speed of the fire Tier 2 Tier 2 is a level at which an outbreak of fire is considered at a high level where the flames range above 1.5m in height (waist height and above ) At this level seismic crew personnel must fall back from fire fighting with hand-held fire-fighting equipment and the required machinery to create firebreaks to control the fire are deployed Tier 3 Back-burning Trained and experienced bushfire fighting personnel to be in place Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Points for discussions / work group Conduct assessment of required fire regime during environmental assessment (early) as opposed to project risk assessment workshops (later) • Is good fire management being conducted by the landowner i.e. firebreaks in place • Fuel load calculations Define resources to be on crew to meet Teir-1, Teir-2 or Tier-3 situations • Agree basic level of firefighting training required (Tier-1); seismic crew workers are not trained bushfire fighters Marine is legislated (OPITO) • Agree on basic fire fighting equipment standard for a seismic vehicle; weight / ground clearance is a major consideration for line vehicles Social responsibility • Determine what response or support will / can be given should a fire start Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Bushfires – Safety to Social Responsibility

Bushfires – Safety to Social Responsibility

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