CFA supports CRC research

South East Australia is one of the most fire prone areas in the world. With climate change, propensity for mega fires and new challenges affecting our resources, the reality is fires are an ongoing and increasing risk to communities, industry and infrastructure.

CFA has been a founding partner of the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (CRC). The Bushfire CRC provides Australian fire agencies a better understanding of fire and the best methods of managing it. CFA has benefited significantly from its research and valuable links between CFA and Bushfire CRC have allowed for a valuable forum of information exchange.

CFA’s partnership with the CRC is part of our broader research and development program. Many of the Bushfire CRC’s findings have been used internationally and CFA has been both a contributor and customer of Bushfire CRC findings.

One of the most poignant Bushfire CRC programs for CFA recently was research into fireground decisions and behaviour conducted throughout the 2006/07 fire season. Researchers concluded that decision making on the fireground is very much linked to personal knowledge – understanding local topography and knowing other personnel involved in the managing the fire. The findings also reported that firefighters, particularly in senior roles, face difficulties when major plans are abandoned or changed.

These findings and others by the Bushfire CRC were incorporated into 2007/08 fire season briefings. Some of the research is being considered for inclusion into future operational guidelines.

Now in its seventh and final year, the Bushfire CRC, with AFAC, has applied to Government for funding of a new CRC, Fire - environment and society.

With continuing climatic changes, growing population, increasing demands on volunteerism and rapidly expanding urban interface areas, this new CRC will provide valuable information to help us better deal with fire.

If approved, this new CRC will succeed the Bushfire CRC and will encapsulate some of its research as well as embarking on new projects. The outcomes of the new CRC will deliver the tools and knowledge to help us effectively develop fire and land management programs to tackle future challenges.

Recognising the importance of CFA’s role in groundbreaking research, the Board gave in-principal approval at its February meeting for CFA to again partner with CRC. CFA will now offer funding support to help drive the new CRC Fire – environment and society.