Bushfire Research Taskforce

The Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) has recently released a new Fire Update on the Bushfire Research Taskforce, which was formed in the aftermath of the recent fires in Victoria.

Fire Update: Bushfire Research Taskforce (184k) Download it at: http://www.bushfirecrc.com/publications/downloads/At-the-fireground-2009.pdf

The Bushfire CRC website will be regularly updated with information on the taskforce:

www.bushfirecrc.com

All editions of Fire Update (brief research summaries) and Fire Note (more detailed outcomes of Bushfire CRC research) are available for download on the Bushfire CRC website:

http://www.bushfirecrc.com/publications/index.html

Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) CEO Naomi Brown wrote this letter to accompany the release of the new Fire Update:

Dear Colleagues

Following on from the Victorian fires of 7 February the Bushfire CRC has established a Bushfire Research Task Force that has begun work on the fire ground. The Bushfire CRC Fire Note that accompanies this CEO Bulletin outlines the research being undertaken.

The research gathered will be used for the Royal Commission and Coronial Inquiries that will follow and will be made available to all AFAC members and the public. This research is being conducted independently of CFA and DSE.

The research team has met with a Victorian Stakeholder Group to get there input on the direction of the research. The Stakeholder Group consists of Department of Human Services, Victoria Police, Victoria SES, Office of Emergency Services Commissioner, DSE, CFA and other CRC stakeholders.

A number of AFAC staff are currently supporting or are part of the Research Task Force. While every effort is being made to continue with AFAC work there have been some disruptions; particularly work involving most of the staff.

It is hoped that these disruptions to AFAC’s normal business will be short term. Group members will be kept informed of any disruptions or changes to meetings. Your understanding and patience with these disruptions is greatly appreciated.

AFAC will continue to keep you updated through CEO bulletins, special newsletters and the electronic KW news. If you have not subscribed to the KW news I would urge you to do so as it will become an increasingly important method of keeping you updated with the Research Task Force and the events of the upcoming Royal Commission. You can subscribe from the home page of the Knowledge Web. www.afac-kw.com.au

Kind regards

NAOMI BROWN
Chief Executive Officer