2015 Esperance bushfires

Bushfires in Western Australia November 2015 November 2015 2015 Esperance bushfires Westernaustralia vir 2015321.jpg View of the Esperance fires from NASA's Suomi NPP, using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) imagery on 17 November. Shire of Esperance A$60–150 millionle Messurier Danielle Esperance bushfires: Damage bill for crop losses 'in excess of $60m' http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia-bushfires/esperance-bushfires-damage-bill-for-crop-losses-in-excess-of-60m/news-story/5caee22f28d807799b2cc880e65ea0b9 5 May 2016 PerthNow News Corp Australia 19 November 2015 33 6 21 S 120 59 2 E (approximate ignition point of Cascades fire) 1526 November More than 310,000 ha acre -3 Lightning2015/16 Wandrra Eligible Disaster Proclamation Notification https://www.dpc.wa.gov.au/DPCFunctions/ReliefAndRecovery/Pages/ARGN688-Bushfires-Esperance-15-November-2015.aspx 5 May 2016 ARGN688 Bushfires Esperance - 15 November 2015 Department of the Premier and Cabinet 22 December 2015 3 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160603034707/https://www.dpc.wa.gov.au/DPCFunctions/ReliefAndRecovery/Pages/ARGN688-Bushfires-Esperance-15-November-2015.aspx dead Residential Farmland Forest reserves — 3 houses — 16 non-residential buildings 4 The 2015 Esperance bushfires were a series of catastrophic bushfires that burned from 15 to 26 November and affected the Goldfields-Esperance region in the Australian state of Western Australia. During the fires, the Shire of Esperance experienced two significant fires and a complex of fires; 128000 ha were burnt by the Cascades fire, 18000 ha were burnt by the Merivale fire, and 164000 ha were burnt by the Cape Arid complex of fires.Nous Group 2016 9 On 17 November, during the major run of the Cascades fire, four civilian fatalities occurred in vehicles traveling on Griggs Road in Scaddan. 2020, the Cascades fire was equally the worst bushfire in Western Australia in terms of human fatalities along with the Willow Springs/Nannuphttps://www.monumentaustralia.org/themes/disaster/fire/display/95373-bushfire-memorial- Bushfire Memorial Monument Australia Design UBC Web monumentaustralia.org.au 2016-07-01 fire of January 1958.Sprague Julie-Anne WA bushfires claim lives, crops http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/wa-bushfires-claim-lives-crops/2748235.aspx 6 May 2016 farmweekly.com.au Fairfax Media 19 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151220113642/http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/wa-bushfires-claim-lives-crops/2748235.aspx 20 December 2015 dead The Cascades fire destroyed Scaddan town hall, one house, 16 non-residential structures and dozens of vehicles in the communities of Grass Patch, Salmon Gums and Scaddan. There was also significant damage to rural produce; approximately 4,500 head of livestock died and 30000 ha of crop—constituting about 500,000 tonnes of grain—were burnt.Nous Group 2016 22Esperance bushfire damage toll rising http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/11/20/11/45/esperance-bushfire-damage-toll-rising 26 November 2015 AAP 9news.com.au 20 November 2015Tomlin Sam Esperance bushfire investigation finds region poorly resourced against 'unstoppable' fires http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-29/investigation-into-esperance-bushfires-finds-fires-unstoppable/7274114 27 April 2016 ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 29 March 2016 In addition, the Merivale fire destroyed two houses in Stockyard Creek, and the Cape Arid complex destroyed significant areas of western ground parrot habitat—reportedly up to 90%—prompting discussion that the critically endangered parrot could "... become the first bird in at least 200 years to become extinct in Western Australia".Nous Group 2016 20Shine Rhiannon Fears for rare western ground parrot after Esperance fires destroy 90 per cent of habitat http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-30/fears-for-rare-western-ground-parrot-after-esperance-fires/6987740 4 May 2016 ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 30 November 2015Rhiannon Shine Sam Tomlin Western ground parrot 'facing extinction' after devastating Esperance bushfires http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-21/western-ground-parrot-on-precipice-of-extinction-expert-says/7105544 4 May 2016 ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 22 January 2016 Background Agriculture is the predominant land use by area in the Shire of Esperance; between 1990 and 2000 the region witnessed an increase of 50% in the total cropped area and a decrease in the total area dedicated to livestock farming, the main crops produced are wheat, barley and canola. Cropped areas are particularly combustible prior to harvest, and stubble is retained post harvest to reduce soil erosion, which maintains a combustible ground cover and increases fuel load in pre-harvest fields. The Esperance region had above average winter rainfall in 2015, promoting the growth of large quantities of crops and other plant material.Nous Group 2016 11 Salmon Gums Research Station, 100 km north of Esperance town, reported its highest winter rainfall in 88 years; 91.2 mm fell in August, the highest August total rainfall for at least 30 years.Salmon Gums, Western Australia; August 2015 Daily Weather Observations http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201508/html/IDCJDW6119.201508.shtml bom.gov.au Bureau of Meteorology (Australian Government) 3 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160616171524/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201508/html/IDCJDW6119.201508.shtml 16 June 2016 dead dmy-all Prior to the 2015 harvest, yields of up to 5 tonnes per hectareThe yield was significantly higher than the average of 1–2 tonnes per hectare recorded in Western Australia most years between 2005 and 2014.Grain Yearbook Australian Grain 24 7 29 http://ausgrain.com.au/Back%20Issues/247ybgrn15/vol24-7_yb15.pdf 6 May 2016 Greenmount Press Toowoomba, Queensland 4 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160604155630/http://ausgrain.com.au/Back%20Issues/247ybgrn15/vol24-7_yb15.pdf dead Note were reported in the Esperance district, which was estimated to be around 50% harvested at the time of the fires. This represented a 2015 harvest that was far above the 5 year average, even accounting for the "... hundreds of thousands of tonnes" of grain lost during the fire.Crop Report 6 November 2015 Grain Industry Association of Western Australia Bentley DC http://www.giwa.org.au/_literature_206655/GIWA_Crop_Report_-_November_2015 5 May 2016 1 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160301153647/http://www.giwa.org.au/_literature_206655/GIWA_Crop_Report_-_November_2015 deadde Landgrafft Tara Fires and hot, windy weather cut expected crop estimates in Esperance port zone this harvest http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-23/fires-and-hot-windy-weather-cut-expected-crop-estimates/6964266 5 May 2016 ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 23 November 2015 The winter rains were followed by an unusually dry and warm spring, which rapidly dried out the unharvested crops and other plant material. Statewide average temperatures in Western Australia during October were +3.28 °C above average and the highest on record, and rainfall was generally light across the Esperance region at 6–8 mm.Bureau of Meteorology 2015a 7–8 Temperature observations were similarly elevated in November, at +1.78 °C above average and the second warmest on record.Bureau of Meteorology 2015b 7–8 Predictions for the 2015–16 bushfire season A strengthening El Niño–Southern Oscillation event across the Pacific Ocean and the warmer waters associated with the Indian Ocean Dipole, was expected to increase the severity and duration of the 2015–16 fire season in Western Australia, with the Goldfields-Esperance region in particular to experience "above normal fire potential" due to high fuel loads.Challenging bushfire season expected for Western Australia http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/mediareleases/Pages/MediaRelease.aspx?ItemId=755 4 May 2016 dfes.wa.gov.au Department of Fire and Emergency Services 1 September 2015 10 October 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161010125043/http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/mediareleases/Pages/MediaRelease.aspx?ItemId=755 deadSouthern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook 2015–16 http://www.bnhcrc.com.au/hazardnotes/010 Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centres Programme Australian Government 6 May 2016 Melbourne, Australia September 2015 Fire timeline 14–16 November Over the weekend of 14–15 November, a trough system consisting of numerous thunderstorms moved in an easterly direction over southern Western Australia and lightning ignited fires across a large area.Nous Group 2016 12Bureau of Meteorology 2015b 5 At least 40 fires were recorded by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) on 15 November, including the Cascades fire, the Merivale fire, and the Cape Arid complex, which constituted three of the ten incidents recorded by the DFES in the Shire of Esperance.Nous Group 2016 12–13 The Cascades fire ignited north of Pyramid Rd. and west of Ned's Corner Rd. on unallocated crown land south of Lake Mends in the North Cascades area.Nous Group 2016 14Scott Matthew Special Council Notice of Meeting and Agenda 27 November 2015 Shire of Esperance 14 http://www.esperance.wa.gov.au/Infocouncil/Open/2015/12/SPC_01122015_AGN_AT.PDF 6 May 2016 Local Recovery Committee; Esperance Fires https://web.archive.org/web/20160603055455/http://www.esperance.wa.gov.au/Infocouncil/Open/2015/12/SPC_01122015_AGN_AT.PDF 3 June 2016 dead Lightning from the same storm system also ignited the Merivale fire in the vicinity of Doombup Lake and Mullet Lake, 20 km east of Esperance town, and the Cape Arid complex of fires in the Gypsum Mine, Mount Ragged, and Thomas River areas of the northern part of Cape Arid National Park.Anderson Alyesha WA bushfires: Shire of Esperance facing 'catastrophic' fire danger http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/bushfires-rage-in-esperance-shire-facing-catastrophic-fire-danger/news-story/d56f208bebfe1980d7a7c104b8877293 5 May 2016 PerthNow News Corp Australia 18 November 2015 The fires remained uncontained by dawn on 16 November and a bushfire advice message for North Cascade was issued by the DFES at 11:30 AWST (UTC+08:00), although there was no threat to lives or homes at the time.Bushfire Advice: North Cascade in the Shire of Esperance, WA http://www.ewn.com.au/fire/2015-11-16-081800-141513-1628.fire 5 May 2016 Early Warning Network Department of Fire and Emergency Services 16 November 2015 4 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160604051717/http://www.ewn.com.au/fire/2015-11-16-081800-141513-1628.fire dead Winds in the Cascades fire ground on 16 November were light to fresh breezes to from the south-south-east and relative humidity ranged from approximately 25–55%; conditions favourable to containment. However, by the end of the day on 16 November, both the Cascades and Merivale fire remained uncontained and residents of 7 properties near the Merivale fire were advised to leave.Nous Group 2016 15 At a briefing by the Bureau of Meteorology to the DFES on 16 November, a McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) rating of 250–260 was reportedly forecast for 17 November; described as "... worse than the day of the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria that claimed 173 lives and injured some 5000 people".Bartlett Liam Now is the time to answer questions over Esperance fire http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/opinion/liam-bartlett/liam-bartlett-now-is-the-time-to-answer-questions-over-esperance-fire/news-story/39a7290a4f741f8141240304fcabc0f0 6 May 2016 PerthNow News Corp Australia 28 November 2015 Despite fears for the escalation of the fire in the forecast conditions, which greatly exceeded the threshold for "catastrophic" (an FFDI of 100), all three fires remained at the classification of "Level 1" and therefore under the control of local brigades.A "Level 1" incident is characterized by being within the scope of local government and local brigades to respond to and manage, having a low level of complexity and a relatively minor impact on the community.Legislative Assembly Western Australia Grievance Debate – Esperance Bushfires - Resource Allocation and Early Intervention http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Hansard/hansard.nsf/0/6f7d398b478877d348257faa002999c5/$FILE/A39+S1+20160407+p2317b-2319a.pdf 7 April 2016 Joe Francis Member for Jandakot; Minister for Emergency Services, Fisheries, Corrective Services & Veterans 2317–2319 Note Following the fires, Deputy Commissioner of the DFES, Lloyd Bailey, stated that on 16 November; People in the area were advised to put their survival first and leave the night before or early in the day if possible, and that it was not safe to stay and defend their homes. 17 November The passage of a low pressure system over the south-west of the state created winds of moderate gale to storm force from the north to west over the Shire of Esperance and all three fire zones, elevating the temperature to over 40 C F across most of the shire. An extremely low relative humidity of 6% was observed at the Salmon Gums Research Station at 15:00 AWST, and a "storm force" wind gust of 93 kph from the west-north-west was recorded at 15:37 AWST.Salmon Gums, Western Australia; November 2015 Daily Weather Observations http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201511/html/IDCJDW6119.201511.shtml bom.gov.au Bureau of Meteorology (Australian Government) 3 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160616172404/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201511/html/IDCJDW6119.201511.shtml 16 June 2016 dead dmy-all Winds were consistently 50–60 kph during the afternoon, with frequent gusts up to 70–80 kph. As anticipated, the Esperance region experienced catastrophic fire weather conditions on the afternoon of 17 November; McArthur Grassland Fire Danger Index (FFDI) recordings of 175 and 180—significantly above the threshold of 100 for "catastrophic" conditions—were recorded at Scaddan and Cascades respectively.Nous Group 2016 17–18 FFDI ratings of up to 221 were reportedly observed elsewhere around Esperance.Legislative Assembly Western Australia Grievance Debate – Esperance Bushfires - Resource Allocation and Early Intervention http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Hansard/hansard.nsf/0/6f7d398b478877d348257faa002999c5/$FILE/A39+S1+20160407+p2317b-2319a.pdf 7 April 2016 Dr. Graham Gibson Jacobs Member for Eyre 2317–2319 This resulted in an escalation of all three fires, including the major run of the Cascades fire. As early as 06:30 AWST, farmers made calls to fire authorities with concerns about the height of flames in inaccessible areas close to properties in and around Cascades, as the fire front expanded to at least 5 km.Nous Group 2016 19 During the morning, the Cascades and Merivale fires caused power outages in Esperance shire that affected at least 300 customers and also stopped mobile phone coverage.Martin Lucy Malcolm Turnbull meets bushfire volunteers as Esperance community comes to terms with its loss ABC Radio "PM" Australian Broadcasting Corporation 9 December 2015 18:30:32 http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2015/s4369072.htm 6 May 2016Esperance bush fires cause black outs for power customers http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/3499873/blazes-cause-blackouts-to-hundreds/?cs=1520 5 May 2016 Esperance Express Fairfax Media 17 November 2015 2 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160602023829/http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/3499873/blazes-cause-blackouts-to-hundreds/?cs=1520 dead Just prior to midday the Cascades fire jumped across fuel modification breaks—consisting of substantial pre-existing scrub rolling and other fuel treatment—on the interface of crown land and private property. The fire moved rapidly once it had entered private property; during its major south–east run on the afternoon of 17 November, the Cascades fire is estimated to have spread at a rate of 15–23 kph, fueled by the heavy harvest fuel loads, and to have traveled approximately 70 km over a five-hour period. The Cascades fire is estimated to have reached a peak intensity of around 45,000kW/h, described in the Major Incident Report as; ... the hottest grassland fire in WA's recorded history, and possibly in Australia's recorded history. At 13:10 AWST the DFES warning for the Cascades fire was upgraded to "watch and act", and the warning was reported by the Experance Express within the hour, however an "emergency warning" was not issued for the fire until 17:50 AWST, some two hours after the fire impacted Griggs Rd., 50–60 km from the point of ignition. All four civilians fatalities from the Cascades fire occurred at approximately 15:50 AWST, when the fire front impacted Griggs Rd. between Cascade and Scaddan.Nous Group 2016 18 The Cascades fire crossed the Coolgardie–Esperance Highway at approximately 17:50 AWST and impacted the community of Scaddan, where the majority of structural damage occurred. The DFES superintendent for Goldfields-Esperance, Trevor Tasker, witnessed the fire front impacting the highway and created a road block, preventing an estimated 100 cars—containing approximately 200 tourists and locals—from driving into the flames; police in Norseman prevented traffic entering the area impacted by fire from the opposite direction.Foster Brendan Goldfields firefighter Trevor Tasker saves people from driving into Esperance fire http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/goldfields-firey-saves-people-from-driving-into-esperance-firestorm-20151119-gl2qcn.html 6 May 2016 WAtoday Fairfax Media 19 November 2015 Scaddan farmer Chris Reichstein used a speed tillerA speed tiller, sometimes called a disc plow, is designed to remove stubble and weeds by mulching the organic material and burying it. Note to cut a firebreak several meters wide through burning crops and stubble along the eastern edge of the fire front, preventing the fire front from crossing into bushland where it "... could have burned for weeks". Ninety minutes after the fire front had traversed the highway and impacted Scaddan township, the fire was upgraded to "Level 3", a designation that effectively grants the DFES command and control of the incident.A "Level 3" incident is characterized by being protracted, large and resource intensive. They typically require significant coordination of multi-agency resources—usually by the DFES—and have a high level of complexity and community impact. Note By mid–evening, between 100 and 150 people from Scaddan and Grass Patch had evacuated to Salmon Gums Recreation Centre, and at approximately 22:00 AWST the area under threat was expanded to include Red Lake and Salmon Gums. On 17 November, the Merivale fire also moved rapidly in a south–east direction, and DFES warnings were upgraded to "watch and act" level at 11:55 AWST. Fire conditions peaked during the afternoon, with the Esperance station recording an astonishingly low relative humidity of 2% at 15:00 AWST and a wind gust of 83 kph from the west-north-west at 16:12 AWST.Esperance, Western Australia; November 2015 Daily Weather Observations http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201511/html/IDCJDW6040.201511.shtml bom.gov.au Bureau of Meteorology (Australian Government) 3 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160616191023/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201511/html/IDCJDW6040.201511.shtml 16 June 2016 dead dmy-all A wind change shifted the direction of fire spread to north–east at approximately 18:00 AWST, and an "emergency" warning was issued at 21:04 AWST, after the fire had crossed Cape Le Grand Rd. Two houses were destroyed in the Stockyard Creek area during the night.Corridon Sarah Esperance bushfires: 100kmh winds spark 'catastrophic fire danger' warning http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/esperance-bushfires-100kmh-winds-spark-catastrophic-fire-danger-warning-20151117-gl19d8.html 5 May 2016 WAtoday Fairfax Media 17 November 2015 The ability of crews to control the Merivale fire was hampered by the vegetation and the varying terrain in the area, which included swamps, lakes and dune systems as well as several blue gum plantations.Nous Group 2016 21 18–26 November Winds in the Cascades fire ground on 18 November again returned to gentle to moderate breezes from the north to west and relative humidity ranged from approximately 30–40%. Although no rainfall was recorded until 24 November, the low winds and temperatures of 25–32 C F meant that the Cascades fire was largely stationary and the Merivale fire was spreading slowly, yet erratically. Four single-engine air tankers were deployed to control the Merivale fire. At approximately midday on 19 November, the warning for the Cascade fire was once again upgraded to emergency level for the areas west of the Coolgadie-Esperance Highway in the communities of Grass Patch and Salmon Gums.Update: Watch and Act remains for Grass Patch and Salmon Gums http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/3502854/update-bushfire-watch-and-act-remains-for-grass-patch-and-salmon-gums/ 5 May 2016 Esperance Express Fairfax Media 20 November 2015 2 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160602023717/http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/3502854/update-bushfire-watch-and-act-remains-for-grass-patch-and-salmon-gums/ dead The warning was downgraded to "watch and act" at approximately 15:00 AWST with no further injury or serious damage to property, although the perimeter of the fire had expanded to 214 km.Carter Lucy Esperance fires: 'Race against time' before worsening weekend conditions http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2015/s4355159.htm 5 May 2016 ABC AM Australian Broadcasting Corporation 19 November 2015 By 20 November 300 people had evacuated from the communities impacted by the Cascades fire. Residential areas were again threatened by the Merivale fire on 21–22 November, when it broke containment lines under the influence of a wind change.Esperance devastation – a warning for the season ahead http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/newsandmedia/Pages/Newsarticle.aspx?ItemId=105 6 May 2016 Department of Fire and Emergency Services Government of Western Australia 30 November 2015 5 April 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160405102052/http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/newsandmedia/Pages/Newsarticle.aspx?ItemId=105 dead An "all clear" message was issued for both the Cascades and Merivale fires on the afternoon of 25 November, indicating that the series of fires were essentially extinguished. The Esperance District complex of fires was downgraded to "Level 1" and the DFES transitioned control for the recovery effort of the Cascades and Merivale fires to Local Government, and the recovery effort for the Cape Arid complex of fires was transferred to the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPAW) on 26 November. Aftermath Fatalities The four civilians who died in the Cascades fire were identified on 19 November.Bennett Mark Powell Graeme WA bushfires: Foreign workers die trying to flee farm, save horse in Esperance bushfires http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-19/europeans-died-trying-to-rescue-horse-from-esperance-bushfire/6954094 2 May 2016 ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 20 November 2015Esperance bushfires: European workers killed trying to flee blaze named by police http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-20/three-european-workers-killed-in-esperance-bushfires-named/6958904 2 May 2016 ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 20 November 2015Powell Graeme Esperance fire victims' families to travel from Europe to see where loved ones perished http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-23/relatives-of-fire-victims-heading-to-esperance/6963648 4 May 2016 ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 23 November 2015 Julia Kohrs-Lichte, 19, of Germany — Kohrs-Lichte was working at Karranga Station. Anna Winther, 29, of Norway — Winther was a graduate of Curtin University and an activist for Amnesty International, who was working as a cook at Karranga Station.Foster Brendan Esperance fires: Norwegian woman Anna Winther, 29, killed in firestorm http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/esperance-fires-norwegian-woman-anna-winther-29-killed-in-firestorm-20151119-gl2y2z.html 6 May 2016 WAtoday Fairfax Media 19 November 2015Guardian Staff Esperance bushfire: British man, Norwegian student and farmer among dead https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/nov/20/esperance-bushfire-british-man-norwegian-student-and-farmer-among-dead 6 May 2016 The Guardian Guardian News and Media 20 November 2015 Thomas Butcher, 31, of Britain — Butcher, a mechanical fitter, had resided in Australia for the four years prior and was working at Karranga Station.Esperance fires: Partner pays tribute to British man killed in Esperance fires https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/regional/goldfields/a/30122815/local-legend-kym-curnow-died-trying-to-save-others-from-esperance-fires/ 5 May 2016 Kalgoorlie Miner Yahoo 7 19 November 2015 14 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160314204526/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/regional/goldfields/a/30122815/local-legend-kym-curnow-died-trying-to-save-others-from-esperance-fires/ deadEsperance bushfire victim's sister says he was "living the dream" http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/3507185/esperance-bushfire-victims-sister-says-he-was-living-the-dream/?cs=1520 5 May 2016 Esperance Express Fairfax Media 20 November 2015 2 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160602030304/http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/3507185/esperance-bushfire-victims-sister-says-he-was-living-the-dream/?cs=1520 dead Kym Curnow, 45, of Australia — Curnow was a father-of-three and farmer in the Esperance-region, who was also an Officer of the Scaddan Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade.Senate Commonwealth of Australia Statements by Senators - Western Australia: Bushfires http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansards%2F2ea0ef30-380c-493d-adf4-0223f89e0720%2F0044%22 25 November 2015 Dr. Christopher John Back Senator for Western Australia 8928–8929Macfarlane Kristin Esperance farmer 'an icon' http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/esperance-farmer-an-icon/2748232.aspx 6 May 2016 Farm Weekly Fairfax Media 19 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151220113654/http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/esperance-farmer-an-icon/2748232.aspx 20 December 2015 dead The three foreign nationals, who had been staying at Karranga farm on 17 November, died in the same vehicle while fleeing to Esperance town. The bodies were discovered in a vehicle with a horse float, containing the remains of the horse "Cougar", only a few kilometres from the property the trio were working at.Bell Kelly Clarke Tim Esperance fires: Bushfire casualty died for the love of a horse https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/countryman/a/30146576/esperance-fires-bushfire-casualty-died-for-the-love-of-a-horse/ 6 May 2016 The West Australian Yahoo7 20 November 2015 29 February 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160229142124/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/countryman/a/30146576/esperance-fires-bushfire-casualty-died-for-the-love-of-a-horse/ dead Curnow also died in his vehicle while driving door-to-door to warn neighbours about the approaching fire front.Corridon Sarah Two men and two women among fire victims, two more feared dead in Esperance bushfires http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/3496128/two-men-and-two-women-among-fire-victims-two-more-feared-dead/ 2 May 2016 Esperance Express Fairfax Media 17 November 2015 1 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160601221915/http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/3496128/two-men-and-two-women-among-fire-victims-two-more-feared-dead/ deadButler Bruce le Messurier Danielle Esperance bushfire: Four dead in raging inferno http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/esperance-bushfire-four-dead-in-raging-inferno/news-story/00b758a5ee2b8c05c1d546bbbd09ca38 2 May 2016 PerthNow News Corp Australia 18 November 2015 Curnow was described in the media as a "hero" for his efforts to assist others, and his funeral was attended by up to four thousand people.Paddenburg Trevor Esperance bushfire: Fire hero Kym 'Freddy' Curnow, to be honoured at funeral on Friday http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia-bushfires/esperance-bushfire-fire-hero-kym-freddy-curnow-to-be-honoured-at-funeral-on-friday/news-story/813491c096e437d00c1a8ae8ac62daa7 6 May 2016 PerthNow News Corp Australia 4 December 2015 Structural damage The Cascades fire destroyed the Scaddan town hall, one house, 16 other non-residential structures and dozens of vehicles in the communities of Grass Patch, Salmon Gums and Scaddan.Legislative Council Western Australia Statement - Esperance Bushfires http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Hansard/hansard.nsf/0/2fe50c44fe7dbc6748257f4d000cae27/$FILE/C39+S1+20151126+p9043b-9044a.pdf 26 November 2015 David Grills MLC Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region 9043–9044 In addition, the Merivale fire destroyed two houses in Stockyard Creek. Roads and utilities infrastructure was also damaged within the fire ground; the destruction of 320 power poles and hundreds of kilometres of power lines caused a week long power outage for 400–500 residents in the region.Esperance bushfires: firefighters battle through the night http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/esperance-bushfire-raging-blaze-slows-as-community-grapples-with-loss-20151119-gl2nod.html 7 May 2016 WAtoday Fairfax Media 20 November 2015Pickles Saskia Esperance bushfire victims go solar https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Esperance-bushfire-victims-go-solar 6 May 2016 businessnews.com.au Business News 10 March 2016 The series of fires did not reach the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) threshold for insurance emergency because infrastructure losses were not particularly extensive.2015 Harvest of extremes https://grdc.com.au/Media-Centre/Ground-Cover/Ground-Cover-Issue-120-Jan-Feb-2016/2015-Harvest-of-extremes 7 May 2016 Grains Research and Development Corporation, Government of Australia 18 January 2016 2 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160602113153/https://grdc.com.au/Media-Centre/Ground-Cover/Ground-Cover-Issue-120-Jan-Feb-2016/2015-Harvest-of-extremes dead Agricultural damage The fires caused significant damage to rural produce and the harvest was delayed for at least a week as grains handler CBH Group closed its Esperance grain terminal and shut six grain storage sites. In some areas, the topsoil had reportedly been stripped, leaving nothing but sandy plains. Approximately 4,500 head of livestock died and 30000 ha of crop—constituting an estimated 500,000 tonnes of grain—were destroyed by both the fire and the strong north-westerly winds experienced on 17 November.January–February Australian Grain 25 5 50–52 http://ausgrain.com.au/Back%20Issues/255jfgrn16/255jfgrn16.pdf 6 May 2016 Greenmount Press Toowoomba, Queensland 4 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160604150319/http://ausgrain.com.au/Back%20Issues/255jfgrn16/255jfgrn16.pdf dead The winds resulted in significant yield loss due to pod shatter in canola and head lossHead loss is when the straw of plants may remain standing but breakage immediately under the head occurs and the heads fall to the ground, reducing grain yields.Hills Andrea Barley straw strength and head loss http://www.sepwa.org.au/projects/current-projects/24-dafwa-projects/33-barley-straw-strength-and-head-loss sepwa.org.au South East Premium Wheat Growers Association 6 May 2016 20 July 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190720143654/http://www.sepwa.org.au/projects/current-projects/24-dafwa-projects/33-barley-straw-strength-and-head-loss dead Note in both barley and wheat; barley head loss in the order of 1.5 to over 2 tonnes per hectare was observed in many areas of Esperance shire. A forecast yield of over 3 million tonnes was reduced to 2.5 million, with wheat comprising the majority of produce lost in the fires and winds; the destruction of produce is thought to have cost the region up to A$150 million.Curtis Niki EPZ Harvest Update SEPWA Newsletter December 2015 77 2 http://www.sepwa.org.au/sepwa-news/latest-sepwa-newsletter/sepwa-2015-newsletter?download=389:december-newsletter-2015 South East Premium Wheat Growers Association 6 May 2016May 2020 InternetArchiveBot yes Knowles Gabrielle Thompson Brad $150m lost to Esperance fire, wind https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/countryman/a/30178863/150m-harvest-lost-to-esperance-fire-wind/ 8 May 2016 The West Australian Yahoo7 24 November 2015 8 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160508213638/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/countryman/a/30178863/150m-harvest-lost-to-esperance-fire-wind/ dead A survey of the impacted area by a satellite that provides imagery to Landgate, revealed that 200,000 tonnes of vegetation from agricultural areas was removed by the fires. Further agricultural loss was expected in the coming harvests as a result of soil erosion; to mitigate the damage done, as soon as the remaining crops had been harvested, paddocks were scarified and barley and maize were sown as cover crops. Over 2000ha at point of harvest plantation blue gums were destroyed or damaged. Value $US 60 million. Major woodchip exporters in Australia will not purchase and export woodchips from fire damaged plantations.October 2020 Environmental damage The Cape Arid complex of fires destroyed significant areas—reportedly up to 90%—of the remaining Western Ground Parrot habitat within Cape Arid National Park. Much of the habitat had already been burned by a bushfire in Cape Arid National Park during October of the same year. Prior to the fires, there were believed to be only 140 individual parrots living in the wild, and the number was estimated to have been reduced to only 30–40 as a result of the damage caused by the fires. The widespread destruction of dense vegetation the ground-dwelling birds rely on for nesting prompted discussion that the critically endangered parrot could "... become the first bird in at least 200 years to become extinct in Western Australia". Two parrots—a male and a female—were rescued from the Cape Arid fire ground and taken to Perth Zoo for inclusion in a captive breeding program, however both birds died in captivity.Jorgensen Cari 90 Percent of Western Ground Parrot Habitat Destroyed By Fire In Australia http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-news/2015/12/03/90-percent-of-western-ground-parrot-habitat-destroyed-by-fire-in-australia-trending.aspx BirdChannel I-5 Publishing 6 May 2016 3 December 2015Shine Rhiannon Perth Zoo's western ground parrot breeding program suffers setback after death of two birds http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-06/rare-parrots-die-in-captivity/7070996 6 May 2016 ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 6 January 2016 Aid and relief On 21 November, the Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, and the Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, jointly announced that disaster assistance pursuant to the Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) had been activated for those affected by fire in the Shire of Esperance.Disaster assistance for bushfire affected communities in Esperance, Western Australia https://www.ministerjustice.gov.au/Mediareleases/Pages/2015/FourthQuarter/21-December-2015-Disaster-assistance-for-bushfire-affected-communities-in-Esperance-Western-Australia.aspx Minister for Justice, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counter-Terrorism Attorney-General's Department (Commonwealth of Australia) 6 May 2016 21 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183902/https://www.ministerjustice.gov.au/Mediareleases/Pages/2015/FourthQuarter/21-December-2015-Disaster-assistance-for-bushfire-affected-communities-in-Esperance-Western-Australia.aspx 3 March 2016 dead Victims were eligible for personal hardship and distress assistance, personal and financial counselling, interest rate subsidies for small businesses and primary producers, and freight subsidies for primary producers.WA—Esperance Bushfire (15 November 2015) http://www.disasterassist.gov.au/Currentdisasters/Pages/WA/WA-Esperance-Bushfire-15-November-2015.aspx Australian Government Disaster Assist Commonwealth of Australia 6 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160319223124/http://www.disasterassist.gov.au/Currentdisasters/Pages/WA/WA-Esperance-Bushfire-15-November-2015.aspx 19 March 2016 dead dmy-all The lord mayor of the City of Perth established a "Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund" to accept donations that would be distributed to the victims of the fires; donations to the fund included $250,000 from CBH Group, $100,000 from the WA state government, $25,000 from Bankwest, $25,000 from Aurizon, and $10,000 from the City of Bunbury.le Messurier Daniel Esperance bushfires: Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi opens Distress Relief Fund for affected families http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia-bushfires/esperance-bushfires-perth-lord-mayor-lisa-scaffidi-opens-distress-relief-fund-for-affected-families/news-story/28140d30e5a12c471cf92f21ddf050ce 6 May 2016 PerthNow News Corp Australia 20 November 2015City of Bunbury to donate $10k for Esperance fires http://www.bunburymail.com.au/story/3506541/city-of-bunbury-to-donate-10k-for-esperance-fires/ 6 May 2016 Esperance Express Fairfax Media 20 November 2015Aurizon donates $25,000 to the Esperance Fire Appeal https://www.aurizon.com.au/news/news/aurizon-donates25000-to-the-esperance-fire-appeal 6 May 2016 aurizon.com.au Aurizon 26 November 2015 Over A$1 million was raised by the appeal.Leach Daniel Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund update http://www.radiowest.com.au/esperance/news/fire-news/2016/lord-mayors-distress-relief-fund-update/ 6 May 2016 radiowest.com.au Radio West 13 January 2016 Criticism of authorities and subsequent incident reviews Following the fires, state and federal representatives, the community, and a review commissioned by the DFES identified shortcomings including, but not limited to; Failures of telecommunications and radio infrastructure. Issues surrounding fire mitigation and suppression, especially in the areas of resource allocation. Difficulty mobilizing and managing emergency and administrative staff in a remote area. Issues with staffing, organization and coordination, within and between, the DFES, DPAW, Department of Lands (DoL), Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades (BFB), Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS), local governments, and the public. Following the 2016 Waroona–Yarloop bushfire, the Government of Western Australia announced a public inquiry into the response to the Harvey-Waroona bushfire.A special inquiry pursuant to section 24H(2) and (3) of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 to examine the organisation and management of the bushfire in the Waroona area in January 2016. Euan Ferguson AFSM was appointed to undertake the role of Special Inquirer. NotePublic Inquiry in to January 2016 Waroona Fire - Terms of Reference https://publicsector.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/160119waroonafireterms_of_reference.pdf Public Sector Commission Government of Western Australia 7 May 2016 However, the Esperance bushfires were omitted from the terms of reference, prompting criticism from the Association of Volunteer Bushfire Brigades, the Emergency Services Volunteer Association, the State Emergency Services Volunteer Association and WA Farmers; the group of organizations issued a joint statement discussing serious concerns about the scope of the inquiry.Macmillan Jade Yarloop fire inquiry: Agencies 'disappointed' terms of reference omits Esperance bushfires http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-21/concerns-raised-over-scope-of-yarloop-bushfire-inquiry/7105066 7 May 2016 ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 21 January 2016 A Major Incident Report (MIR) was, however, compiled by the consultancy firm Nous Group for the DFES and released on 8 March 2016.Nous Group 2016 1–68 Telecommunications and radio Mobile phone reception in the communities impacted by the fires was poor before the fires, and added pressure on the network during the emergency caused significant issues, including motorists being unaware of the risks in certain areas and inadvertently driving into the paths of the fires.Tomlin Sam Fears State Government's bushfire inquiry will overlook key issues from Esperance fires http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-22/esperance-concerns-over-government-bushfire-inquiry/7108160 7 May 2016 ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 22 January 2016 Numerous property owners described only being notified after the fire had passed through their properties, and the reliance on word-of-mouth communication is thought to have contributed to the death of Curnow, who died while driving to inform others of the Cascades fire.Paddenburg Trevor Esperance farewell fire hero Kym 'Freddy' Curnow http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/esperance-farewell-fire-hero-kym-freddy-curnow/news-story/0efe3e22939c86d479893ad4b7c5fd32 7 May 2016 PerthNow News Corp Australia 4 December 2015 During the morning power outage in the Cascades fire zone, twenty-one Telstra sites—four mobile phone towers and seventeen exchange and connectivity points—switched to battery power; the batteries were designed to last eight hours before being replaced by generators, however Telstra staff could not access the sites because of road blocks, resulting in a lack of mobile coverage for hours or days in some areas.Sas Nick Thompson Brad Phone problems in fire zone 'risked lives' https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/30146543/phone-problems-in-fire-zone-risked-lives/ 7 May 2016 The West Australian Yahoo7 20 November 2015 10 October 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161010163020/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/30146543/phone-problems-in-fire-zone-risked-lives/ dead Due to the failure of the Cascades radio repeater, reliable radio communications could not be ensured during the response to the fire.Nous Group 2016 50 An absence of portable or back–up repeaters meant there was no redundancy in the radio infrastructure system of the Esperance region, and therefore no workarounds available in the event of infrastructure not being functional. These failures were compounded by radio congestion. Esperance shire had two channel systems intended for use during incidents; the BFB network and the DFES command network, however the DFES command network was not able to be used during the initial days of the incident, or 17 November major runs by the fires, due to a faulty antenna. In response to the failures during the fires, the construction of two mobile phone towers—in the Grass Patch and Salmon Gums townships respectively—was expedited by the Shire of Esperance in early December 2015.Parker Basil Local Recovery Committee Newsletter 15 December 2015 Shire of Esperance http://www.esperance.wa.gov.au/cproot/3077/3/Newsletter%20-%20Shire%20of%20Esperance%20Local%20Recovery%20Committee%20-%20Second%20Edition.pdf 6 May 2016 Infrastructure and Buildings https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191239/http://www.esperance.wa.gov.au/cproot/3077/3/Newsletter%20-%20Shire%20of%20Esperance%20Local%20Recovery%20Committee%20-%20Second%20Edition.pdf 3 March 2016 dead The electorate of O'Connor, in which the impacted communities are located, also received up to A$54 million as part of a federal mobile blackspots program.As part of "Round 1" of the Mobile Black Spot Programme, the Commonwealth Government committed A$100 million, supplemented by A$32 million from the Government of Western Australia, to deliver 499 new and upgraded mobile base stations across Australia; 130 of which were in WA.Hon. Tony Abbott MP Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP Hon. Paul Fletcher MP Mobile Black Spot Programme to deliver almost 500 new or upgraded base stations with total investment of $385 million http://www.minister.communications.gov.au/malcolm_turnbull/news/mobile_black_spot_programme_to_deliver_almost_500_new_or_upgraded_base_stations_with_total_investment_of_$385_million Ministers for the Department of Communications and the Arts Commonwealth Government 7 May 2016 25 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20160507183818/http://www.minister.communications.gov.au/malcolm_turnbull/news/mobile_black_spot_programme_to_deliver_almost_500_new_or_upgraded_base_stations_with_total_investment_of_$385_million 7 May 2016 dead NoteEsperance bushfires: Malcolm Turnbull flags better telco coverage http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/esperance-bushfires-malcolm-turnbull-flags-better-telco-coverage-20151209-glj4se.html 7 May 2016 WAtoday AAP Fairfax Media 9 December 2015 Fire mitigation Following the fires, access to unallocated crown land (UCL) and reserves to perform bushfire mitigation emerged as a key issue for local landholders, who sought the ability to prepare and maintain permanent firebreaks in bushland bordering farming properties. At the time of the fires, the DoL had administrative responsibility for UCL and Unmanaged Reserves in Western Australia, however fire mitigation, such as hazard reduction burning, was performed by the DFES within townsites and performed by the DPAW outside townsites, excluding locals from access to assist and manage fuel loads.Nous Group 2016 45–46 In 2014–15, statewide funding for the DoL to undertake fire mitigation, weed and feral animal control, and harvesting of flora and forest produce was approximately A$1.5 million, of which around A$1 million was spent on fire–related activities. During the same period, DPAW conducted prescribed burns across 147082 ha in the South-West region, well below their target of 200000 ha.Anderson Alyesha Esperance fires: Green, crops toll stands out in satellite images http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia-bushfires/esperance-fires-green-crops-toll-stands-out-in-satellite-images/news-story/c9a582cc363a449fb06420359ae8c5d1 7 May 2016 PerthNow News Corp Australia 22 November 2015 Fuel age in the areas burned by the Merivale fire was estimated to be about seven years, as a result of a number of prescribed burns since 2000, however the fuel age of the UCL burned in the Cascades fire was estimated to be significantly older, at up to 20 years.Nous Group 2016 47 As part of its fire mitigation strategy in 2009–10, DPAW had performed scrub rolling and burning of pre-existing buffers at the interface of UCL where the Cascades fire ignited and private property. However, constraints on time and resources meant that only 5 km of the interface was burned, of which a mere 1 km turned out to be in the eventual path of the fire.Nous Group 2016 49 The authority of farmers to clear and manage land—particularly areas designated UCL—was a "... contentious issue" in the Esperance area, and several landholders were prosecuted for clearing land in contravention the state regulations. Landholders offered to enter the UCL where the Cascades fire ignited and use graders to contain the fire before the catastrophic conditions on 17 November, however the regulations and administrative bureaucracy concerning UCL prevented them from doing so.Martin Lucy WA Premier says now is not the time for blame as bushfire-affected residents return home ABC Radio "PM" Australian Broadcasting Corporation 20 November 2015 18:25:41 http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2015/s4356548.htm 6 May 2016Esperance farmers blame bushfires on red tape http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/3524254/esperance-farmers-raise-concerns-over-future-bushfires/ 7 May 2016 Esperance Express Fairfax Media 28 November 2015 2 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160602113555/http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/3524254/esperance-farmers-raise-concerns-over-future-bushfires/ dead Mick Fels, the WA Farmers Esperance-Ravensthorpe zone president and an Esperance-area farmer whose property borders a reserve, described to the ABC his experience advocating for "... two or three years, at every level, to get DPAW to put a firebreak against [his] boundary fence ..." however his efforts were "... unsuccessful".Tomlin Sam Better land access for bushfire management on the cards for WA http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-01/better-land-access-for-bushfire-mitigation-on-the-cards-for-wa/7291930 7 May 2016 ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1 April 2016 Fels hoped to see firebreak control and fuel reduction responsibilities transferred from DPAW and DFES, and back to local communities. The fuel load on private property before the fires was described as "... enormous", with wheat crops ranging from 4–5 tonnes per hectare; Esperance-region families who had been "... farming this land for more than 100 years" described the 2015 harvest as "... the best crop ever."Quick thinking saved couple's lives http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/quick-thinking-saved-couples-lives/2748560.aspx?storypage=0 7 May 2016 farmweekly.com.au Fairfax Media 26 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20160507184423/http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/quick-thinking-saved-couples-lives/2748560.aspx?storypage=0 7 May 2016 dead The yields marked a great increase from the 2 tonnes per hectare considered a "good crop" in the Esperance-region decades prior, and the Major Incident Report noted; Changes in farming practices in the Esperance region have resulted in more widespread and higher yield cropping areas, creating higher fuel loads across a larger area prior to harvest.Nous Group 2016 10 Fire suppression thumb|A Hino 2.4 Rural Tanker, one of the models used by Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades in rural Western Australia At least 200 firefighters and volunteers from the BFB, DFES, DPAW, and VFRS assisted in fighting the fires during their 12-day duration. However, during the period of 15–17 November—immediately following the ignition of the fire and during its major run—only 4 DFES, DPAW and local government staff were on Incident Management Team (IMT) tasked with managing numerous brigades under the principles of the Australasian Inter–service Incident Management System (AIIMS).Nous Group 2016 34 The chronic lack of IMT personnel in the Great Southern region in which Esperance is situated—only 18 DFES staff to manage 239 volunteer brigades and other emergency services units—is thought to have increased risk during the fires.Nous Group 2016 26–27 Mark Wandel, a local farmer, described traveling 30–40 km with other farmers to establish fire breaks and not witnessing "... any fire services people all day", stressing his concerns that fire authorities were "... stretched to the max". Particular criticism from the community was reserved for the decisions surrounding the usage of aerial firefighting assets, such as helicopters and fixed-wing water-bombing aircraft. During a grievance debate on 7 April 2016, Dr. Graham Gibson Jacobs MP introduced before the WA Legislative Assembly his concerns about resource allocation, with particular focus on the absence of aerial support and the decision by the state operations centre that the Esperance area did not require additional resources in the face of the catastrophic conditions on 17 November. Aerial assistance for firefighters did not arrive until 18 November, as all available aerial assets—two fixed-wing water bombing aircraft—were deployed some 470 km away in Albany in preparation for catastrophic conditions in that area of the region.Nous Group 2016 29–31 A pair of fixed-wing "crop spraying" agricultural aircraft operated by private contractors in the Esperance area were offered for aerial support suppression tasking; officially, regulatory constraints and contract management capacity prohibited their deployment.Nous Group 2016 30 Comments by Liam Bartlett, printed in a 29 November PerthNow article, suggest that pilots may have been "... more than ready to take to the skies ..." however the pilots were "... threatened with a loss of license if they flew near the blaze ..." and therefore were not able to not assist. The nearest airstrip to the Cascades foreground was 50 km south in Esperance township, and the MIR publication cast doubt over whether aerial suppression would have been effective in controlling the run of the Cascades fire in catastrophic conditions. In addition, during a statement to the Commonwealth Senate on 25 November 2015, Hon. Senator Christopher Back discussed "... questions as to whether personnel were able to go into crown land reserves after the lightning strike had started the fires." The senator stated there was "... never a circumstance in which volunteer brigade members could not go into crown land owned by the Commonwealth to suppress, fight and mitigate major fires if life and property are at risk." Recommendations Although the MIR found that the fires were "broadly well managed" in the context of the challenging conditions, intensity of the fires and competing resource demands across the state, there were a number of examples of firefighting effort being "compromised" by organizational failures.Nous Group 2016 55Mercer Daniel Bumper crops lift fire risk https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/regional/goldfields/a/31209349/esperance-bushfire-report-finds-bigger-crops-worsen-risk/ 8 May 2016 The West Australian Yahoo7 29 March 2016 9 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160509044527/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/regional/goldfields/a/31209349/esperance-bushfire-report-finds-bigger-crops-worsen-risk/ dead An absence of protocols and discipline in the usage of the BFB radio channel, compounded by infrastructure constraints; Personnel had to book air time or break in over the top of communications, which often consisted of idle conversation between teams.Nous Group 2016 51 The reliance on a physical "T card" system—not a digital system that automatically updates (such as GPS)—to map resources on the fire ground; movements of crews on the fireground must be communicated back to the control point to enable the placement of T cards to be updated, and therefore is susceptible to failure when communication is limited. A failure to appreciate the value of local knowledge about terrain, infrastructure and typical fire behaviour; a situation was reported where vehicles became bogged in areas known locally to be a risk and the inappropriate placement of control points and road blocks without consideration for the locally-known flow of road trains, resulting in the vehicles having great difficulty turning around.Nous Group 2016 53–54 See also Western Australia Bushfires in Australia List of Australian bushfire seasons List of disasters in Australia by death toll Notes Note References 30em Bibliography Monthly Weather Review - Australia; October 2015 http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/mwr/aus/mwr-aus-201510.pdf bom.gov.au 2015a Bureau of Meteorology Melbourne, Victoria Commonwealth of Australia Monthly Weather Review - Australia; November 2015 http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/mwr/aus/mwr-aus-201511.pdf bom.gov.au 2015b Bureau of Meteorology Melbourne, Victoria Commonwealth of Australia Major Incident Review of the Esperance District fires 8 March 2016 dfes.wa.gov.au Department of Fire and Emergency Services http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/publications/MajorIncidentReports/DFES-MIR-Esperance-District-Fires-Final-Report-March-2016.pdf Nous Group Perth, Western Australia expanded Esperance bushfires Esperance bushfires Esperance 2015 Bushfires 2015