May all FOGG’s members join with me in congratulating Graham on his recent promotion as well as his upgrades in qualifications especially Grade 3 Fire Incident Controller. A big responsibility under the present climate.
Not so good is my concern re Fire Management and my concern that undue pressure is being placed on the District’s Fire Management Teams by the upper Political Management personnel who want to hood-wink the public into believing that they are doing something to reduce the fire dangers, – “the Public Must See Smoke” to prove that something is being done.
Local Managers State-wide are being pushed to light protective, fuel reduction and regeneration burns even when there is a very high likelihood that there could be ember escapes over the control lines.
When these escapes happen (three so far this season) it is the local DSE managers and crew that take the flack and blame, not those who push for the burns to commence early. Let them stand up and be a man and take responsibility.
Last week, a lady who I did not think was conservation – minded said to me “Victoria will no longer be the Garden Sate but the Ashened State”.
I believe in a controlled burn programme but with logical purposes not whims.
Stan Parfett