Volunteers blame wildlife department for bushfires on WA’s south coast

Farmers along the southern coast of Western Australia are pointing fingers at decades of mismanagement by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions (DBCA), blaming it for the devastating bushfires that ravaged over 200,000 hectares of bushland last month. The fires, initially ignited by dry lightning storms, triggered emergency responses that spanned Southern WA.

Amanda Giles, whose family farm borders Dunn Rock Nature Reserve, witnessed the destruction caused by a fire that tore through 43,000 hectares of bushland. Just 100km south, the Fitzgerald River National Park was engulfed by a second fire, scorching approximately 173,000 hectares and decimating a significant portion of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The aftermath of these fires was traumatic, with wildlife perishing and landscapes left ravaged. Volunteer firefighters, like Amanda Giles, attended a debrief session and expressed frustration at the accumulation of fuel within the reserves. The lack of prescribed burning and maintenance of access tracks within the park made firefighting efforts arduous and ineffective.

Veteran firefighter John Iffla, a Bremer Bay farmer, emphasized the necessity of maintaining access tracks and implementing mosaic-style burning to prevent such widespread devastation. Farmers emphasized the need for a more proactive approach to fire management, suggesting that if they were given the responsibility, they could handle mitigation and fire management more effectively.

The frustration with DBCA’s management was compounded by the reliance on volunteers to respond to fires in the area. Additionally, the lack of funding, resources, and staffing within DBCA highlighted a systemic failure in the management of bushfire risks. Farmers and local firefighters called for an independent review of DBCA’s fire mitigation strategy and expressed the need for more resources and support from the government to prevent future catastrophic fires.

In response to criticisms, DBCA stated that prescribed burning was used “where appropriate” and acknowledged the need for improved fire management strategies. However, farmers like John Iffla continue to advocate for more proactive measures and increased community involvement in fire mitigation efforts.

Overall, the bushfires that ravaged the southern coast of WA have shed light on the urgent need for better fire management practices, adequate funding, more resources, and enhanced community involvement to prevent future disasters. Residents and farmers are hopeful that their voices will be heard, and meaningful changes will be implemented to protect lives, wildlife, and landscapes from the destructive impact of bushfires.