A case study in folly #5: Firestorm of incompetence – what Yankees Gap says about modern fire management
It’s time to return to a model where prevention isn’t a seasonal checkbox or an afterthought, and land management isn’t a sideshow. Fires like Yankees Gap should be front-page scandals, not just for the damage they cause, but also for what they reveal about how badly we’ve lost our way.
Building resilience fosters growth
An event that promotes community support and resilience, especially for those affected by loss and hardship since the 2019-20 bushfires, will be held later this month ... One of the main speakers for the 2025 event is James Greenshields who was born in Corryong and raised south of Seymour. He is a former Australian Army Officer with 17 years of service including leading more than 100 soldiers in Iraq and navigating the profound personal challenges that followed.
Assessment of the impacts of large, severe and intense bushfires across South East Australia: John O’Donnell
John O'Donnell continues his research into bushfire impacts and preparation ... We are not passive victims of climate. We are active contributors to disaster. And we can change it. It is time for governments at all levels to acknowledge this reality and commit to genuine, large-scale fire mitigation, in policy, in funding and on the ground.
Cotton truck fires keep emergency service busy
Emergency services have been kept on alert, responding to cotton truck fires in the region. On Thursday local crews attended a fire on the Cobb Highway, adjacent to Hay Airport, where a truck carrying cotton modules caught alight.
Forestry Corporation firefighters from Tumut and Deniliquin join international Canada deployment: Forestry Corporation of NSW
Forestry Corporation firefighters from Tumut and Deniliquin will deploy to Canada this week to reinforce local and international crews battling ongoing wildfires, where close to five million hectares have been burnt, approximately 150 wildfires remain active, and multiple communities have been evacuated.
New tourism campaign calls on locals: “YOU” are the reason
A new campaign is calling on locals across the Grampians and Wimmera Mallee to help support the region's bushfire recovery by doing something simple but powerful – inviting their friends and family to visit. Launched on July 6, the YOU campaign reminds locals that, sometimes, the most impactful thing you can do is extend a personal invitation.
Katter calls for State to back piston-engine helicopters in disaster response: Katter
Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter, is calling for urgent reform to Queensland’s disaster management policy to formally recognise and financially support the vital role of piston-engine helicopters—particularly during major fire and flood emergencies in rural and remote communities.
Fire love
After the morning fog cleared away, the skies were clear on Saturday 21 June for the Maldon in Winter Bonfire which was even bigger and brighter than last year in every way. A packed train brought hundreds of visitors — many of them families with children — to excitedly walk across from the railway station and through to the back of the Machinery Museum.
Fresh faces and new energy at Nhill Fire Brigade
"There's a real buzz around the station right now," said one senior member. "We've got experienced volunteers, new recruits, updated equipment, and great community support. With our new management team stepping in, the future looks bright."
“No Go Cubico” rally
Woomelang was a sight to behold last Thursday June 12, as vehicles, farm machinery, fire trucks and an extensive range of protest signs and banners lined the streets to mark Cubico Sustainable Investments’ first public visit to the district. The “No Go Cubico” rally, organised by dozens of unwilling neighbours to the proposed Curyo Wind Farm…
Town and city bushfire protection case studies from Australia and the US: John O’Donnell
John O'Donnell presents an analysis of town and city bushfire protection case studies where prescribed burning and other adaptive management and mitigation have assisted in restricting bushfire impacts on communities across Australia and the United States. His extensive review covers some 25 Australian and nine US fires.
Park pioneer returns for launch
A former Cudgewa man responsible for the early development of the Bluff Falls tourist area had the honour of re-opening the facility on Sunday after restoration work following the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires. Bill Carkeek (90) travelled from Numurkah for the event and spoke of his memories of those early works.
Country needs trees to survive
Rachel Hagan. Despite recent weather bringing a small amount of some much-needed rain, Nharangga fire practitioner Peter Turner says it's not just water the trees on Yorke Peninsula need to thrive. Two years of drought has had a huge effect on YP's trees, with many already dead and the rest struggling to stay alive with limited water.
Historic reserve burn complete
Various local environmental groups including Friends of Maldon Historic Reserve ... have been consulting with Fire Forestry Management (FFM) staff since 2022 in regard to the planned burn near the Railway Track in the Maldon Historic Reserve ... Concerns were raised about how the fire might impact flora and fauna in the burn and surrounding areas.
Active management the only way to reduce risk: Tony Bartlett
Dr Tony Bartlett. The claims in my critique of research published by academics David Lindenmayer, Philip Zylstra and others are not demonstrably false and do not misrepresent scientific evidence. They are based on my own very considerable experience in forest management as well as careful consideration of both their research and the much wider body of Australian bushfire science ... There is a very strong body of existing knowledge about forest fire management in Australia, much of which is based on decades of on-ground research trials and the analysis of outcomes from major bushfires.
‘We’ll dump tax hike’
The Liberals and Nationals will scrap Labor’s Emergency Services Property Levy (ESVF), Member for Benambra, Bill Tilley, vowed at a rally on the steps of Parliament House ... “Labor’s new levy has doubled or even tripled charges for property owners across the state with primary producers hit hardest and facing rate hikes of up to 150 per cent."
Nhill Fire Brigade celebrates arrival of two new emergency vehicles
Nhill Fire Brigade raised an incredible amount of funds for two vital appliances: a new light tanker and the replacement forward command vehicle were officially handed over to Nhill Fire Brigade in Nhill by D17 ACFO Chris Eagle on Sunday 18th May 2025.
Old fire practices rekindled in new Clarence Valley firefighting partnership
The Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation is collaborating with Forestry Corporation to integrate cultural burning with government bushfire management. This partnership aims to enhance the community's resilience to major bushfires and improve land management practices on Yaegl Country.
Question: What do cultural burns do?
Jenny Dwyer. Broaden your understanding of Cultural Burns to reduce exotic weed, promote native ground cover and increase drought tolerance.
Firefighter Memorial honours fallen heroes
Hundreds gathered at the Victorian Emergency Services Memorial in Treasury Gardens on May 4, to honour firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Each year, CFA holds a memorial service to remember those firefighters who gave their lives to protect others and to honour the personal sacrifices and commitment our firefighters make each and every day.
Supporting Grampians recovery: Better access to walks
If you’re headed to the Grampians, finding your way to iconic walks from the Halls Gap township is now even easier. Budja Budja is the latest trailhead that has recently opened in the heart of town, linking it to the world-class Grampians Peaks Trail and other popular walking tracks in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.
Young Gillenbah recruits great addition to fire fighting ranks
Sean Cunningham. The Gillenbah Rural Fire Service recently celebrated a major win as five new recruits officially joined the ranks after successfully completing their final Bush Fire Fighting assessments ... Training, which is conducted over a couple of months, covered all the basics from how to draught water from a dam or the town's reticulated supply (main water lines), to pump operation and crew protection under extreme fire conditions.
