From ABC
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-10/p ... rn/6533250The Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) has admitted staff were unaware of a walker or walking tracks when they lit fuel reduction fires in the state's north-west in May.
PWS is considering recommendations for future burns procedures after a terrified bushwalker was caught within metres of smoke and flames.
Lee Evans, an experienced bushwalker, was caught in fuel reduction burns at Mount Edith in early May this year, when a helicopter began firebombing the area.
Her car was parked at the beginning of the walk.
PWS operations director Mark Bryce said in this case parks staff were not aware of any routes or tracks in the area, and that was why no signage was erected.
PWS has now investigated the incident and reviewed its fuel reduction burn procedures.
Service recommendations to minimise the risk of bushwalkers being caught near a planned burn include helicopter checking of nearby roads for parked cars.
Fuel reduction burns would then be postponed if there was a reasonable chance people may be in the burn area.
Fire safeguards under consideration
Helicopter surveillance procedure requiring the checking of nearby roads for parked cars
Police check for personal location beacons operating in the area
Text messages to residents in the area
Fire information to media and stakeholders 24 hours before ignition
Updating bushwalker safety publications
Track postings up to two weeks before a burn
Ms Evans said it appeared some good would come out of her frightening experience.
"I was unlucky to get caught like that, but the only major blunders Parks made were ignoring the car and not doing a proper aerial survey ... both of which are issues they've addressed," she said.
"And they're doing the right thing trying to educate the public about the burn-offs and how to behave around fires."
Mr Bryce said there had always been a risk of this type of incident, and with the planned increase in the number of burns this risk would have increased.
But he said he was hopeful improvements to PWS procedures would significantly reduce the risk.
Mr Bryce said the incident was a serious and regrettable one, but the first of its kind in more than 20 years of low-intensity burns.
PWS general manager Peter Mooney said the investigation found that standard procedures were followed, but that other procedures could be implemented in the future to maximise visitor safety, particularly for burns in remote areas.