Outgoing Queensland fire chief exaggerated state's bushfire preparedness
The ABC can reveal Queensland's fire chief, who resigned yesterday, mistakenly exaggerated the state's bushfire preparedness at a press conference last month. It comes as concerns are raised about just how ready Queensland is for fires ahead of summer.
Transcript
00:00 In the heat of the moment, Queensland's fire chief got it wrong.
00:05 Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has assisted with over 530 hazard mitigation burns this year.
00:11 The ABC can reveal that on September 19th, Commissioner Greg Leach mistakenly provided this incorrect assessment of the state of play.
00:19 He conflated hazard reduction burns with vegetation slashing and advertising campaign figures as mitigation strategies.
00:28 In fact, just 418 preparative burns had been done.
00:33 QFES says the incorrect figure was provided at short notice and rejected any suggestion that the Commissioner deliberately misled the public.
00:41 Commissioner Leach will leave the role at the end of the month, after three years, to take up a job in Victoria.
00:47 The resignation came the day before this story was due to air, but the government and Commissioner say the two are not connected.
00:55 It comes as concerns are raised about Queensland's bushfire readiness in state-owned land.
01:00 The percentage of land they own, they don't burn enough of that country or look after enough of it.
01:07 In 2020, Ian Pyke called for authorities to reduce their reliance on unpaid brigades to carry out hazard reduction burns in a submission to the Bushfire Royal Commission.
01:19 Not to rely on volunteer fire brigades to supply cheap labour and equipment, he wrote.
01:25 Mr Pyke says nothing has changed in Queensland and he's concerned it could put volunteers at risk over summer.
01:32 Putting a truck in some of these tracks is just dangerous.
01:35 The Environment Department says it has already burned 5% of 13 million hectares of public land, exceeding its target.
01:43 As rural brigades grapple with a volunteer shortage, there's concern nearly 90 replacement trucks won't arrive before bushfire season.
01:52 The truck behind will probably be 24-year-old before it's replaced. It's out of date. Pumps are not up to scratch, starting to wear.
02:00 Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan says the fire trucks are under construction, but could still be 18 months away.
02:08 [BLANK_AUDIO]