Day 14 of the 2018 Reedy Swamp/ Tathra bushfire coronial inquiry has heard there were failures at a management level to recognise the possible devastating impacts embers could have on homes and property on the day of the fire.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Geoff Conway from the Advisory Committee on Firefighters Presumptive Rights told the inquiry he agreed telephone transcripts from the day of the fire exposed gaps in the intelligence involved in responding to the fire.
The March 18, 2018, fire destroyed 65 homes, 35 caravans and cabins and damaged further 48 homes in and around Tathra, displacing 700 residents and visitors.
Deputy State Coroner Elaine Truscott said concerns from firefighters on the ground about the potential impact of embers from the fire were not fully recognised by incident management teams in both Bega and Sydney on the day.
READ MORE
- 'Oh my god it's jumped': Tathra bushfire inquiry told embers moved twice as far as predicted
- Inquiry told bushfire evacuations risky in 'one road in, one road out' coastal towns
- 'This is no joke': Tathra bushfire coronial inquiry hears concerns over warning alert levels
- Firefighters faced 'mayhem' and fire predictions were inaccurate, bushfire coronial inquiry told
- Tathra bushfire inquiry: Scoper admits he 'missed a few trees' and firefighter questioned backburns
The inquiry had earlier heard NSW Rural Fire Service manager of the Far South Coast team Superintendent John Cullen received a 15 second phone call from fire behaviour analyst David Philp around 1.30pm describing the possibility of the fire moving towards Tathra.
However, the information was not reflected in later situation reports or alert levels.
"There's a huge amount occupying the mind of the incident controller," Mr Conway said, describing the "immense pressure" faced on the day.
Mr Conway told the inquiry information provided from firefighters including fire ground manager David Lucas was "critically important" in fighting the blaze, adding the "high-stress fire" has become an important case study in helping understand the challenges involved in gathering intelligence and analysing it quickly and effectively.
READ MORE
- Coronial inquiry hears government contractors were aware of 'many' missed bushfire hazards
- Coronial inquiry hears regulator had been critical of Essential Energy bushfire risk management
- Employee warned Essential Energy of 'impending fire situation', bushfire inquiry told
- Tathra bushfire inquiry day three wrap: Harrowing eye-witness account of 'whirling vortex'
- Tathra bushfire inquiry told dead trees infested with termites likely caused devastating 2018 blaze
- 'Did I miss something?': Inquiry hears investigator's theory did not match witness accounts
He told the inquiry satellite and airborne technology could better analyse information in real-time, and worst case scenario planning should be improved.
He said firefighting agencies should have an increased focus on simulation training involving the multiple agencies involved in tackling blazes.
Under the guidance of Deputy State Coroner Truscott, the three-week long inquiry is investigating the origin and cause of the fire, as well as the management of energy infrastructure, the management of fuel loads before the fire and the response of emergency services.
The fire burned through 1300 hectares of forest, causing $63.5million worth of damage.
The inquiry concludes on Friday, August 21.
