Fire crew training for Traditional Owners and rangers in Central Australia
A group of 10 Traditional Owners, 3 Park Rangers and one CLC joint management officer completed accredited fire crew member training with north Australia Bushfire Solutions in mid-June.
The training was provided as part of the Australian Government funded priority places project ‘Threat abatement in the MacDonnell Ranges for threatened fauna and flora’.
Training included a range of theory and practice with participants using rake hoes, drip torches and fire units to conduct a controlled burn at Simpsons Gap.
The 4 days of training will enable participants to engage in prescribed burning and wildfire response on jointly managed parks estate and Aboriginal Land Trust. Units of competency included:
- prepare, maintain and test response equipment
- assist with prescribed burning
- respond to wildfire
- prevent injury
- operate communications systems and equipment
- work in a team.
The strategic fire management component of the priority places project involves broad-scale aerial burning to protect key threatened species locations, and fine-scale on-ground burning to improve habitat condition for the Central Rock-rat and other threatened species.
Participants were nominated for the training at fire planning workshops held by Parks and Wildlife earlier in the year.
It was excellent to see participants sharing their experiences and knowledge of fire, while formalising their skills and expertise.
