Ben was one of a 6-person delegation from Australian and New Zealand learning about international fire management practices and sharing Australian experiences. The tour included stops in Los Angeles, Oregon, and Toronto.
The study tour began with an acclimation day in Los Angeles, where the group explored iconic landmarks like Hollywood Boulevard and Venice Beach. The official tour kicked off at the Angeles National Forest Headquarters, where Ben was able to meet with representatives from the Mexican Forest and Fire Service, CONAFOR. Discussions highlighted the challenges of climate change, fuel management, fire suppression, and resource management.
The group also met with the Angeles National Forest Chief Fire Officer and his staff, who provided insights into recent fires, including the Bridge Fire, which burned 32,000 acres in a single day. A particular focus was on the challenges of dealing with interface fires in areas with large populations. The firefighters learned about evacuation procedures and the varying responsibilities of different fire agencies.
A visit to an active incident management team base camp and staging area where an incident commander with over 25 years under his belt reflected on his experiences was a highlight.
The last day in Los Angeles involved a visit to the LA County Fire Department, where the group took a tour of a fire depot, heliport, and heavy machinery base. The impressive fleet of aircraft and equipment was also a highlight of the visit.
Next, in Oregon topics of conversation included Multi Agency Coordination, which drew similarities to Victoria, prescribed burning and the complexities of managing smoke impacts and fire response focussing on aviation.
The highlight was the Redmond airtanker base which also was home to a hot shot crew, smoke jumpers, dispatch centre and an Altona style warehouse.
Next, in the Canadian province of Ontario, the focus was firefighter health and wellbeing, fire response and resource prioritisation, aviation and staff retention issues.
The highlight was the impressive agency owned fleet of nine CL- 415 water bombing aircraft and the hangers and mechanics who maintain them. The group felt extremely privileged to try the purpose-built flight simulator which was one of only 2 in the world.
Ben is eager to learn more about North American fire management practices, “I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of the study tour – I've learnt so much that will influence the way that I think about fire management now and into the future.”
Page last updated: 27/11/24