In the lead up to Tasmania's bushfire season, preparation and training is critical for our state's firefighters.
More than 200 Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) personnel attended a series of Fire Preparedness Days held across the state to help prepare fire crews and incident management teams for the season ahead.
The training involved updates on policy and procedures, refreshers in equipment operation, briefing our Incident Management Teams (IMT) with expectations for the upcoming season.
University of Tasmania and The Bureau of Meteorology also provided detailed presentations throughout the day.
Physical conditioning is tested annually with a pack hike test, which involved PWS staff completing one of three challenges: a moderate 3.22km walk carrying 11.3kg in 30 minutes, a modified arduous 4.83km walk carrying 15.4kg in 45 minutes, or an arduous 4.83km walk carrying 20.4kg in under 45 minutes.
PWS staff kicking off the Fire Preparedness Day with a pack hike test
State Fire Manager for PWS Katy Edwards said training is critical in the lead up to the fire season to ensure everyone is prepared for when we get the call.
“Each year PWS undertakes a range of bushfire preparedness activities including recruitment of seasonal firefighters, planned burning, attending training courses, updating fire policies and procedures, ensuring equipment is maintained and ready for use, staff medical and fitness assessment, and other seasonal activities including implementing campfire bans.
“We thank all our staff for their work and dedication over the 2024-2025 fire season in which approximately 100,000ha was impacted by bushfire, and for their continued work preparing for the fire season ahead.
“To stay safe during the fire season, we ask the public to keep up to date with the latest safety alerts and road closures on the Tas Alert website. If you're planning a walk in an area where there is forecast high/extreme fire danger, you should rethink and reschedule your walk.
“To help minimise the risk of devastating bushfires, we have campfire bans which are implemented as the conditions dry out and we ask visitors to heed local signage and not to light campfires when we have these bans are in place.
“Our best chance of stopping uncontrollable bushfires when conditions are elevated is to stop ignitions. We ask the public and our staff to be prepared and to stay safe."
Fire Crew Manager John Duggan, Fire Operations Manager Richard Dakin and State Fire Manager Katy Edwards at the 2025 Fire Preparedness Day held in Launceston
PWS is responsible for managing over three million hectares of reserve land and continues to focus on preparedness, early detection and rapid response as key elements in its fire management strategy.
Know before you go and keep up to date with current alerts on the TasAlert website.
Reserve and track closures can be found on the PWS website.