Research leads to funding in NSW

Fire & Rescue NSW have recently received over a million dollars in funding to implement recommendations from Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC research.

Following the October 2013 Blue Mountains bushfires Fire & Rescue NSW asked the CRC to examine the effectiveness of Community Fire Units. The research report, by Dr Kat Haynes and Dr Deanne Bird, was published in August this year. Based on this research, Fire & Rescue NSW have now received $1.375 million to upgrade equipment for all 600 CFUs, as well develop a smartphone app.

Radios will be rolled out to all Units, along with equipment such as 25mm hoses, additional pumps and nozzles. The smartphone app will better alert CFU volunteers to fire activity in their area, as well as include mapping information and other handy functions.

In NSW, CFUs are teams of local residents living in urban areas close to bushland who are supported by Fire & Rescue NSW to enhance their safety and resilience to bushfires. Volunteer CFU members learn how to prepare themselves, their family and their home for bushfire, including how to make informed decisions about whether to leave early or stay and defend when fire threatens.