PANEL: An Enhanced National Fire Danger Rating System for Australia – where are we now? — ASN Events
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  3. PANEL: An Enhanced National Fire Danger Rating System for Australia – where are we now?

PANEL: An Enhanced National Fire Danger Rating System for Australia – where are we now? (#80)

Joe Buffone PSM 1 , Simon Heemstra 2 , John Bally 3 , Michael Rumsewicz 4 , Liam Fogarty 5
  1. Emergency Management Victoria, Melbourne, VIC
  2. NSW Rural Fire Service, Granville, NSW
  3. Bureau of Meteorology, Docklands, VIC
  4. Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, Adelaide, SA
  5. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, East Melbourne, VIC

In July 2014, all state and territory governments, and the Commonwealth, agreed that a new National Fire Danger Rating System is a national priority.  Phase 1 work has begun on

·         a national statement of functional requirements,

·         the identification of scientific readiness and gaps,

·         a map to manage the system, and

·         indicative costs for a new Australian system.  

The intention of a new system is to incorporate contemporary science that more accurately predicts bushfire risk. This includes factors for fire weather, fuel condition, ignition likelihood, fire behaviour, fire suppression and fire impact. The Phase I project is being funded through the National Emergency Management Projects (NEMP) grants program.

This panel session will update the sector on progress of the Phase 1 project and planned activity being undertaken to develop a new Fire Danger Ratings System for Australia. 

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