FOLLOWING the release of the Pinery fire findings reports commissioned by the state government, those affected by the fires remain optimistic.
Two independent reviews into the November 2015 bushfire – which claimed two lives and left a damage bill of more than $75 million – analysed the operational response of the SA Country Fire Service and the SA Government Radio Network.
Noetic Solutions and Mingara Australasia reviewed the operational response and identified areas for improvement, including fitting trucks with burnover technology at a cost of $9.3m and the bolstering of volunteer training with the introduction of nine full-time training positions, both initiatives the CFS has commenced.
Sally Fritz and her family live north of Hamley Bridge.
They were lucky to save their house as the fire engulfed neighbouring properties within a 5-kilometre radius, only losing a eight hectare pea crop.
Mrs Fritz was adamant each CFS volunteer needed to be intensely trained.
“Everyone fighting a fire needs to be prepared and trained,” she said.
“A lot of the CFS trucks are under equipped, but looking through the reports I cross my fingers they’ll follow through with the funding they’ve promised.”
Mrs Fritz’s daughters Ashleigh, 22, and Rebecca, 19, both volunteer at the Owen CFS, and were involved with fighting the Pinery fires that destroyed 82,500 hectares.
“I am happy to pay my emergency services levy as long as I know my girls will be safe on the CFS trucks,” she said.
The government pledged $940,000 across four years to fund specialised training and support for SAGRN agency operators.
Mrs Fritz was pleased.
“We had messages going to Mallala when it should have been going to Hamley Bridge, 45 minutes between contact is just not good enough. I am surprised there wasn’t more deaths,” she said.
“As for how it started, I know there’s a lot of hoo-ha about it, nobody is to blame.
“It was a freak event and there was nothing you could do to prevent it.
“This year everyone will be prepared.”
