New technology delivered for bushfire season

New technology delivered for bushfire season Queensland families are now better protected against the threat of bushfires thanks to the addition of three new aircraft and improved aerial imagery and mapping technology for the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Air Operations fleet.

Premier Campbell Newman and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Jack Dempsey announced a doubling of QFES’ aerial fighting capabilities during bushfire season.

Queensland firefighters will also, for the first time, have an aerial live-streamed view of fires using cutting edge technology which will help saves lives and property.

"The CanDo LNP Government is achieving real results and safer communities by investing in nation-leading frontline technology for our firefighters,” Mr Newman said.

“For the first time, QFES will have three specialist fixed wing firefighting aircraft on standby at Meandarra, west of Dalby, as part of its firefighting artillery, which is a doubling of our fleet.

“This increase in resources will mean firefighters in the west – the driest area of this State – will experience a great improvement in their aerial fighting capability.

“We delivered the first budget over $500 million for fire services in Queensland and we are using the record budget to invest in lifesaving technology.

"Previously, when dealing with large fires, aerial observers had to report over radios to incident commanders which lacked critical detail for units on the ground.

"The LNP has invested in live streaming technology which provides vision from aircraft directly to commanders on the ground on an iPad and in the State Operations Centre allowing quick action to save life and property.”

Minister Jack Dempsey said QFES would also be equipped with cutting edge mapping technology for the 2014-15 bushfire season.

“Queenslanders know that during an emergency, seconds count, and we are equipping firefighters with the technology to provide faster responses,” Mr Dempsey said.

“The LNP Government has commenced the roll out of a digital mapping app that allows urban and rural firefighters access to vital information via their iPad or iPhone.

“The new application provides access to vital maps to plan back-burning or operational responses to bushfires anywhere, at any time.”

QFES Commissioner Lee Johnson said with the addition of the new contract, the fire service had now engaged six aircraft this fire season through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC).

"Our Air Observers and Air Attack Supervisors have already been hard at work this bushfire season conducting aerial attack and reconnaissance from the Eurocopter AS355 Twin Squirrel and water bombing from two Bell 214B Super Hueys,” Mr Johnson said.

“This capability will be replicated in the west as crews utilise the three fixed-wing aircraft based at Meandarra.

"The effectiveness of this capability was demonstrated at Ripley (south of Ipswich) last month, when another fire broke out within close proximity to a major fire that had burnt for 12 days through the Greenbank Army Reserve.

"The use of this technology and the strong support of both aerial and ground firefighting crews saw this fire contained rapidly and extinguished quickly.”

Queenslanders seeking more information on how to better prepare for bushfire season or volunteering with Rural Fire Service Queensland can visit www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au

[ENDS] 2 November 2014

Media Contacts: Premier’s Office: 3719 7000

Minister Dempsey’s office: Andrew Kos 0408 912 821