Released 18/12/2017
While most Canberrans will be spending time with family and friends over the Christmas period, dedicated staff from ACT Parks and Conservation will be helping to keep Canberra safe by staffing the ACT’s four fire towers over summer.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage Mick Gentleman said the fire towers play an important role in helping detect bush fires in Canberra’s most at-risk areas.
“The ACT’s four fire towers – located at One Tree Hill, Kowen Forest, Mt Coree and Mt Tennent – help pinpoint the exact location of bushfires as they start so firefighting crews can be deployed to the area as quickly as possible.
“They also provide valuable information about fire behaviour to ensure the right resources are deployed to the right area. In addition, they routinely record weather observations, such as temperature and wind,” Minister Gentleman said.
Minister Gentleman said the history of the fire towers in the ACT was fascinating.
“There were significant fires in Canberra in 1939, and as a result ACT Forests (which is now ACT Parks and Conservation) set up the Bushfire Council and a series of fire towers were established by 1940.
“Various fire towers have come and gone in the years that followed, such as at Mt McDonald, Pierces Creek and Mt Stromlo, as the nature of Canberra has changed. More recently the tower at One Tree Hill was installed to give Canberra thorough coverage,” Minister Gentleman said.
“Parks and conservation Service staff are responsible for delivering the eye in the sky duties for the fire towers through to 30 March 2018 under contract from the Rural Fire Service.
“Under the contract Parks and Conservation staff will report back to the Rural Fire Service. The towers are typically staffed from midday to 6 pm for all high fire danger days.
“I thank the team from ACT Parks and Conservation, as well as our emergency services personnel, for their continuing hard work in keeping Canberra safe over these summer months,” Minister Gentleman concluded.
- Statement ends -
Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases