- Bushfire Seasonal Forecast
- Australian National Fire Statistics
- AFAC Glossaries
- SES National Performance Indicators
Bushfire Seasonal Forecast
It is possible in early Spring each year to make a forecast on the bushfire conditions that are likely in the coming Summer. This was discovered as part of a research project undertaken by the Bureau of Meteorology for the Bushfire CRC.
The predictions are based on the existing rainfalls deficits, the predicted Spring rains and the experience of fire experts.
The potential for fires that are more sever than the local resources can combat the threshold level for recognising above normal fire conditions.
Australian National Fire Statistics
The National Database of fire statistics was created in 1997 as a central repository for incident data collected by a number of Australian fire services using the Australian Incident Reporting System (AIRS).
Statistics derived from the national database are used to make decisions and guide choices by a range of government and industry stakeholders as well as AFAC members and fire services around the world. For example, the data is used in compiling the fire services contribution to the Australian Government Productivity Commission’s annual Report on Government Services.
The AFAC Data Management Group is responsible to sustain the production and currency of the AFAC national database and support the continued development of data requirements to ensure consistent and reliable methods of data collection, compilation and analysis can be applied throughout member agencies.
NSW Fire Brigades is the custodian of the national database and as such takes responsibility for collection and management of the data on behalf of AFAC.
The National Database currently contains around 2.5 million incidents records from contributing fire services.
AFAC Glossaries
Glossary terms have been developed to promote an exchange of information between member agencies in the area of metropolitan, urban and rural fire suppression, land management and associated activities. These have been developed through a process of national consultation with AFAC members.
The purpose of the various Glossaries is to seek to facilitate a greater understanding between agencies and support organisations during the prevention of, preparedness for, response to and recovery from various incidents.
The Glossaries include technical terms, their definition or description as adopted and applied by the AFAC member agencies. It also includes some terms that are of a general industry-wide nature for completeness.
SES National Performance Indicators
The Australian Council of State and Territory SES agencies (ACSES) have identified a need for nationally consistent performance indicators. In 2007 funding was obtained through the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund to develop a set of performance indicators.
The indicators developed as part of this project and presented are a first step towards gap identification and alignment of performance reporting on the activities provided by S/TES in supporting the communities they serve in time of flood, storm, cyclone or other emergencies.
These performance indicators have been developed by a working party formed by ACSES. It has drawn on the framework used for the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services within the Emergency Management framework of Prevention/Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery (PPRR).
These indicators will be useful to each S/TES, State and Australian Governments, the public, volunteers and staff and the media to highlight the cost effective contribution that is made to communities in times of need.
