The Role of PWS
The role of the Parks and Wildlife Service in fire management
The Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) manages a range of reserved lands that include national parks, regional reserves, conservation areas and Crown Land.
Fire management plans are prepared for some individual reserves, and strategic plans are prepared for each PWS region. These plans identify the natural and cultural values of the areas, assets requiring protection and resources within and nearby the reserve that can help in fire suppression. Plans also identify strategies to protect neighbouring settlements and towns.
Prescribed burning the deliberate use of fire under specific fuel and weather conditions to achieve management objectives as identified in the fire management plans. Prescribed burning is an important management tool designed to maintain biodiversity and to reduce the risk posed to natural and human assets by wildfire. Prescribed burns are usually carried out during spring or autumn. Current planned burns are available on our web site.
In Tasmania, there is an agreement between the three key fire management authorities, the Parks and Wildlife Service, Forestry Tasmania and the Tasmania Fire Service, to coordinate management of inter-agency responses for Level 3 fires. Level 3 bushfires are fires that are large, complex, muli-tenure incidents. View the Inter-agency Fire Management Protocol. (PDF 2090 Kb)
These large, complex incidents are managed jointly by the Muli-Agency Coordinating group (MAC) which includes representatives from each agency. Bushfires are managed by Incident Management Teams under the internationally recognised Incident Control System (ICS).
The MAC group promotes the compatibility and standardisation of fire management equipment and procedures and organises joint training programs.
Parks and Wildlife Service staff also participate in fire management area committees that are organised by the Tasmania Fire Service.
The Parks and Wildlife Service has a range of fire management specialists including fire management officers for each region around the State. Other specialists' roles include research into fire behaviour and maintaining equipment and radio communications.
A specialist seasonal fire crew is recruited each year to help staff with fire fighting throughout the summer season.
The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service is also a member of the Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) and the federally funded Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre.
Fire Management Plans
Fire management plans are available in our publications section.