27 September 2025
Nick Duigan, Minister for Parks
In the lead up to Tasmania’s bushfire season, more than 200 Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service fire personnel have attended Fire Preparedness Days across the state.
Minister for Parks, Nick Duigan, said preparation and training is critical for all staff involved in fire management activities to ensure a safe working environment and protect the public.
“The training involved refreshers on practices such as leadership and equipment operation, as well as updates on policy and procedures. Presentations from the University of Tasmania and The Bureau of Meteorology were also provided,” Minister Duigan said.
“Physical strength and endurance were also assessed with a pack hike test.
“I congratulate them for their work in ensuring preparedness ahead of each fire season.
“I commend all fire personnel at PWS who are responsible for managing more than three million hectares of land and continue to focus on early detection and rapid response as key elements in its fire management strategy.”
The Tasmanian Government has supported PWS fire crews by investing $600,000 over two years to upgrade their firefighting units. These units were recently delivered.
“We are delivering for Tasmania by enhancing preparations for the upcoming fire season with 34 redesigned next-generation mobile firefighting units which have recently been constructed,” Minister Duigan said.
“The new replacement units have been delivered and installed around the State from Huonville to Arthur River to St Helens, including Flinders and Bruny Islands."
State Fire Manager for PWS Katy Edwards said training is critical in the lead up to the fire season.
“Each year Parks undertakes a range of bushfire preparedness activities including recruitment of seasonal firefighters, fuel reduction burning, conducting training courses and staff fire preparedness days recently, updating fire policies and procedures, ensuring equipment is maintained and ready for use, staff medical and fitness assessment, and other seasonal activities including implementing campfire restrictions,” Ms Edwards said.
“The public can help us during the fire season by keeping up to date with the latest safety alerts on the PWS website.
"When there’s a high fire danger day, ensuring you are prepared is critical and also check the upcoming weather reports.
"If you’re planning a walk in an area where there is forecast high fire danger, you may need to rethink and reschedule your walk.
“We also have campfire bans which are implemented as the conditions dry out and we ask people not to light campfires when we have these restrictions in place.
“We just want the public and our staff to be prepared and to stay safe.”
For the latest safety alerts, visit the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service website.