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February 23rd, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda AAP
A series of blunders by Western Australia’s overstretched Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) led to the disastrous Margaret River bushfire, a special inquiry has found.
Releasing the results of his two-month investigation on Thursday, former federal police commissioner Mick Keelty said there was “no smoking gun” and no one person to blame for the fierce blaze that destroyed more than 40 properties in WA’s southwest region in November.
However, his report was scathing of the DEC’s role in the fiasco – from its handling of the prescribed burn that started the bushfire, to its delayed and confused emergency response.
It said the department had ignored high winds and temperatures when it conducted the initial burn, had failed to understand the seriousness of the blaze, was slow to act, and did not take advantage of volunteer fire brigades with local knowledge of the area.
The report said it was only the quick thinking of local volunteers which prevented an even bigger disaster, as the fire threatened the popular tourist town of Margaret River, about 270km south of Perth.
“Volunteer bushfire brigades were instrumental in preventing the loss of further houses, with some of the view more homes could have been saved if the response to the fires had been better managed and resourced,” the report stated.
WA Premier Colin Barnett said his government took full responsibility for the fire and offered up to $190,000 compensation to those affected by it.
“As premier, I apologise to all those people whose homes or property were lost or destroyed by the fire,” he said, adding the government would implement all 10 recommendations of the Keelty report.
Environment Minister Bill Marmion announced an immediate halt to prescribed burns in populated areas and said he would establish an Office of Bushfire Risk Management that would assess all prescribed burns and the level of resources available should they flare out of control.
He said he had already asked DEC director general Keiran McNamara to “immediately prepare a comprehensive implementation plan for Mr Keelty’s 10 recommendations, and an urgent review of the department’s risk-management practices as they relate to prescribed burning”.
Fire and Emergency Services Authority chief executive Wayne Gregson said authorities would look at ways of working more closely with local volunteer firefighters.
“This is about making sure volunteers are adequately and appropriately equipped and trained to respond (to bushfires),” he said.
But while the government response to the Keelty report appeared to be swift, it also raised questions about the culture within the DEC.
The report noted the DEC’s slow and uncoordinated response to the fire “raises questions about the attraction and retention of staff”.
“The constant turnover of DEC staff, the need to work long hours and drive long distances between centres and areas of operation during prescribed burns may have a detrimental effect on the judgment and performance of some DEC staff,” it said.
Mr Marmion deflected criticism of Mr McNamara, and said the DEC director would remain in his position to oversee the changes at his department.
Labor Opposition leader Mark McGowan called on the government to reveal whether it had denied requests for additional resources to the DEC, which could have helped it cope better.
He said forcing those affected by the fires to seek civil action if the $190,000 offer wasn’t enough was a “heartless approach”.
Garrath and Marjorie Stewart, who lost their home in the fire, said they were underinsured by $550,000 and $190,000 was not enough to cover their losses.
“If the government accepts it’s to blame for the fire, then the government should accept liability for all losses,” Mr Stewart said.
“Heads should also roll at the top of (DEC) – it’s not good enough.”
Margaret River Shire chief executive Gary Evershed said a lot of local people would be angry over the report laying the blame solely with the DEC.
“I’d imagine there will be some anger amongst people and others will be going through various stages of a grieving process – the release of the report will bring back some of those memories,” he said.
Slater Gordon released a statement saying the legal firm had 70 affected people on record who had asked it to look at possible legal action against the government.
“Whilst the government’s offer of up to $190,000 in compensation is welcome, we believe it is grossly inadequate,” litigation general manager James Higgins said.
“Many property owners are likely to be left with losses many times the maximum amount available under the scheme.”
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