John O’Donnell As outlined in NC State University (2022) Prescribed Burn Associations, 7 January: A Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) is a group of landowners and other interested citizens that form a partnership to conduct prescribed burns. Association members pool their
February 09, 2024 – 6:26PM Sky News host Steve Price has slammed activists using the 15th anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfire disaster to promote renewable energy, calling it a “pathetic insult” to the victims of the tragedy. A group
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/in-2021-this-cancer-charity-passed-on-just-9-per-cent-of-donations-directly-to-hospitals-and-families-20240122-p5ez54.html By Max Maddison January 27, 2024 — 5.00am A charitable foundation that claims “100% of all donations” go towards supporting children with cancer and their families passed on just 23 per cent of the $56 million in contributions over
After some thoughtful consideration and speaking with members this case paralells a volunteer case early 2023. That case was openly put out on a blog as well as other cases when volunteers have appeared in court. The point of republishing
Opinion Piece John O’Donnell – January 2024 Increased costs of living is a very big issue across Australia and continues to increase. A key ABS document provides valuable information in regards to increasing Living Cost Indexes (LCI) and CPI: https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/living-costs-rising-fastest-employee-households#:~:text=Living%20costs%20for%20employee%20households,Bureau%20of%20Statistics%20(ABS). Increasing
John O’Donnell The NSW Rural Fire Service 2022/2023 Annual Report is now on the web with the link below: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/resources/publications/annual-reports The annual report notes there are a number of achievements. Hazard reduction burning and mechanical removal totalled 90,089 hectares for
Prescribed burning programs are at very low levels in all states except WA, often of the order of 1-2 % of forested areas per year. The current inadequate prescribed burning policy and implementation environment reinforces a shift towards more widespread high intensity fire regimes in the same areas where prescribed fires are restricted.
From time to time, we receive letters from members on many and varied topics that are of a concern to them. This open letter to the Commissioner highlights their objective view on the RFS Reconciliation Action Plan. The opinions expressed
Opinion piece by John O’Donnell It is the author’s belief that many of the forested fire grounds across south eastern Australia are way too dangerous to fight bushfires and for firefighter safety. To be frank, we as a society have
It is the author’s belief that Australia is not adequately prepared for upcoming bushfires. To be frank we as a society have learnt very little following the disastrous bushfires in 2019/20, especially in regards to bushfire mitigation, and communities, firefighters and the ecosystems are highly exposed over the coming El Nino periods. Disaster and insurance costs are going up every year and will continue to go up with current adapted approaches.