During October 2017, District 2 Bushfire Instructor Brett Wagstaff and Les Vearing (DELWP State Fire Investigation and Training Coordinator) travelled to Hobart to conduct a bushfire investigation course on behalf of the Tasmanian Fire Service.
There were 14 course participants who were taught using a combination of lectures, small group work, classroom discussion and practical burning activities.
At this course, participants were provided specialist training and practical skills in:
- determining the origin, cause and path of bushfires.
- fire investigation procedures
- burn and char patterns in grass and forest
- demonstration of fire spread and burn and char patterns
- fire investigation report writing
As part of the course, participants were involved in a number of live fire investigation activities. This involved the participants identifying burn indicators to successfully determine the area of origin and fire cause.
Article prepared by Bushfire Instructor Brett Wagstaff.