BFAC Special Meeting

Media Release | Thursday, 26 November 2020

The Capel Shire Council has called a special meeting of its Bushfire Advisory Committee (BFAC) to assess and provide advice to Council on the report of a Shire inquiry into an incident at a fire near Boyanup in October during which a fire officer sustained a serious burn to her hand.

The report is due to be handed to councillors within days and Council last night instructed its BFAC to meet within 14 days to consider the report and its findings.

The inquiry deals with the reasons for delays in getting an ambulance to the scene to take the injured firefighter to Bunbury Regional Hospital. The incident occurred during a small bushfire north of Boyanup on October 25.

Shire President Cr Michael Southwell said any injury to fire-fighting personnel was a matter of concern and Council was keen to establish if procedures and protocols needed to be improved to ensure prompt medical attention was available in future.

“On behalf of Council, I apologise to the person concerned if there was anything which could have been done better in terms of first aid and response to the incident,” he said.

“I understand all medical expenses will be covered by our insurance arrangements.”

ENDS

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