Tasmania Fire Service
TFS conduct, and issue fire permits for land owners to conduct, planned burns.
The TFS can issue any number of permits to burn without knowledge of air quality. In doing
so population health is not considered.
These burns are in addition to major burns conducted around the state by the the Forest Industries (government and private), Parks and Wildlife, and councils.
Outside the Fire Permit Period, burns are no longer counted as 'permit burns.' The TFS encourages all burns over 2 ha to be registered with them so they can avoid unnecessary call outs. These burns are known as 'registered burns.' Registration is not compulsory and it would seem there is no maximum size a burn can be. Registration can be current for months.
Although TFS claim, "Consideration should be given to environmental,
social, and health concerns" and acknowledge, "Fire can have an
impact on air quality" ( TFS- Fire Managing the Risk) these sanctioned burns
do contribute much smoke to our airsheds.
TFS are members of the Smoke Management Working Group and they know this smoke is just as
harmful as any other source of smoke.
Every year this smoke is allowed to continue, people are affected for life and
will have their lives shortened.
"The present results provide a plausible mechanism for the increased
cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality that epidemiological studies have associated with
air pollution from biomass smoke inhalation." -
http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/32/1/129.full?ijkey=l1lo7JZW4ACOw&keytype=ref&siteid=ersjnls
Lets take a look at the above logos which apear together on the TFS website:
Tasmania Fire Service - Encourage burning in preference to cleaner smoke-free methods for
fuel reduction.
Parks and Wildlife- Conduct large scale planned burning.
Tourism - It is ok to burn as long as you hide it when major tourism events are taking
place.
Forestry Tasmania - Conduct major planned burns.
Forest Industries Association -Conduct major planned burns.
Asthma Foundation - Standing side-by-side with the burners. Refuse to
lobby on behalf of asthmatics.
Woodsmoke - Inflamatory response for Fire Fighters
Fire
fighters most at risk of coronary death because of particle pollution
Read how a firebug yearned to be on a fire truck