Ageing population hinders firefighting efforts
A former CSIRO fire scientist has warned that an ageing population could hamper future fire fighting efforts.
Phil Cheney, who contributed much of the current official science on prescribed burning to prevent and contain bushfires, says that the lack of a trained professional force to fight bush fires in Australia is the greatest future worry with fires.
In a recent article in The Australian which looked at burning fuel to cut fire hazards, he said that volunteer fire fighting services were originally brought together to protect communities, and should not have to go and fight fires on public land.
He said there were already problems getting volunteers. The volunteer force was ageing, while fighting fires on the front line was a job for the young.
