NSW: NPWS fire deaths coronial report due today

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2001
NSW: NPWS fire deaths coronial report due today

SYDNEY, Dec 14 AAP - The findings of a coronial inquest into the deaths of four National
Parks and Wildlife Service officers who became trapped during a routine backburn operation
will be handed down today.

Two men and a woman died on June 8 last year after the bushfire hazard reduction backburn
at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in Sydney's north went horribly wrong.

Another man died two months later as a result of severe burns and three other colleagues
were critically injured in the blaze.

Westmead Coroner's Court examined evidence about the tragedy earlier this year and
Deputy State Coroner Jan Stevenson will deliver her findings later this morning.

The coroner heard evidence that staff were not properly trained and did not have adequate
fireproof clothing or communications equipment.

The court also heard that maps used for the backburn were grossly inadequate.

AAP gmw/sal/las

KEYWORD: BACKBURN

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.