Chase National Park, New South Wales, June 2000

Mount Ku-Ring-Gai bushfire, 2000

Quick Statistics

4 Fatalities
3 Injured

On 7-8 June 2000, seven National Park Wildlife Service officers took part in a routine control burn at Chase National Park, Mount Ku-ring-gai (north of Sydney), to reduce the risk of bushfire damage to nearby residential properties.

Conditions for the operation were optimal – but on 8 June, the fire suddenly flared out of control.

The fire trapped and killed three officers. The other four were seriously injured; one later died in hospital. 

A Coronial Inquiry began on Monday 16 July 2001; the Coroner gave her findings on Friday 14 December 2001. The Coroner made 17 recommendations, including:

  • implementing a more stringent control burn planning process
  • providing of staff with better equipment, communications and knowledge of topographical conditions.

Sources

New South Wales Government, Environment and Heritage, ‘Summary of the Coroner’s findings (14 December 2001)’, website viewed 14 November 2012.
New South Wales Government, Environment and Heritage, Mt Kuring-gai Coronial Inquiry, website viewed 13 November 2012.