Bushfire evacuation decision support system use in incident management training

In preparation for the 2021–22 summer bushfire season, approximately 60 emergency management specialists from 20 different emergency response and support agencies came together at the Geelong Incident Control Centre in an Incident Management Team (IMT) training exercise. The aim was to plan the response to a mock scenario bushfire threatening coastal townships and summer traffic on the Great Ocean Road within the Surf Coast Shire of Victoria. The scenario was set in realtime, and it tested the IMT’s evacuation decision-making under pressure on a severe fire-danger day. When deciding on evacuation, an IMT Incident Controller considers impact and community preparedness and resourcing often within a limited timeframe in a rapidonset event. The Controller should only recommend evacuation when it is expected to offer better protection for the community than other options and can be achieved without endangering response agency personnel.