Bush Fire Risk Management Planning

Community Participation

Department of Lands, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Integral Energy, Rural Fire Service, Nature Conservation Council, RFS Volunteers

Rural Lands Protection Board, NSW Fire Brigade, Forests NSW, Farmers Association, RailCorp, Roads and Traffic Authority, Police, Aboriginal Land Council

What is Bush Fire Risk Management?

• Fire is a natural part of the Australian landscape.

• Bush fire risk is the chance of a bush fire igniting, spreading and causing damage to valuable community assets

• Bush fire risk management identifies areas or assets that are at risk from bush fire. It then develops preventative strategies or actions to minimise the potential impact.

• Bush fire risk management requires a coordinated approach between Government agencies, landowners, managers and community groups.

Prepare your own property!

• The work an individual does to prepare their property is a critical component of bush fire management.

• No matter what broader strategic

measures are taken, if your property

is not prepared, then embers will

find somewhere to land and cause

spot fires.

• Consider:

- Maintaining an Asset Protection Zone

- Developing a Bush Fire Survival Plan

What is a Bush Fire Management Committee?

• A Bushfire Management Committee (BFMC) consists of a range of stakeholders such as landholders, land managers, fire authorities and community organisations.

• The BFMC provides a forum for cooperative and coordinated bushfire management in a local area.

• BFMCs are responsible for preparing, coordinating, reviewing and monitoring the Plan of Operations and the Bush Fire Risk Management Plan for their area.

Rural Lands Protection Board, NSW Fire Brigade, Forests NSW, Farmers Association, RailCorp, Roads and Traffic Authority, Police, Aboriginal Land Council

Department of Lands, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Integral Energy, Rural Fire Service, Nature Conservation Council, RFS Volunteers

What Are Bush Fire Risk Management Plans?

• Bush fire management is more than just firefighting and hazard reduction, although these are important elements.

• A Bush Fire Risk Management Plan is a detailed document that:

- Maps and describes the bush fire hazards and bush fire issues in the area

- Identifies assets at risk- Analyses the level of risk to each asset- Develops and prioritizes treatment strategies to mitigate

the risk to assets

The Bush Fire Risk Management Planning Process

Identify Risks

Bush Fire Issues• Climatic conditions

• Smoke Management

• Bush Fire History

• Bush Fire Ignition Patterns

Identify Bush Fire Hazards• A bush fire hazard is bushland, grassland or any other area

which affects the potential severity of a bush fire.

• Hazards are determined by:

- vegetation

- slope

• Hazard Ratings:

- Low

- Moderate

- High

- Very High

Identify Assets

• Human Settlement

• Economic

• Environmental

• Cultural

• Some assets may require Special Fire Protection (nursing homes, schools, hospitals etc.)

Analyse and Evaluate Risks• A risk assessment process is used to decide which assets are

most at risk

• The process considers: Likelihood- chance of a fire occurring (ignition and spread) Consequence- the vulnerability of the asset

• The following factors are used to assess the consequence:

- Human life and health- Preparedness- Resilience- Distance of vegetation from asset- Fire Threshold- Level of impact

• Likelihood and consequence ratings are used to evaluate the risk rating of an asset

• Assets are classified into the following risk categories:

- Insignificant

- Low

- Medium

- High

- Extreme

Treat Risks• Treatments are prioritized depending on risk ratings

• Treatment options:- Avoid the risk- Reduce the likelihood- Reduce the consequence- Share the risk- Retain the risk

• A treatment plan is prepared

• Land owners/managers are responsible for treatment strategies

Community involvement; Have your say…

• What are your bush fire management issues and concerns?

• What places, buildings, environments do you think are important?

• What bush fire risk rating you think should apply to those assets?

• What bush fire treatment strategy should be in place for those assets?

• Your knowledge and experience of fire history and fire paths