FESA Model Bush Fire Management Plan E

1 bush fire and Environmental Protection BranchJune 2010 Model bush FireManagement PlanBush fire and Environmental Protection BranchJune 2010 Model bush fire Management PLANM odel bush fire Management Plan1. Introduction .. 42. Aim .. 43. Objectives .. 54. Description of the Area .. 6 General .. 6 Climate .. 6 Topography .. 6 bush fi re fuels .. 6 Land use .. 6 Assets .. 6 Access .. 6 Water supply .. 65. bush fire .. 7 bush fi re history .. 7 bush fi re risk .. 7 bush fi re hazard .. 7 bush fi re threat.

2 7 Summary of bush fi re potential issues .. 76. fire Mitigation Strategies .. 8 Hazard Management .. 8 bush fi re risk Management .. 8 Future development .. 9 Access and strategic fi re breaks .. 9 Public education and community awareness .. 9 fire safer areas .. 9 Assessment of fi re Management strategies .. 107. Appendix .. 11 Maps .. 11 Works program .. 11 Guidelines, specifi cations and minimum standards .. 11 Glossary .. 11 References .. 11 Model bush fire Management PLAN41. IntroductionThe purpose of the plan is to provide guidance for the planning and Management of the potential bush fi re threat in specifi ed areas.

3 These areas can be a single dwelling, a farm, a subdivision, settlement, town site or local government area. This Model has been developed to assist with bush fi re planning by providing a guiding a guide, the plan should include a general background ( include the scope of plan and the area the plan covers).The following points may also be considered and addressed in the plan : What can be achieved by applying this plan ? The need for each individual landholder to protect his or her property. The fact that fi re appliances may not be available to protect each following factors should be specifi ed to ensure that the plan remains up to date: A time limit for any update of the plan (this may be every year). A time limit for the revision of the plan (this may be every 5 years). The authority responsible for the AimThe aim of the plan should be clearly stated.

4 It is suggested that the aim of a fire Management plan is to reduce the occurrence of, and minimise the impact of bush fi res, thereby reducing the threat to life, property and the environment. In addition, a bush fire Management plan is used to document fi re prevention requirements of any bush fire Management PLAN53. ObjectivesThe following is a list of achievable and measurable goals for the plan . Examples are as follows. Defi ne areas where values are is closely related to land use such as urban, special rural, plantations, crops, industrial assets. Defi ne and rank fi re hazard relates to different fuel types and loadings and to fl ammability of fuels. Nominate individuals and organisations responsible for fi re Management and associated works within the area of the plan ( local government for land within its area of jurisdiction and private property owners for freehold land).

5 Propose fi re Management strategies for all land with due regard for life, property and the environment. Defi ne an assessment procedure which will evaluate the effectiveness and impact of proposed, as well as existing fi re prevention work and strategies. Provide performance criteria and acceptable solutions for all fi re Management may include performance criteria and acceptable solutions for fi re breaks or low fuel areas; building construction standards; maximum compartment size in a plantation; or minimum equipment levels during harvesting or burning off operations. Minimum standards may be included in the Appendix and should not compromise those accepted by FESA fire bush fire Management PLAN64. Description of the GeneralA general overview of the area that describes the physical, social and cultural features of the ClimateGrowing season, rainfall, length of fi re season, worst fi re weather conditions and/or wind direction, and frequency of TopographyA description of the topography of the area ( fl at, undulating, steep, broken up by river systems, etc).

6 bush fi re fuelsA description of the vegetation types and Land useA general overview of different land uses within the area ( rural, plantations, public land, national parks, special rural, urban). A map of the whole area of the fi re Management plan showing the different land uses is required. Specifi c erosion problems may also be highlighted in this AssetsA general overview of the location of assets within the area of the plan . This may include town sites; subdivisions; construction standards for housing in bush fi re prone areas; historical sites; aboriginal cultural sites; plantations, cropping areas or bush areas of high conservation value. A map may be AccessA description of the type and quality of roads ( two-way, two-wheel drive or one-way, four-wheel drive). Natural barriers should be noted ( rivers, swamps, large bush areas, dieback and sand ridges).

7 Water supplyA description of the water sources available both domestic irrigation and external water sources ( hydrants, rivers, water points, tanks). Model bush fire Management PLAN75. bush bush fi re historyA general description of bush fi res which have occurred in the past and the damage they caused. List the reason why the bush fi res were eventually extinguished ( change to milder weather conditions, fi re fi ghting effort along a low fuel buffer, nothing left to burn). This may give valuable background information. Major fi re events from some decades ago should be included. Furthermore, a list of causes and a map of the locations, sizes and shapes of bush fi res, possibly covering the last 5 to 10 years, may provide valuable information on the fi re problem in the bush fi re riskBush fi re risk is a concept used to describe the likelihood of harmful consequences arising from the interaction of hazards, community and the bush fi re hazardA hazard is a potential or existing condition that may cause harm to people or damage property or the bush fi re threatThreat is the product of risk and hazard.

8 fire threat is greatest where the likelihood of fi res starting is high and where bush fi re fuels are adjacent to property or other Summary of bush fi re potential issuesSummarise items to above to give an overview of the potential bush fi re issues in the area. This may be achieved by preparing overlays for bush fi re history, bush fi re risk, and bush fi re hazard and placing them over the base map of the area. Overlays may not be required in all cases, particularly when the frequency of fi re is low. In some cases, overlays may be produced for the whole area as well as for specifi c high risk areas to give more bush fire Management PLAN86. fire Mitigation StrategiesAny action or work proposed within each subsection may be highlighted. It should also be included in the works Hazard managementThis sections addresses fuel Management within each different land use ( urban, rural and public land).

9 Priority should be given to areas adjacent to life and property as a minimum requirement. Low fuel building protection buffers at least 20m wide around individual dwellings should be considered as should an appropriate hazard separation zone of up to Management may also address fi re breaks or strategic fi re breaks and low fuel buffers, especially around assets or areas where numerous fi res have occurred in the is important that hazard Management programs undertaken by different organisations within the area of the plan complement each other. This should also apply to district or farm fi re protection plans, where these have been drawn up. Hazard Management may recommend or specify areas suitable or not suitable for section also defi nes requirements for inspections and possible work orders and infringement notices where required.

10 It also lists the individuals or authorities responsible and the time frame for fi re prevention works and bush fi re risk managementThis section relates to previous fi re causes and likely fi re causes. The aim is to reduce the number of fi res occurring and to reduce the impact of those that do occur. For example, issues which could be addressed may include: Restrictions on the use of machinery ( vehicle movement on very high or higher fi re danger days). Restrictions on the use of reserves and national parks on very high or higher fi re danger days. Requirements to have fi re fi ghting equipment ( extinguisher, fi re appliances) on site during operations which are likely to start a fi re (angle grinder, harvesting, burning off refuse sites). Installation of gas barbecues where campfi res may be a problem. Public education/community awareness (see ).