Planning for bushfires. How to reduce the impacts of a bushfire on your property.

Jenny Dewing, Yarri Farm and Kangaroo Gully Bushfire Brigade.

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Setting the scene:

A 2016 publication from the Climate Institute of Australia recently examined common statements about bushfires and climate change.

Importantly for landholders here the following facts were highlighted

• Extreme fire weather has increased and the fire season has lengthened, across large parts of Australia. This means that the fire season pushes into both spring and autumn.

• For southwest Western Australia the number of days per year with severe fire danger weather is  projected to nearly double by 2090 under higher global warming scenarios.

So we can expect our properties to be threatened and impacted by fire. It’s not if but when.

 

 

Threats to your property in the event of a bushfire.

• Understanding fire behaviour. Slopes and hills. There are plenty of these around Bridgetown.

• Native vegetation such as bush, creeklines and the Blackwood River foreshore. Different vegetation types burn at different temperatures.

• Pasture and grass fires

• Managing stock in a fire

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Assets that you have or can develop

• A fire fighting water supply including fittings, access and pumps

• Other firefighting equipment

• Roads, Fire tracks, grade banks etc What roads, tracks, driveways, dams and other low fuel areas that could act as fire breaks do you already have?  Fire-breaks or low fuel area will not necessarily STOP fire however it can SLOW and REDUCE the intensity of the fire front and provide access for fire fighting.

• Strategic pasture management

• Using veggie gardens, orchards, green lawns, swimming pools, rock walls and other bare areas to assist with fire protection.

• Fire Protection Zone around your house.

• Developing your bushfire management skills. Join your local brigade and get free training.

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Other important information

• Shire fire regulations

• Emergency WA website

• Fire Ratings, Total Fire bans, Vehicle movement bans

• Information for Fire Fighters   Your map for fire fighters. There are some pieces of information which will greatly assist Fire Fighters in defending your property.

• Sources of further information.

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https://www.emergency.wa.gov.au/

https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/