Bushfire Report

    5. Ploughing and grading
    Ploughing and grading can produce effective firebreaks. However, in areas where
    this method is applied, frequent maintenance may be required to minimise the
    potential for erosion. Loose soil from ploughed or graded ground may erode in
    steep areas, particularly where there is high rainfall and strong winds.

    6. Burning (hazard reduction burning)
    Hazard reduction burning is a method of removing ground litter and fine fuels by
    fire. Hazard reduction burning of vegetation is often used by land management
    agencies for broad area bush fire control, or to provide a fuel reduced buffer
    around urban areas.

    Any hazard reduction burning, including pile burns, must be planned carefully and
    carried out with extreme caution under correct weather conditions. Otherwise
    there is a real danger that the fire will become out of control. More bush fires
    result from escaped burning off work than from any other single cause.

    It is YOUR responsibility to contain any fire lit on your property. If the fire
    escapes your property boundaries you may be liable for the damage it
    causes.

    Hazard reduction burns must therefore be carefully planned to ensure that they
    are safe, controlled, effective and environmentally sound. There are many factors
    that need to be considered in a burn plan. These include smoke control, scorch
    height, frequency of burning and cut off points (or control lines) for the fire. For
    further information see the RFS document Standards for Low Intensity Bush Fire
    Hazard Reduction Burning, or contact your local RFS for advice.

    7. Burning (pile burning)
    In some cases, where fuel removal is impractical due to the terrain, or where
    material cannot be disposed of by the normal garbage collection or composted
    on site, you may use pile burning to dispose of material that has been removed in
    creating or maintaining an APZ.

    For further information on pile burning, see the RFS document Standards for Pile
    Burning.

    In areas where smoke regulations control burning in the open, you will need to
    obtain a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificate or written approval from Council
    for burning. During the bush fire danger period a Fire Permit will also be required.
    See the RFS document Before You Light that Fire for further details.



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