Bushfires 3 April 2015
At this time of year the hot weather is behind us in most parts of Australia. That means it is time to undertake hazard reduction burning so that the inevitable bushfire will be much more manageable.
Bushfire hazard is a function of several parameters. This includes the weather, amount of slope, aspect (the compass direction) and the type and quantity of fuel.
The only one which we have any control over is the fuel. Except in extreme circumstances the tree crowns themselves are only a very minor part of the fuel quantity. The most important fuel is the dead leaf and twig litter on the ground as well as the material available in the shrub and the mid-canopy levels.
Without this fuel a bushfire simply cannot spread. So it makes a lot of sense to keep these levels down as low as possible. One way to do this is to have a deliberate hazard reduction burn at intervals which are appropriate for a particular locality.
Such burning is done during benign weather so that it is manageable. Mostly it is only the local bushfire authority which has the expertise and manpower to undertake this job. Often that means using the local volunteer rural Fire Brigade – contributions to their cause are always welcome.