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Bush fire control
Bushfires can occur naturally or be lit and can have a positive or negative effect on the landscape.
Natural fires have occurred in the landscape for long periods of time and different plant communities have adapted to respond differently to fire. Some native plants have evolved to survive fire and release seeds en masse when exposed to extreme heat to ensure the survival of the species after fire. Natural fires are often started by lightning and are more common in summer when there are high levels of fuel available and less stable climatic conditions.
Fires are regularly lit as a management tool to reduce fuel loads and lessen the risk of natural fires. These low intensity or cool fires are usually lit in autumn and winter to reduce the biomass when the likelihood of natural fires is low. Fire can also be used as a management tool to remove weeds and clear areas, and for ecological reasons such as changing species composition and promoting natural regeneration in native vegetation areas.
The effect of bushfire
The effect of fire on people, farm animals, native flora and fauna can be very destructive and extremely traumatic. Landscapes can be stripped of vegetation, human lives lost, buildings and property damaged and stock and native animals can die during and after the fire.
The lack of vegetation cover after a fire can result in soil erosion, decreased water quality and siltation of water supplies. Some plants regenerate quickly and may dominate the landscape, changing the native and farm ecosystems. Ecological communities can be altered permanently in areas where burning occurs regularly. It can take many years for a landscape to recover from the effects of a bushfire.
Management
The threat of bushfire can be managed by reducing hazards and ignition sources. Fire hazards can be controlled by reducing fuel loads, clearing fire breaks and by planting fire tolerant species.
Fire ignition sources can be reduced
by avoiding bushfire generation activities and observing total fire bans.
Using fire as a management tool should involve:
- extensive planning and assessment before burning areas
- obtaining appropriate permission and permits
- consideration of safety and availability of fire fighting equipment in case the fire escapes accidentally.
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