Autumn fuel reduction program resumes after unprecedented summer

Following a challenging bushfire season, fire authorities have commenced their autumn fuel reduction burns program to work to ensure Tasmanian communities will be safer from the threat of bushfires.

Planning and conducting burns has resumed following an unprecedented summer bushfire season which delayed the commencement date of the autumn program. The planned burns, under the fuel reduction program, aim to minimise the risk of future bushfire damage and make it easier and safer for firefighters to control.

These burns are being conducted on both public and private land with a focus on areas which pose the greatest risk of bushfire to communities.

Autumn is the peak season for fuel reduction burning with the majority of burns completed during this season. The program aims to protect homes, businesses, critical community infrastructure, and the natural environment by strategically selecting priority areas for fuel reduction burning, regardless of who owns the land.

State Fire Management Council Chair and spokesperson for the Fuel Reduction Program, Ian Sauer, said there is extensive planning involved in each season’s fuel reduction burns, to ensure maximum efficiency .

“In Tasmania, we know all too well the devastating effects bushfires have, to both local communities and the economy, and while fire is a natural and fundamental part of our environment, the effects of an uncontrolled fire can be devastating,” Mr Sauer said.

“There are many factors to consider when planning these burns, and while in reality we may not complete all the burns planned, we have prioritised burns in high danger areas.

“On top of this, all planned burns are reliant on favourable weather conditions and we ensure we have appropriate resourcing to conduct the burns in an effective and safe manner.

“The planning process takes full consideration of important cultural, natural and social values such as threatened species and Aboriginal heritage, as well as key seasonal times for industries such as vineyards, to ensure negative outcomes are minimised.

“While we conduct the majority of burns, fuel reduction is a shared responsibility in local Tasmanian communities. The Fuel Reduction Unit encourages land owners to conduct burns on their property and is available to provide help and advise where needed.

“Every burn will be carefully planned to minimise risks to those carrying out the burn and surrounding communities.”

The four-year program, which is funded by the Tasmanian Government, takes both a cross-tenure and multi-agency approach, and enables the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) to work alongside the Parks and Wildlife Service and Forestry Tasmania to oversee and provide critical information about fuel reduction burns to the public.

The TFS will provide a regularly updated schedule of fuel reduction burns through local media and online via the www.fire.tas.gov.au website, which features a map of planned and current burns.

Historically, autumn is the safest time of year for fuel reduction burns and due to the still, cooler and shorter days, the conditions are the least likely to produce a lot of smoke. The program also follows the EPA’s Smoke Management Guidelines which lets the effects of the smoke predicted due to weather conditions dictate the burning schedule.

Every effort is to be made to reduce the impact of smoke, and the Fuel Reduction Unit works closely with the Asthma Foundation of Tasmania and the Department of Health and Human Services to communicate all fuel reduction burn information.

A series of information forums run by Landcare Tasmania and the Tasmanian Farmers and Grazers Association are being held around the state in the coming weeks to provide information on the program, assessing high risk areas as well as the planning process.
Georgi Wicks, Font PR