Fighting Fire with Science for Safer Communities

Based on nearly a decade of collaboration, the University of Tasmania and the City of Hobart are now using a new phase of scientific research to measure the effectiveness of strategic fire management practices to reduce bushfire risk.

Media release – University of Tasmania, 21 August 2025

Experimenting with smarter bushfire management

A science-backed approach to bushfire mitigation is the goal of a joint effort between the University of Tasmania and the City of Hobart, as they study how land management techniques can be converted into measurable science that will inform safer, smarter outcomes for people, wildlife and the environment.

This collaboration between researchers at the University of Tasmania Fire Centre and the City of Hobart’s Fire and Biodiversity Team assesses the impact of on-ground bushfire mitigation techniques through a series of experiments on the bushland reserve near the University’s Sandy Bay campus.

Together, the partners are building a new standard in evidence-based land management.

Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow and Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, David Bowman, said the project was the first step in work that he hoped would help to reduce the risk of another 1967 Black Tuesday disaster in Tasmania, or a Los Angeles 2025-style bushfire scenario.

“Our city is surrounded by dangerous fuel loads, and, with a changing climate, we need to start adapting fast,” Bowman said.

“But we can’t do this without solid scientific data, close collaboration with City of Hobart and convincing evidence for the community that we can have it all – reduced fire risk, healthy biodiversity and amenity.”

The initiative builds on nearly a decade of collaboration between the University and the City of Hobart, with this latest phase aiming to measure how fuel loads, native vegetation, and fauna respond to strategic fire management practices.

The City of Hobart’s experienced fire practitioners have been directly involved in guiding and mentoring researchers over 11 burns so far within the past year to ensure the experiments accurately reflect real-world methods.

The Hobart Lord Mayor, Cr Anna Reynolds, said this work was about transforming how cities like Hobart live with fire.

“These works are designed so property owners on the bushland–urban interface can replicate them, giving residents practical, proven approaches to reducing bushfire risk on their own land,” Reynolds said.

“We’re combining rigorous science with practical land management to ensure we deliver both safer communities and healthy bushland – improving city safety and empowering our people, while protecting the biodiversity that makes Hobart unique.”

CEO of Tasmanian insurance firm RACT, Mark Mugnaioni, was supportive of the research efforts.

“RACT congratulates the Fire Centre on the world-leading practical research it is undertaking,” Mugnaioni said.

“Research like this provides crucial evidence on how different fuel reduction methods can reduce bushfire risk – knowledge that’s particularly vital for Tasmania given bushfire is our state’s largest risk.

“The outcomes of this research will help communities to build resilience and ultimately support affordable insurance outcomes as we continue to experience changing weather patterns,” he said.

Bowman said this approach was not just a conversation starter about bushfire risks but was unique and innovative in Australia.

“We’re not waiting for another disaster to strike;

“we’re proactively building a body of knowledge that helps us act smarter now and helps communities across the country to be better prepared for future bushfires,” said Bowman.

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