What Is A Bush Fire Hazard?
Wherever there is available bush fire fuel (combustible material), around your property, a bush fire hazard exists. This fuel may be made up of solid combustibles or flammable liquids and gases such as petrol, kerosene, alcohol, LPG, natural gas, and acetylene.
The main concern is what is called “ fine” fuels - these are made up of leaf litter, long dry grass, garden mulch and certain vegetation.
Other hazards may include:
- woodpiles and wood sheds
- open flames and/or machinery sparks
- hot surfaces such as exhausts and electrical equipment.
Hazards Around Your Home
Consider your home - one of the main causes of house fire during a bush fire, is ember attack, due to high winds, blowing from the fire front to your home.
| Embers enter houses through: | Embers can lodge between: | |
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Embers can also be blown up against and ignite any timber surfaces used for:
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It is important to maintain your property in a good state of repair and ensure any of the above openings are blocked off and secure.
Where are the Hazard Located?
As well as the amount of fine fuels and combustible material around your property, consider its location. Make sure they are not stored or piled up against or next to your home or sheds, around livestock or environmental and/or cultural assets?
It is when they can endanger life, property or the environment, that they become a threat.
Is Your Property Surrounded By Grassland or Bushland?
The risk to your property increases with the amount of fuel present.
Bushland areas include leaves, bark, twigs and other vegetative matter. A rule of thumb is that 1cm depth of fuel on the ground represents 5 tonnes per hectare. This is considered light fuel loading and could carry a mild fire. Thirty (30) tonnes per hectare, or a depth of 6cm is considered a heavy fuel loading. Fuels within 15 metres of a house should be kept to no more than 8 tonnes per hectare. Where the slope of the ground is greater than 5 degrees up to the house, a lesser amount of fuel is advisable.
Grassland areas depend on the amount of cured, brown grass present. On a high fire danger day, a fire in sparse, fully cured grass land may have a 2 metre flame height. If you have paddocks or pastures, with heavy levels of cured grass, this may produce 7 metre flame heights.
For more information on reducing hazards around your home, see Bush Fire Hazard Reduction.
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