Identifying and Assessing Assets at Risk from Bush Fire
The bush fire risk management planning process involves identifying and analysing assets within the community and establishing their level of risk. Local knowledge is an important information source for identifying assets at risk.
An asset is anything that is valued by the community. The four categories of assets that can be identified within a Bush Fire Risk Management Plan (BFRMP) are:
Human settlement assets such as residential dwellings, properties and buildings.
Economic assets such as commercial forests, tourist destinations and land used for primary production.
Environmental assets such as threatened species, vulnerable species and locally important flora and fauna.
Cultural assets such as areas of Aboriginal or European historical or cultural significance.
Once assets are identified the likelihood and consequences of bush fire can be determined. Likelihood is defined as the chance of a bush fire igniting and spreading while consequence is defined as the outcome or impact of a bush fire event. These two factors are combined to establish the level of risk posed to an asset. Risk level is rated as low, moderate, high, very high, extreme.
Risk levels are used to determine the priority that is to be given to assets. In general assets with a risk level of high, very high or extreme are given priority in terms of treatment strategies. For more information on treating risk click here.
The Bush Fire Risk Management Planning Guidelines provide more detail on the process for identifying and assessing assets and can be accessed by clicking here.
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