Fire Trail Register
There are approximately 75,000 kilometres of fire trails in NSW
What is an Identified Fire Trail?
An Identified Fire Trail is a road, trail or other track on public and/or private land used by firefighting agencies to access the landscape to prevent, fight, manage and contain bush fires that is selected as part of an area’s fire trail network and recorded in the area’s Fire Access and Fire Trail (FAFT) Plan.
These fire trails are the effective network that suit the firefighting operations, in support of community protection, conducted across NSW. Fire trails are also used as fire control lines and for regular management of bush fire risk across the landscape.
Why are they important?
Fire trails are an important part of ensuring firefighters can access fires and safely contain them. They are also used to assist with management of bush fire risk across the landscape.
What is a fire trail register?
The RFS, in conjunction with other land management agencies, assesses the condition of identified fire trails across NSW against the RFS Fire Trail Standards. Once an identified fire trail is assessed and deemed it meets these standards, it is certified and is added to “The Commissioners Register of Fire Trails” in the table below.
| BFMC | Fire Trail Name | Tenure | LGA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bland Temora | Eastern Boundary | NPWS | Temora Shire |
| Bland Temora | Entrance | NPWS | Temora Shire |
| Canobolas | Charleville | FCNSW | Cabonne Shire Council |
| Canobolas | Cadiangullong | FCNSW | Cabonne Shire Council |
| Canobolas | Rosebank | FCNSW | Cabonne Shire Council |
| Central Coast | Hawke Mount North | Crown Lands | Central Coast Council |
| Central Coast | Freemans | Crown Lands , Private | Central Coast Council |
| Clarence Valley | Old Grafton Road | FCNSW | Clarence Valley |
| Coffs Coast | Settles | FCNSW | Coffs Harbour City |
| Far South Coast | Carls Mountain | NPWS | Eurobodalla Shire |
| Far South Coast | Gravel Pit | NPWS | Eurobodalla Shire |
| Far South Coast | Kettle | NPWS | Eurobodalla Shire |
| Far South Coast | North Head | NPWS | Eurobodalla Shire |
| Far South Coast | Skid Ridge | NPWS | Eurobodalla Shire |
| Liverpool Plains | Mt Helen | Private and Local Government | Liverpool Plains |
| Lower Hunter | Anna Bay Bore Line | NPWS | Port Stephens |
| Lower Hunter | Broken Back Road | FCNSW and Private | City of Cessnock |
| Lower Hunter | Broken Back | FCNSW and Private | City of Cessnock |
| Lower Hunter | Shoal Bay Bore Line | NPWS | Port Stephens |
| Lower Hunter | Tank Trail | NPWS | Port Stephens |
| Lower Hunter | Meteorological Station | NPWS | Port Stephens |
| Lower Hunter | Washery | Crown Lands | City of Cessnock |
| Lower Hunter | Neath | Crown Lands | City of Cessnock |
| Lower Hunter | Duffie | Crown Lands | City of Cessnock |
| Lower Hunter | North Neath | Crown Lands | City of Cessnock |
| Lower Hunter | Breckin | Private | Dungog |
| Lower Hunter | Hungry Hill | Private | Dungog |
| Lower Hunter | Keppies | Private | Dungog |
| Lower Hunter | Boundary | Crown Lands, NPWS | City of Cessnock |
| Lower Hunter | Pelton | Crown Lands, NPWS | City of Cessnock |
| Mid-Coast | New Forster | Local Government | Mid-Coast |
| Mid-Coast | North Haven | Crown Lands | Mid-Coast |
| Mid-Coast | Perch Hole | NPWS | Port Macquarie Hasting |
| Mid-Coast | Nine Tree | FCNSW | Port Macquarie Hasting |
| Mid-Coast | The Paddock Road | FCNSW | Port Macquarie Hasting |
| Mid-Coast | Old Highway | FCNSW | Port Macquarie Hasting |
| Northern Beaches | Long | NPWS | Northern Beaches Council |
| Northern Beaches | Short | NPWS | Northern Beaches Council |
| Northern Rivers | Iron Pot Creek | FCNSW | Kyogle Council |
| Northern Tablelands | Layes | Crown Lands, NPWS | Tenterfield Shire Council |
| Northern Tablelands | Lindrook | FCNSW, Private | Tenterfield Shire Council |
| Riverina | Illabo | Local Government | Junee |
| Riverina | Dentons | NPWS | City of Wagga Wagga |
| Riverina | Rush | NPWS | City of Wagga Wagga |
| Riverina | Range | NPWS | City of Wagga Wagga |
| Riverina | Grass Tree | NPWS | City of Wagga Wagga |
| Riverina | Burngoogee | FCNSW | City of Wagga Wagga |
| Riverina | Shockeroo | FCNSW | City of Wagga Wagga |
| Shoalhaven | Huskymoon | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | Bowling Club | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | Harmony Haven | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | South Pine | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | West Huskisson | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | Kangaroo Link | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | Mount Bushwalker | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | Tianjara | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | Twelve Mile | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | South Arm | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | Moores | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | Koiola Village | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | Dam | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | Higgins Creek | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Shoalhaven | Pebbly Beach | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| South West Slopes | Glen Echo | NPWS | Weddin Shire |
| South West Slopes | Matilda | Crown Lands | Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council |
| Southern Border | Polkinghorne | Council, Crown Lands | Albury City Council |
| Southern Border | Brett's | Crown Lands, Private | Albury City Council |
| Southern Border | Featherstone | Crown Lands | Albury City Council |
| Sutherland | Cranberry | Crown Lands | Sutherland Shire Council |
| Sutherland | Turrella | Crown Lands | Sutherland Shire Council |
| Sutherland | Viburnum | Crown Lands | Sutherland Shire Council |
| Tamworth | Ryans | Crown Lands | Tamworth Regional Council |
| Tamworth | Hanging Rock Village | Crown Lands | Tamworth Regional Council |
Fire trail signage and what it means
Standardised signs are installed and maintained through the identified fire trail network. Primary fire trail signage contains the name of the fire trail and the maximum type of vehicle category which is able to safely travel on the trail. Trails which are certified to the RFS Fire Trail Standards will have a circle around the vehicle category to communicate the condition of the trail to firefighters eg.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fire trail?
A fire trail is an access way identified by the local Bush Fire Management Committee used for preventing, fighting, managing and containing bush fires.
Why is it important to have a register of certified fire trails?
Having a state-wide register of fire trails assists the Rural Fire Service (RFS) in its planning for, and response to, bush fire incidents. Ensuring that only fire trails meeting certain standards are included in the Fire Trail Register means that the NSW RFS are able to have confidence that when it deploys resources to those locations, the resources will be able to safely and efficiently access and respond to an incident at that location.
What is the process for a fire trail to be certified and registered?
The registration of an identified fire trail will generally involve the following steps:
- A Bush Fire Management Committee (BFMC) for an area prepares a draft Fire Access and Fire Trail Plan (FAFT Plan) which includes the list of identified fire trails.
- The Bush Fire Coordinating Committee (BFCC) reviews and approves a draft FAFT Plan.
- Once a FAFT Plan is approved by the BFCC:
- The RFS will designate a fire trail in the FAFT Plan once an agreement is entered into between a private landowner and the RFS.
- The fire trail may be recognised, constructed or upgraded in accordance with the Fire Trail Standards.
- the land managers (for public land) establish, upgrade and maintain the fire trail to the RFS Fire Trail Standards, or
- the RFS (for private land) contacts landowners to discuss entering into agreements establish fire trails.
- Fire trails which are certified to the Fire Trail Standards are then included in the RFS Commissioner’s Fire Trail Register.
What happens if the BFMC has identified the need for a fire trail on my property?
If a trail on your land has been selected and recorded as an identified fire trail in a FAFT Plan, your local RFS District Office will contact you to discuss a proposal to formalise, establish or upgrade a fire trail on your property. The District Office will talk to you about entering into an agreement in relation to the fire trail which will include sections on the roles and responsibilities of the parties, and other rights under the agreement.
What will happen if there is a fire?
In the event of a fire, fire management agencies may access your property using the fire trail under the private land agreement.
Does having a fire trail on my land mean I will have a fire truck there to protect my property in the event of a fire?
Having a fire trail under a private land agreement with the RFS does not mean you will be assured to have a fire vehicle attending in the event of a fire incident. Having a fire trail under an agreement with the RFS that complies with the Fire Trail Standards, it means that firefighters will be able to access the land to prevent, fight, manage and contain bush fires quickly and efficiently on your own and surrounding properties.
When will the fire trail be used?
Generally, fire trails on private land will be used by fire management agencies in the event of a fire, in the investigation of a fire, (e.g. sighting of smoke) and for the prevention and management of fires. The RFS will also undertake condition inspections of the fire trail on an ongoing basis to determine if any maintenance is required in keeping with the Fire Trail Standards.
Remember:
- Having an identified fire trail on your land does not mean there will always be a fire truck available to protect your property.
- Not all roads, tracks, trails or historic trails in bush fire prone lands are selected as Identified Fire Trails.
- Fire trails need to be maintained to ensure firefighters will be able to quickly and efficiently access your own and surrounding properties during a fire event.
- Do you have a bush fire survival plan? If you live on bush fire prone land, you need to know what you will do in the event a fire threatens your property.
