Share this
Fire Trail Register
There are approximately 75,000 kilometres of fire trails in NSW
What is a Fire Trail?
Well maintained fire trails are critical to the work of the NSW RFS and related emergency agencies.
Firefighters require access to assist in containing and managing bush fires. 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 NSW RFS, in conjunction with other agencies, continues to assess fire trails across NSW to ensure they comply with the Fire Trail Standards. Once a fire trail is certified it will be added to a register and documented by local governement area (LGA) in the table below.
| Fire Trail Name | LGA | Tenure | BFMC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Bay Bore Line Fire Trail | Port Stephens | NPWS | Lower Hunter |
| Shoal Bay Bore Line Fire Trail | Port Stephens | NPWS | Lower Hunter |
| Tank Trail Fire Trail | Port Stephens | NPWS | Lower Hunter |
| Meteorological Station Fire Trail | Port Stephens | NPWS | Lower Hunter |
| Washery Fire Trail | Cessnock | Crown | Lower Hunter |
| Neath Fire Trail | Cessnock | Crown | Lower Hunter |
| Duffie Fire Trail | Cessnock | Crown | Lower Hunter |
| North Neath Fire Trail | Cessnock | Crown | Lower Hunter |
| Huskymoon Fire Trail | Shoalhaven | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Bowling Club Fire Trail | Shoalhaven | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Harmony Haven Fire Trail | Shoalhaven | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| West Huskisson Fire Trail | Shoalhaven | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| South Pine Fire Trail | Shoalhaven | NPWS | Shoalhaven |
| Breckin Fire Trail | Dungog | Private | Lower Hunter |
| Hungry Hill Fire Trail | Dungog | Private | Lower Hunter |
| Keppies Fire Trail | Dungog | Private | Lower Hunter |
| Illabo Fire Trail | Junee | Local Government | Riverina |
| New Forster Fire Trail | Mid-Coast | Local Government | Mid-Coast |
| North Haven Fire Trail | Mid-Coast | Crown | Mid-Coast |
| Mt Helen Fire Trail | Liverpool Plains | Private and Local Government | Liverpool Plains |
| Old Grafton Road Fire Trail | Clarence Valley | FCNSW | Clarence Valley |
Fire trail signage and what it means
Primary fire trail directional sign
This sign will contain the name of the fire trail, the latitude and logitude of the trail and what type of vehicle is able to travel on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fire trail?
A fire trail is an access way 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 will assist the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW 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 (FTR) will mean that the NSW RFS will be able to have confidence that if it deploys its resources to a location, those resources will be able to 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 a fire trail will generally involve the following steps:
- The Bush Fire Management Committee (BFMC) for an area preparing a draft Fire Access and Fire Trail Plan (FAFT Plan) including identification of strategic and tactical fire trails.
- The Bush Fire Coordinating Committee (BFCC) reviewing the draft FAFT Plan.
- Once the FAFT Plan is approved by the BFCC, the NSW RFS will contact landowners to discuss entering into agreements to recognise or establish and then register fire trails.
- The NSW RFS will designate a fire trail in the FAFT Plan once an agreement is entered into between the landowner and the NSW RFS.
- The fire trail may be recognised, constructed or upgraded in accordance with the Fire Trail Standards.
- Fire trails certified by the NSW RFS Commissioner will be included in the FTR.
What happens if the BFMC has identified the need for a fire trail on my property?
In the first instance, your local NSW 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, who will pay for what and other rights under the agreement.
What will happen if there is a fire?
In the event of a fire, the NSW RFS and other NSW fire management agencies may access your property using the fire trail.
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?
No, but by having the fire trails that comply with the Fire Trail Standards, firefighters will be able to quickly and efficiently access your own and surrounding properties.
When will the fire trail be used?
Generally, the fire trail 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 NSW RFS will also inspect the fire trail on an ongoing basis to determine if any maintenance is required in keeping with the Fire Trail Standards.
Remember:
- Having a fire trail on your land does not mean there will always be a fire truck available to protect your property.
- Do yo u 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.
- 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.
