Hazard Reduction Grass Tree Burning Program

Hazard reduction burning, prescribed burning, controlled burning and planned burning are interchangeable terms that describe burning in a predetermined area for the management and control of fuel loads. 

Hazard reduction burning mitigates the severity of wildfires/bushfires and reduces the potential impacts to the community and the environment by burning selected vegetation and ground fuels such as leaf litter, grasses and grass trees in a planned and controlled manner.

These types of fires are generally ‘cool’ and are undertaken in appropriate weather conditions so that the fire burns slowly at low intensity and does not cause negative impacts to the native flora and fauna.

Fuel loads are the amount of combustible material in an area that accumulates over time. Dead material is more flammable than live material and includes the dry dead skirts on grass trees, dead grasses and dead leaves and bark that fall from trees and shrubs. Fuel loads are expressed in terms of tonnes per hectare (t/ha). 

Hazard reduction burning can reduce fuel loads which in turn reduces the potential intensity and fire behaviour of a wildfire and provides increased safety for nearby residents and assets.

A coordinated and planned approach is required to address fire management within the City in order to mitigate the risk of fire occurrences that could result in harm damage to life, damage to property and the environment. 

The introduction of hazard reduction burning within applicable reserves/bushland areas has been recommended as a bushfire mitigation strategy by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services to reduce bushfire risk in applicable areas.
 

Hazard reduction burns will be undertaken by highly qualified, trained and experienced personnel.

Hazard reduction burns are ‘cool’ burns and are usually conducted in late autumn, winter or spring during mild weather when the dry summer fuels have increased in moisture content and fire behaviour is easier to manage. ‘Cool’ burns are undertaken when weather conditions are suitable in accordance with a prescribed fire plan for optimal burn conditions. 

Specific times and locations of hazard reduction burns are scheduled in liaison with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and will be subject to suitable weather conditions.

City reserves and bushland areas will be assessed based on fuel age and community vulnerability and prioritised according to risk. Hazard reduction burns will only be undertaken where it is agreed by the City with input from Department of Fire and Emergency Services that there is requirement to reduce potential bushfire risk to the community. 

Specific times and locations of hazard reduction burns are scheduled in liaison with suitably qualified contractors and only a small number of reserves will be burnt each year, as required.

City reserves/bushland areas can be divided into sections utilising existing tracks and paths. The areas with high fuel loads that are within close proximity to vulnerable assets, such as residential properties, schools, and community buildings, will be addressed initially over other areas further from assets. Each area varies in size but they are approximately 10,000 to 20,000 square metres (one to two hectares). 

Patches within these areas will be burnt, leaving a mosaic pattern of burnt and unburnt areas to provide minimal impact to flora and provide habitat refuge areas for fauna.

Through site visits and discussions held between City officers, Department of Fire and Emergency Services officers and environmentally-based independent consultants, it has been agreed that the targeted burning of grass trees / balgas, including underlying and nearby leaf litter, is the recommended fuel reduction strategy for applicable City managed reserves.

Grass trees / balgas make up a high proportion of vegetation within the City’s reserves. Many have long unburnt dead skirts which are an extreme source of fuels. Grass trees / balgas can benefit from hazard reduction burns, as fire will stimulate the grass tree to flower and seed.

Post-fire weed control will be undertaken and burnt areas will be monitored to assess weed growth to support the sustainability and regeneration of native vegetation.

Fire is a natural part of the Australian landscape. The hazard reduction burn will be implemented as a cool, low intensity burn over small areas, targeting grass trees / balgas and surrounding leaf litter. This will reduce negative impact on the bushland, assist in regeneration, ie maintaining floristic diversity and protecting against the more severe consequences of a high intensity, uncontrolled wildfire/bushfire.

Any hazard reduction burn will create smoke; however, as part of the burn planning there are appropriate procedures to reduce the impact of smoke. Burns will only be carried out:

• during mild, cooler weather conditions
• when the soil has a higher moisture content
• during low wind and with suitable wind direction to minimise impact to the community
• as low intensity ‘cool’ burns.

Residents living nearby to a reserve/bushland area scheduled for a hazard reduction burn will be notified directly prior to the burn taking place.
 

To minimise the impact of smoke the following are recommended:

• Shut doors and windows.
• Turn off air-conditioners.
• People with asthma, pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses and conditions exacerbated by smoke should take precautions in line with their medical advice.
• Visit the Department of Health website for more information.

Hazard reduction burns will be undertaken by highly qualified, trained and experienced personnel. As part of the planned burn prescription, a detailed risk assessment which covers scenarios, such as the burn escaping, will be undertaken.

Residents living nearby to a reserve/bushland area scheduled for a hazard reduction burn, will be notified directly by letter approximately two months prior to the burn taking place. 

The City will also notify the general community about any upcoming hazard reduction burns via the following:

• Public notice published in the community newspaper, on the City’s website and emailed to subscribers.
• Text / Email notifications to those who have signed up to receive notifications.
• Social media posts through the City’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.
• Media releases.

The following bushfire management actions are already implemented by the City annually:

• weed control (mechanical and chemical)
• installation and maintenance of firebreaks on City owned and managed land
• manual fuel load reduction
• firebreak inspections on all vacant land and bushland
• controlled access to sites
• community education.

For further information on the City’s Hazard Reduction Burning Program, please contact the City’s Parks and Natural Environment Team - info@joondalup.wa.gov.au

To be informed of when a burn is taking place:

• Subscribe to the Public Notices online newsletter.
• Register for inclusion on the City’s Hazard Reduction Burning notification register to receive an automated notification via text message or email.