Bushfires NT

To protect life, property and the environment from the threat of wildfire.

Individual Fire Management Planning Kit

Fire in the Tropical Savannas

Vernon RegionBushfires NT has 13 brigades in the Vernon region (18 NT wide) with approx 320 volunteers. There are approx 8000 land tenures in the Vernon region, an increase of 25% in 4 years.

There were approx 540 fires reported in the Vernon Region in 2005, of which 180 were prescribed burns.

The Vernon Region excludes the Wikham Point Gas plant.

Northern Fire Protection Zone

Vernon Fire

Control Region

Darwin

Katherine

Vernon RegionFire StatisticsDarwin River Region 2006The 2006 dry season saw one of the most destructive wildfires hit the rural area of Darwin River in recent times. As can be seen from the statistics, the fire consumed a large amount of area, destroyed several assets and tied up volunteers and Bushfires NT staff for 3 days.

FIRE GROUND 38KM²LAND TENURES BURNT 161STRUCTURES PROTECTED 113STRUCTURES LOST 9ORCHARDS/ HORTICULTURAL FARMS 13REGISTERED VEHICLES LOST 31 LANDOWNER HOSPITALIZED WITH SEVERE BURNSRESOURCES UTILIZED

BFNT GFU 23BFNT TANKERS & HGFU 3BFNT STAFF VEHICLES 5VOLUNTEERS PRIVATE VEHICLES 9NTFRS GFU 1NTFRS TANKERS 2HEAVY MACHINERY 420,000L TANKER 1HELICOPTERS 3BFNT VOLUNTEERS 46BFNT STAFF 7NTFRS STAFF 2NTFRS VOLUNTEERS 4

Aim of the Kit

To assist landholders to reduce the threat from wildfires to assets, while at the same time protecting life, property and the environment from the threat of Wildfires.

Based on the idea of managing different areas, or zones, on your property in different ways in respect to fire.

Target Group…….you!

Private landholders whose property includes native vegetation

Large or small

Production of bushland retreat

Steps in the Kit1. What have you got? This is basically a mapping exercise to assess fire

risks and determine how best to manage fire on your property.

2. Minimise risk to your assets. This step helps you determine where and how to create a low fuel zone around your house and other assets.

3. Determine how to best manage fire in production areas. For example, where you carry out grazing, horticultural activities, cropping, or hay production.

4. Identify fire access trails. These are strategically-placed low fuel areas which provide access for fire fighting and/or planned burns e.g. the perimeter of your property and beside fence lines.

5. Be prepared for wildfire. Bushfires do happen in the Territory, and it’s important to be prepared.

6. Monitor and Review your plan.

Step 1 What have you got?

(a) AssetsMark property boundaries clearly in black.

(b) Vegetation typesFor fire management purposes, these are areas where the primary management objective is conservation of native plants and animals. First, outline these patches on your property in dark green.

Assess fire risks(b) Vegetation Types on your property

Creekline vegetation

Rainforest thicket

Tall eucalypt forest (Darwin Stringy bark and Darwin Woollybutt-canopy generally taller than 15m.

Sandstone Heath and woodlands

Eucalypt Woodland (Eucalypt canopy generally less than 15m)

Paperbark

(c) Fire risks associated with the slopes on your property

(d) Fire risks associated with the aspects on your property

(e) Considering risk relative to assets

(f) Assessing current fuel levels

Step 2 Minimise risk to your assets

Keep the area immediately adjoining the house free of fine fuelsRemove bushes against house walls;keep lawns short and green;Rake up leaves and twigs.

Further out from the house, some trees and shrubs are okay, but:Keep lower branches of trees trimmed;Space shrubs and garden beds to avoid large concentrations of fuel;Slash or mow between trees and shrubs;Remove dead branches;Water gardens and lawns well.

Step 3 Determine how best to manage fire in production areas

Keeping fire out of Orchards.

Keep fuel loads to a minimum, if slashing, slash should be removed.

1. Have quick fill point at orchard for quick turn around for grass fire units.Remove long grass from base of trees.

2. Burn buffers in the early dry season around orchard if possible.

3. Leave a good sized break against fence lines – make sure branches of trees are not over hanging the fence line.

4. Access to netted orchards is critical for Grass Fire Units, ensure that wires and bracing points allow vehicle access.

5. Guidelines for Hazard Reduction Burns - This should really be discussed with your local fire brigade.

Fire Management Plan sheet 1:Property Protection ZoneAim: To minimise risk from wildfire to house garage and shedFire management strategy: keep fuel loads low through manual and or mechanical removal

Production Zone 1Production activity: Grazing cattle, horsesAim: Maintain grass cover, allow some tree generationFire management strategy: Burn top of paddock every 2-4 years to encourage fresh grass; only allow every second or third fire to burn to bottom fence, to encourage young trees to grow.

Production Zone 2Production activity: Mango orchardAim: Allow trees to grow unimpeded, enhance fire safety for shed and houseFire management strategy: Exclude fire, slash between trees every 2 months

Bushland Zone 1Habitat type: Dry eucalypt woodland with shrubby understoreyAim: Maintain diversity of native plants and animalsFire management strategy: Vary intervals between fires from 7 to 25 years. Work with your local fire warden or Bushfires NT staff if prescribed burn becomes necessary

Hypothetical Fire Management Plan

Priority Tasks Time Money Year

Property protection zone

H Remove trees close to house 3 days Nil 1

M Pave or concrete area between house and garage 6 days $1200 2

Production zones

H Manage gamba grass by grazing or slashing, maintain buffer lines and monitor spread

1 hour per week

On going

H Slash mango orchard every 2 months 1 hour On going

Fire sensitive zones

H Confirm habitat identification 2 hours nil 1

H Conduct prescribed burn if necessary (contact fire warden 1st)

3 half days $100 donation

1-3

Wildfire preparedness

H Maintain or install fire access trail 2 days $500 On going

H Contact your local fire warden or Bushfires NT to arrange prescribed burn-talk to neighbours

20 minutes $100 donation

1-4

Fire Management Plan sheet 2: Overall task list

Step 4 Determine how best to manage fire in native vegetation areas

HABITAT TYPE SUGGESTED FIRE MANAGEMENTCreek line vegetation (paperbark and rainforest vegetation)

In general, don’t burn. These strips provide a buffer against erosion. Will often naturally exclude fire, but may burn in a wildfire. To protect this vegetation, burn away from the margin.

Rainforest thicket Not fire adapted, and should not be burnt. Will generally naturally exclude fire. May burn in extreme conditions, especially if flammable weeds have invaded. To protect this vegetation, burn away from the margin.

Tall eucalypt forest (Darwin Stringy bark and Darwin Woollybutt-canopy generally taller than 15m.

Preferably burn in early dry season or when conditions are suitable to achieve a patchy, low intensity burn. Try not burning every year, especially in situations where hazard reduction is not required.

Eucalypt Woodland (Eucalypt canopy generally less than 15m)

Preferably burn in early dry season or when conditions are suitable to achieve a patchy, low intensity burn. Try not burning every year, especially in situations where hazard reduction is not required.

Sandstone Heath and woodlands Many shrub species are fire sensitive and only regenerate from seed ie they do not re-sprout. Patchy burning required, with patches generally not burnt at frequencies greater than every three years or so.

Cypress Pine Stands Many Cypress pine stands are fire sensitive and only regenerate from seed ie they do not re-sprout. Patchy burning required, with patches generally not burnt at frequencies greater than every three years or so.

Melaleuca woodlands and grasslands Wetlands

Generally fire tolerant, if aim is to reduce woody vegetation cover may need to use intense fires ignited at start of the wet season (to kill plants while actively growing)

(a) Make a note of the fire regimes recommended for thevegetation types on your property.

HABITAT TYPE

RECOMMENDED REGIME(INCLUDES BOTH PLANNED AND UNPLANNED FIRE)

PAST FIRE REGIME

CONSISTENT?

Tall eucalypt forest (Darwin Stringy bark and Darwin Woollybutt-canopy generally taller than 15m.

Preferably burn in early dry season or when conditions are suitable to achieve a patchy, low intensity burn. Try not burning every year, especially in situations where hazard reduction is not required.

Has burnt every year mid to late in the fire season

NO

Creekline vegetation (paperbark and rainforest vegetation)

In general, don’t burn. These strips provide a buffer against erosion. Will often naturally exclude fire, but may burn in a wildfire. To protect this vegetation, burn away from the margin.

Wildfires encroached on creek 2 years in a row

NO

A fire access trail is a strategically placed low-fuel area.A fire access trail will not necessarily STOP fire however it can SLOW and REDUCE the intensity of the fire front and provide access for fire fighting.

Fire access trails also provide access and boundaries for planned burns.‘We have used the words “fire access trail” rather than ‘fire breaks” to emphasise that tracks and other low fuel areas should not be relied upon to stop a fire. A ‘fire break” is a fire access trail where all above ground vegetation has been removed down to the mineral earth layer (ie bare ground) or slashed to the height of 25 to 50mm with the slash removed.

Step 5 Identify Fire Access trails?

It is essential to be prepared for bushfires at all times, but particularly from April to November, which is recognised as the Top End ‘Fire Season’.

A booklet “Don’t Welcome bushfire into your home” – Bushfire prepared Communities is available from Bushfires NT and is a very good guide to precautions that need to be taken by property holders.Preparation and good property maintenance are vital elements in minimising risk to your house and other assets.

REMEMBER TO REPORT ALL WILDFIRES!DIAL 89760098

Step 6 Be prepared for wildfire

Step 7 Monitor and review your plan.

• We strongly suggest you review your fire management plan every year. Although many things will stay the same, others may change. For example,

• Are land uses still the same?• Do you have additional assets to protect?• Has experience suggested that fire access trails and protection

zones need adjustment?• A yearly review gives you an opportunity to make a new task list for

the next 12 months. It will also keep you and your family aware of what to do in the event of a wildfire.