Southern Tablelands Farm Forestry Network |
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Reducing fire risk in farm forests [Print this fact sheet - pdf 100kb] Farm forests as with any primary production enterprise in Australia, are at risk of fire damaging or destroying them. Farm forest owners can undertake work to lessen this risk. However, on days of very high and extreme fire danger, that work may be ineffective in the case of a fire occurrence. The rate of spread of fires can in some instances be much faster in grasslands than in forests. This is due to the wind speed reduction effect that a forest system has. On the other hand, the fire intensity and therefore heat is a lot higher in forests as compared to grassland systems. Also in the event where a fire is established in a farm forest, the likelihood of that fire throwing spotfires is much greater. Ways to reduce fire risk in your farm forest: Graze farm forests regularly to minimise fuel loads. Keep grass well grazed especially on the windward side of the farm forest. Be cautions when grazing as livestock can damage young trees if left un-watched. Slashing along adjoining roads will also reduce fuel loads in strategically important locations. Create and maintain bare earth tracks to the windward sides of farm forests. In the Southern Tablelands most of the damaging fires occur with a North West wind or a South West change. Creating bare earth tracks along the windward side of the farm forest lessens the risk of fire entering it. Bare earth tracks require regular maintenance and therefore need to be trafficable. Prune for log quality and to minimise fire damage in the event of low intensity fires. The threat to a farm forest in the event of an approaching fire will be worsened if trees have been left unpruned. This is so as fire can easily run up the stems of unpruned trees, although this effect will undoubtedly vary between species. Pruning slash does not necessarily require removal from the forest. If pruning is conducted regularly and slash can be trampled by livestock, it will rapidly break down. In the event of a low intensity fire, well pruned forests may avoid damage or total destruction. Prepare maps of the farm forest for the local bush fire brigade. In the event of a fire, map information of the forest estate will be particularly important for the local bushfire brigade. Detail on maps should include access roads and tracks, and the location of water points, such as dams. Join the local bush fire brigade. Private forest owners that belong to bush fire brigades learn basic fire fighting and safety skills, as well as being part of a network of like minded people. Individuals in bush fire brigades also become familiar with fire behaviour, risk minimisation strategies and planning. Prepare a fire management plan. The preparation of a fire management plan is particularly important for the identification of fire risk minimisation measures. For information regarding fire management plans contact your local fire brigade or the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service on (02) 6297 6144. Insure your farm forest. Insurance schemes are available for private forest owners, which includes cover in the event of fire damage. Australian Forest Growers (AFG) have access to such insurance schemes for their members. Contact AFG on (02) 6281 1587. |