What is Hazard Reduction?

Hazard reduction (HR) means either reducing or removing bushfire fuel (combustible material) around an asset (i.e. your house or sheds). This is done for two reasons:

• to minimise the threat of damage to life, property and the environment
• to provide adequate space for people to work in while fighting fire.

Under the Rural Fires Act, 1997, land managers and owners are responsible for carrying out hazard reduction to protect existing dwellings, major buildings or other assets susceptible to fire.

Completely removing fuel means an area will no longer support fire, but doing so can be harmful to the environment. It is more common to reduce the amount of fuel, in which case a fire would:

• generate less heat and be less dangerous for firefighters and the general public
• travel more slowly
• have a lower flame height and be less likely to develop into a crown fire
• be less likely to produce embers that cause spot fires.

There are three main methods of hazard reduction:

• hand clearing: raking up leaves, clippings, clearing out gutters
• mechanical clearing: mowing, slashing, ploughing, trittering, bulldozing, grading
• burning: pile burning, or “controlled” or “prescribed” burning which use fire to reduce the amount of flammable fuel.

Environmental approval may be required to carry out hazard reduction. The RFS offers a free environmental assessment service for essential hazard reduction works. You may require a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificate or other environmental approval to clear or burn.

A permit to light a fire will also be required for burning hazards during the Bush Fire Danger Period and if the fire may pose a threat to a building.

Contact your local RFS Fire Control Centre for advice on hazard reduction burning and clearing.