SWEENEY HIRE
Firebreaks - compliance by November 30th
Firebreaks aren’t just there to stop a fire in it’s tracks, they are there to give firefighters access to your property while they fight the fire.
WHAT IS A FIREBREAK?
A fire-break is a strip of land that has been cleared of all trees, shrubs, grass and other combustible material, providing a ‘fuel free’ area. Fire-breaks are intended to allow access for firefighting vehicles and can provide a fuel free area from which prescribed burning can be undertaken. They may slow or stop the spread of a low-intensity bushfire however they should not be relied upon to prevent the spread of a fire. Fire-breaks are often constructed with a machine such as a dozer, front end loader, grader, tractor or skid-steer loader.
Firebreaks are critical to bushfire risk management. Firebreaks reduce the impacts of a bushfire, and allow emergency services to access your property in case of an emergency.
HOW EFFECTIVE ARE FIREBREAKS?
The effectiveness of a fire-break depends on the width of the fire-break, the weather conditions, flame length and whether embers are being produced.
A fire-break will be more effective at preventing the spread of a fire if:
• It is close to the fire ignition point so that the fire is not at its maximum flame length.
• It is approached by the flank (side) of the fire, as the flank will have a shorter flame length than the front (head) of the fire.
• It forms an effective break in both the vertical and horizontal continuity of the fuel, which reduces the flame length and makes the fire easier to suppress.
• Nearby trees and shrubs are not producing embers.
Preparing for fire is a shared responsibility. The City has a role in setting the requirements for fire preparation on properties within its boundaries and checking that they are compliant.
If you would like assistance with your firebreaks please contact us to see how we can help you get bushfire ready.
24th October 2022
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Shale Road, South Cardup, WA 6122
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