Environmental Science: Bushfire Prevention Strategies and Analysis

This report comprehensively examines bushfire prevention, addressing its objectives, causes, and impacts. It outlines the importance of minimizing the risks associated with bushfires, focusing on strategies to protect life, property, and the environment. The report details the objectives of bushfire prevention, emphasizing the reduction of environmental and property damage, community protection, and risk assessment. It explores the methodology used, which involves qualitative research from existing sources such as the internet, books, and journals. The findings section analyzes wildfire behavior, including fire intensity, the impact of vegetation, weather, and topography. The report also highlights the importance of fuel breaks, safe practices, and property protection measures such as home design and building materials to reduce fire risks. The report further investigates the modes of building burning, including ember attack, radiant heat, and direct flame contact, and suggests strategies like sprinkler systems to mitigate these threats. Finally, the report provides recommendations on how to reduce the occurrence of bushfires, limit their impact on the community, and create a balanced land management scheme.

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BUSHFIRE PREVENTION
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Introduction
Background
Bushfire generally is considered as any fire occurring out of control anywhere in the open, not
necessarily restricted to the shrub or forest. Bushfire prevention refers to any action taken before
the commencing of a fire outbreak with the intention of reducing the effect the fire to the society.
Bushfire prevention aims at eliminating or reducing bushfire outbreak risks, and curb its spread.
Its so essential to outline the right and effective mechanism to root out any possible loss life,
property as well as the environment. Therefore, we are going to outline the objectives of bushfire
prevention, causes of bushfire, the impact and how to minimize or prevent its outbreak (Ramsay,
2003).
Objectives of bushfire prevention
Bushfire prevention takes into account achieving of the following objectives;
1. To reduce bushfire impacts on the environment, property and living beings.
2. To provide protection to the community against bushfire by ensuring proper principals of
land management are greatly considered.
3. To define as well as assess the degree of bushfire risks and hazards
4. To consult the available bushfire prevention councils and committees through mutual
cooperation
5. To outline responsibilities and requirements to manage bushfire
6. To outline the personalities required in the bushfire management within an area
7. To propose the best actions that are essential in prevention of bushfire putting into
account the impacts of such actions to the environment and land.
8. To provide information that’s useful for the education programs dealing with bushfire
prevention
9. To advise any relevant authority on the bushfire prevention schemes of a certain area.
Bushfire prevention draws its basis on the principal of cooperation, that attempts balancing the
threat of bushfire and the desire to maintain the natural state of the environment.bushire
prevention is one of the significant aspects in helping to reduce the risks that come as a result of
fire outbreaks . the above objectives have been clearly elaborarated on the findings section and

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conclusive recommendadations provides . besides , the methodology that was applied whimle
conducting the resrcg has also been discussed.
Methodology
The methods of resesrch that has been applied in conducting this study is qualittatitave research
method . this involves doing of the resch from existing sources such as the internet books and
journals . besides , it also involves secondary method of data oollection while dong the resrch
since all the information is not based on the real conducting of ex[periments but extracting of
information from the esisting souces. Besides , while cinducting the resrch , there were no
constrains since it did not involve the primary methods of cionducting resrch that may invol
conducting of interview or taking of survey questionanires .
Findings
Wildfire behavior
The following facts about wildfire will help us to make right moves with regard to the fire
outbreak we are experiencing or about to (Chrichton, 2009).
Fire Intensity
This refers to the quantity of heat that is being generated by the fire. High intensity of fire makes
it harder to control it and much damage is likely to be caused in the process. It depends on the
following three major factors;
 Vegetation
This constitutes the fuel load for fire intensity. The vegetation amount and type greatly
determines the fire intensity. The increase in fuel available for the fire growth proportionately
varies with the amount of flammable vegetable materials thus increase in fuel availabity
constitutes higher levels of fire intensity. Scrub and forest fires generate much heat compared to
grass fires, hence produce far mush damage on a home. Clearing the undergrowth reduces fire
intensity and so is an essential prevention strategy (Clode, 2010).
 Weather
High wind velocity and high temperatures directly fuels the rate at which fire the fire spreads.
Coupled with low relative humidity, the resulting effect is an increase in fire intensity. High

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temperatures, wind velocity and low relative humidity lead to the drying effect of the fuel, this
therefore raises the fire intensity level as well as its spreading (Chris Brown, 2008).
 Topography
Up slopes experience more intense fires compared to downslopes or flat grounds. Slopes that are
north facing receive much of the direct sunlight compared to slopes that are south facing. This
results in faster drying of the vegetation that would lead to a more intensified fire than in the
down slopes, making them dangerous for building purposes (Committee, 2006).
Fuel Breaks
These are gaps initiated in a bid to combat with the spread of wildfire. To achieve this, we need
to introduce programs that seasonally creates a protection zone on your home, between your
property and surrounding grasslands and bushlands.
The main rule that governs fire prevention in hobby farms, rural properties or any other farm is
the reduction of fuel. Therefore, reducing the fuel means that the threat is reduced. This is
therefore an important rule in making fire prevention plans. All the assets at home need a wider
protection zone around them that constitute reduced levels of leaves, dry grass, dead branches
and undergrowth, that is the fuel (Clode, 2010).
We can reduce the fuel by;
 Grazing the animals on the areas selected to be prone to wild fires. This effectively
reduces the vegetation fuel around the fodder reserves as well as the buildings.
 Ploughing to provide fuel breaks. Harrowing to can work well and should be initiated
early enough to maintain the existing vegetation. Frequent maintenance is required in
wind or steep slopes to curb the effect of soil erosion (Committee, 2006).
 Mowing to reduce the heights of ground fuel. It’s cost effective given that the materials
cut are allowed to rot before the fire danger season, or removed completely.
 Spraying of the herbicides in areas other means of fuel production are difficult to apply.
Such areas include along fence lines, along fuel supplies and around buildings.
The approaches suggested for use in bushfire prevention intends:
 To lower the rate of occurrence of bushfires,
 To limit the bushfires impact on the community,
 To inform and educate the community,

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 To give an economical fire prevention mechanism for the community while at the same
time creating a balance in efficient land management scheme (edward, 2002).
Safe Practices in bushfire prevention:
The following procedures are necessary when making a plan for a burn-off:
1. make sure you acquire a permit from the authorities when planning to burn in the season of
fire danger.
2. Ensure at least a 4metres fuel break round the location to be burnt.
3. Ensure the weather conditions are settled when you begin the burning process.
4. Let your neighbors have a notice of intentions to burn as early as possible.
5. Provide on standby, sufficient water for firefighting at all times (Russell, 2009).
6. Keep enough number personnel onsite form when the fire is lit to when it extinguishes.
7. Keep your fire to only an area you can control with your available personnel.
8. Strip burning should be used to control the strength of fire as well as matching it with wind
velocity.
9. Always observe keenly the direction for the wind. If the changes in wind conditions occur
unfavorably faster, it’s wiser to cease the fire (Schmithüsen, 2014).
11. Always be close to you mobile phone during the whole burning process to allow you to
easily call for assistance should need arise.
12. Frequently have a routine visit of a burn-off area even after the process to ensure that the
deep rooted trees do not rekindle from underground as they can burn for quite a long time
(Webster, 2008).
Incinerators/ burning rubbish
Before burning rubbish or use an incinerator, you need to check on the policies regarding the act
and restrictions applying to the same.
Property Protection:
 Home
Design a reduced fuel zone of around 20 metre round the homestead. This is achieved through in
minimizing the threat of sparks and radiant heat round the homestead. Crops such as Lucerne,
mown lawns and with paths established round the homestead provides an efficient fuel break.

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 Buildings/Sheds
Mowing, slashing, herbicide spraying or grazing approximately 4 metre around the structures
provides them with a good fuel break.
 Livestock
To provide safety to livestock, we need to maintain reduced fuel zone in areas we have stipulated
the animals will be moved to during the incidences of bushfire. These areas can be maintained by
proper grazing of holding paddocks, fallow paddocks, stockyards, green feed and raceways
(Johann Georg Goldammer, 2004).
 Fences
A fuel break of width close to 4 metre through every fence line is advised. The gaps existing at
each interval should be made as bare as possible, through ploughing, slashing,and/or spraying.
 Fodder Reserves
Fuel breaks around these reserves need to be cleared at all times. Introduce another reduced fuel
break line around the reserves through irrigation, ploughing, among other means earlier
mentioned (edward, 2002).
 Chemical Fuel Supplies
Preparation of a fuel break of around 4 metre round the openly labelled sheds provides for a
good fire prevention plan.
 Crops
Design a mechanical reduced fuel zone of around 4 metre round every crop and the header of the
first lap. The farm machinery should be located at an openly cleared area that stands away from
the neighboring crops when the machine is not in operation.
Mode of house burning
Instigation of fires in a Building
The fire in buildings begin with small ignitions, that begin at a slower speed, hasten and
gradually engulf the whole building. The buildings through bushfire can burn through;
 Radiant heat
 Amber attack, and
 Direct flame contact.

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Radiant Heat
Though radiant heat is the main source of lives’ loss in bushfires, it is hardly the cause for
bushfires occurring in the buildings. It is very rare circumstances that it directly ignites the
timber,a case possible when extremely large volume of fuel is burnt down closer to the building.
It can lead to glass break breakage due to differences in expansion rates among the window
frame and the glass. This therefore allows the sparks, flames, to enter the building.
Consequently, they heat up the building making it easier embers ignition to effectively take
place.
Ember Attack
Comprises of burning embers, fire sparks blown by wind through unprotected building openings
into the building. They start off as very small fires that inside the building, that later grow into
big to eventually take over the whole building, unless quick attention is provided before its late.
Contact of Direct Flame
This happens when harmful flammable fuel materials such as dry vegetation lying close to the
homestead ignites into flames to directly impact the peripheral of the building (Ramsay, 2003).
Recent studies have outlined ember attack as key cause of fire outbreak in various homesteads
during bushfire.
Bushfire Attack
Three stages involved in bushfire attack in a building include;
First stage: the approach of fire
Constitutes blowing of the embers into the building and its environs before the arrival of the fire
front. It can take up to more than half an hour before the arrival of front fire.
Second stage: arrival of front fire
Involves arrival of fire front, with the radiant heat, ember attack, smoke and flames operating at
the maximum. Last just a few minutes until fire front passes.
Third stage: post fire front passing
This stage lasts several hours after fire front passes. The embers get blown out of burnt trees,
fence posts, outbuildings and the woodheaps.

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The diagram below shows the spotting effect by the trees, which is the ignitions
developed by the small tree branches and the tree barks.
How to go about the modes of building burning
1. Reduction of the effect of ember attack, radiant heat and the direct contact flame
Sprinkler systems can be designed on the roof tops to lower the effect to the ember attack,
radiant heat and the direct contact flames. They are fixed on a gutter line, with angulation that
provides for the water droplets to drip over the roof downwards through the walls.

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2. Reduction of the Fire Intensity
The sprinkler systems round based are designed to wet the vegetation around the homestead
hence reducing the intensity of the fire. Sometimes, an extension of the normal watering system
at the garden would provide the same result too (Clode, 2010).
3.Stalling Sprinklers
The sprinkler pipes should comprise of eaves below the gutter and metal pipes. To provide the
needed water coverage, these pipes need to rise above the ground. The hose used too must have a
nozzle that’s adjustable. In high-risk areas, rubber hose should be used instead of the plastic one,
as they are comparatively less flammable.
Conclusion
The research entailed some of the objectives which include reduction of bushfire impacts on the
environment, property and living beings, provision of protection to the community against
bushfire by ensuring proper principals of land management , definition and assessment of the
degree of bushfire risks and hazards, outlining responsibilities and requirements to manage
bushfire, recommending the best actions that are essential in prevention of bushfire putting into
account the impacts of such actions to the environment and land, provision of information that’s

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useful for the education programs dealing with bushfire prevention, and finally advise any
relevant authority on the bushfire prevention schemes of a certain area.
This set of data provides one with the necessary information on how to ready yourself for
bushfire, property and your home. On risky days of the fire danger period, fires can result in
areas that are bound to negate the initial efforts put to suppress it. Historically, these fires have
carried a momentum with them that had made them difficult to stop unless a conducive weather
changes came into play. The measures herby provided do not completely protect the individual
assets and the community at large. Therefore, the lasting remedy to bushfires involves the
inclusion of individuals and communities of sound practices of fire prevention into
acknowledging that it’s their personal responsibilities to identify and reduce the threats poised to
the individual or community assets (Clarke, 2015).

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Bibliography
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Csiro Publishing.
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Chrichton, T., 2017. Guidelines for Bushfire Prevention Planning. South Australia: Country Fire
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Chris, T., 2016. Bushfire!: Looking to the Future : Papers from the Nature Conservation
Council of NSW Seminar. illustrated ed. Sussex: Envirobook.
Clode, D., 2010. A Future In Flames. Melbourne: Melbourne University Publishing.
Committee, F., 2007. Chemicals for forest fire fighting: a report of the NFPA Forest Committee,
Madison: University of Wisconsin.
Edward, J., 2002. The Homeowner's Bush Fire Survival Manual. 2 ed. Welshpool: FESA, Fire &
Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia.
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Savannas: Rekindling the Wurrk Tradition. Melboune: Csiro Publishing.
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African Minds.
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Julia, D., 2007. An Economic Evaluation of Bushfire Prevention and Suppression in Victoria.
London: Performance Evaluation Division, Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
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