New tool takes the guesswork out of prescribed burning


Released 28/02/2018

Ahead of the coming prescribed burn season, a tool developed by ACT Parks and Conservation to help safely plan for burns is being implemented in other states and territories.

“When planning to undertake prescribed burns, fire agencies need to consider the level of risk of the burn escaping as well as the likelihood of nearby residents being impacted by smoke,” said ACT Parks and Conservation’s Senior Fire Management Officer Brian Levine.

“We developed the Prescribed Burning Decision Support Tool to quickly take into account the many factors that need to be considered before a burn takes place.

“The tool is designed to be used before each day of a burn. It factors in information including fuel levels, land features, surrounding assets such as houses and stock and the most up-to-date and detailed weather forecasts available from the Bureau of Meteorology.

“Within 30 minutes the tool can assess all this information and produce a report identifying the risk of the burn escaping, the risk of smoke and the actions that should be considered to reduce those risks. It has quickly become an essential tool in ACT Parks and Conservation safely conducting burns whilst also minimising the impacts on surrounding residents.

“We’re delighted that various fire agencies across Australia, including in Victoria, NSW and Tasmania, have seen the tool’s benefits and have adopted it into their prescribed burn planning.

“The beauty of the tool is that the process is very clear, easily documented and able to be repeated.

“By using this new method for assessing risk we’re supporting our decision makers in the field and ensuring they have the information they need to operate safely and more effectively.

“As we look to implement large-scale prescribed burns across the ACT in the coming weeks, the Canberra community can be comforted there’s a high level of planning and care that goes into implementing burns. Every burn we do now undergoes an assessment using the tool which is a big help to fire officers in their decision-making.”

Mr Levine, who led the project to create the tool, will present a case study to the National Planned Burning Centre of Excellence webinar series at 1 pm today. Watch the presentation.

Learn more about bushfire management in the ACT.

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ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate | Media Releases

Media Contacts

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Geoff Virtue

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Geoff.Virtue@act.gov.au


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