Planning
Burns are planned through a private fire planning system. They undergo rigorous review internally before being planned. They can be planned 10 years in advance. Legislation is in place to guide how burns should be planned for. Burn periods are during autumn and spring while winter is too green and wet and summer has too much risk. A fire weather risk assessment is taken to determine the overall fire hazard rating. This is completed in consultation with BOM.
Burns takes into consideration a whole habitat view including both flora and fauna. This accounts for what is sited and what is expected to be living within an area. Meaning considering what the habitat is known to be used by and how it has the potential to be used by. Monitoring can be completed beforehand by camera traps or bird call back surveys.
Burns take into consideration First Nations sacred sites. There is a private government register of all known sites. Local First Nations knowledge is then used to determine the status of these sites.
The planning of a burn is viewable online on the department’s website including a range of mapping along with extensive information on burns. This is kept up to date for the public to view.
Weeds
The focus of weeds during a burn off is generally whether they are fire responsive. If they are and a burn is planned to take place work is completed by the department to create weed management plans, set priorities and monitor the impact weeds would have. Bushcare principles are usually followed in the removal of weeds.
Community
The community can be notified by burns by letter box drops or electronic signage. All burns are put on the CFS website as well as the departments. Often the CFS participates in the burns.