One year on from the devastating Victorian bushfires and after four major fires in southern NSW this summer, landowners are being urged to prepare a fire safety plan for their property.
One key element to this plan is having a fire safety inspection carried out by the Rural Fire Service (RFS).
Following an initiative from Cootamundra landowners Jim and Win Main, officers from the NSW Rural Fire Service South West Slopes Zone have carried out fire safety inspections on a number of rural properties and the RFS is keen to expand this service for regional residents.
The benefits for both landowners and the RFS are many and this proactive approach is seen as an essential part of bushfire preparedness in the future.
Superintendent Trevor Reeves from the Harden RFS Fire Control Centre is pleased that some landowners have had a fire safety inspection completed.
“Owners of small sized properties close to towns are often most at risk from bushfires.
“Often these residents are new to the area and are unfamiliar with the hazards that currently exist on their property and in the
district.
“Having a safety inspection carried out by the RFS as part of a bushfire survival plan is a great start,” said Mr Reeves.
Win Main of ‘Treetops’, Cootamundra was pleased that she had taken the time to have their property inspected by officers from the RFS and receive information that would help them prepare for a bushfire.
“The fire safety inspection with the RFS was interesting and informative because we were considered to be fairly fire safe.
“We have some eucalypt trees on the south-west side of the house and have gravel underneath them and keep leaf litter away from their trunks.
“We use sheep to keep dry grass eaten and have a sprinkler system that sprays water onto the house,” said Mrs Main.
The Main’s are also planting different species of plants that are more fire tolerant than eucalypts.
“We are planting kurrajongs trees as we think they will cope better with fire and growing saltbush related species along fence lines that would catch embers from a bushfire,” said Mrs Main.
Recent research following the large number of bushfires in eastern Australia in the past decade suggests that in populated areas planting less flammable and more fire resistant species of plants rather than eucalypts has merit.
The research posed the question - is the eucalypt the right tree for planting near rural dwellings and buildings on hobby farms?
Oak, elm, kurrajongs, liquid amber, plane, poplar and peppercorn trees appear to offer homes and buildings greater protection from fire as they have a retardant effect and offer other advantages including producing less combustible leaf litter.
Other suitable trees include some wattle species and many fruit trees.
For private landowners, who have a choice of which types of vegetation to plant around their homes, seeking advice on which species to plant will be beneficial.
This is particularly important for people moving into a new region and who are unfamiliar with local environmental conditions.
It is also very relevant for people purchasing small hectare lots like hobby farms and lifestyle blocks for the first time.
These people have often previously lived in towns and cities and are not educated in the risks associated with bushfires and the practical measures that they can take to lower this risk.
The RFS can play an important role in helping local residents adopt a Bushfire Survival Plan for their property and the first step is to complete a fire safety inspection.
“The RFS is keen to help landowners understand the risk involved with bushfires and assess their individual property.
“Providing this advice is a free service to the community and a fire safety inspection can be the first step in preparing your property and understanding the potential of fire in your local area,” said Superintendent Reeves.
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