Fire prevention and safety

Fire prevention includes all activities related to minimising the incidence of wildfire, particularly those of human origin. Effective fire prevention minimises wildfire damage to life, property, public land assets and values, and minimise suppression costs.

Wildfire prevention involves:

• Determining the origin, cause and impact of wildfires so that there is an accurate basis for development to effective fire prevention programs
• Influencing public attitudes and conduct with respect to the use of fire though education and enforcement of legislation, and
• Maintaining records to assist fire prevention

Why fire prevention matters

Given the suppression imperative that ‘prevention is better than cure’, fewer fires will:

• Reduce the threat to life, property and public land assets and values
• Reduce the level of fire damage
• Reduce the cost of suppression
• Maximise other fire-sensitive values, and
• Maintain Management options for ecological and silvicultural values