Sustainable Practices Managing bushfires in Queensland Information adapted from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (2014).

Causes of bushfires can include:  Natural causes (lightning)  Causes from human actions (Arson, accidental etc.)

Practices to reduce the impacts of bushfires are … (Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, 2014)

Planned burning  This enables people to control fires in rural areas.  This is an important practice as it is vital for ecosystem resilience, as some species depend on fire to regenerate.  It also allows for modifying the fuel hazard or damage potential of certain areas.  This is done by allowing the planned burning to remove the long grass, trees etc. from the area, which reduces the fuel hazard tremendously.

Mowing, slashing, ploughing and mulching the ground  This reduces the fuel hazard on public land  This is important for farmers to implement because they have a vast amount of land for their crops and livestock

Fire breaks  This means that all fuel hazard is removed, or a gap in vegetation has been created as a barrier to slow or stop the progress of a bushfire.

Following community warnings  Community members should follow community warnings about bushfires and act reasonably to ensure they stay safe from any impacts of the bushfires.

Legal and responsible use of fire  Through law enforcements and community regulations, the legal and responsible use of fire is enforced on community members.  It can be either on purpose or an accident for a bushfire to start.  Through ensuring the legal and responsible use of fire, communities can remain safe and reduce or minimise the impacts of bushfires occurring.

Evacuation plans and Emergency fire kit  People can implement this practice themselves as it can be put in place to ensure that people remain safe from bushfires.  If there were a bushfire to occur, people would know the safest and quickest way to exit a building, house or area.  Emergency kits ensure that people remain safe, and will remain safe after evacuating the building, house or area.

Other practices…  Removing rubbish from the ground  Remove overhanging branches  Use netting to capture leaves around the house or yard  Keep lawn short  Keep piles of wood away from buildings, homes or certain areas.  Checking weather conditions regularly  Acting immediately and safely when noticing a bushfire  Inform authorities immediately and safely when noticing a bushfire

References Australian Government. (2014). Geoscience australia, what is a bushfire? Retrieved from Department of Environment and Primary Industries. (2014). Code of practice for bushfire management on public land, state government Victoria. Retrieved from Bushfire-Management-on-Public-Land.pdf Department of Fire and Emergency Services. (2014). Government of Western Australia bushfire patrol, middle primary. Retrieved from -teacherresources.aspx The State of Queensland Department of Community Safety. (2014). Rural fire service queensland. Retrieved from