Fuel reduction burns begin

Fuel reduction burns will soon take place in communities such as Spreyton, Rocky Cape and Sisters Beach, Arthur River, St Marys, St Helens and Upper Scamander, the Plenty Valley, Hobart, Sandfly, Nubeena, and Port Arthur. 

With recent rainfalls and cooler temperatures, the risk of bushfire has eased in some parts of Tasmania, and partner agencies in the Fuel Reduction Program - along with other organisations such as Local Councils and other land managers - have started their autumn fuel reduction programs and fuel reduction burns will become more frequent in the weeks ahead.

“With the scaling down of the West Coast bushfire, Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT), Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) and Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) are now monitoring conditions to undertake fuel reduction burns,” said Acting Director Chris Collins from TFS Community Fire Safety. 

“With most parts of the state receiving some rain, along with cooler temperatures and more stable conditions during autumn, conditions are becoming suitable to undertake fuel reduction burns.”

“Undertaken at lower intensities and targeting surface and near surface fuels, fuel reduction burns are an important tool to help manage the risk of bushfire”.

“In recent days PWS has undertaken fuel reductions burns in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) at New River Lagoon and Catamaran River, and they are also planning burns in Tasman National Park, and in the TWWHA near Cradle Valley.”

“During summer we saw first-hand how previous fuel reduction burns made parts of the West Coast bushfires safer to control, allowing our firefighters to protect property and other key values.”

Fuel reduction burns remain a critical tool in management of bushfire risk in Tasmania, particularly for the many communities that are adjacent bushland areas. Autumn remains the safest time to undertake fuel reduction burns - the cooler temperatures and stable weather conditions minimise the risk of escapes. 

“All Fuel Reduction Program burns are carefully planned and managed to minimise impacts on natural and cultural values, including the impact of smoke on residents and nearby industry,” said Mr Collins.

“While nearby towns may experience some smoke from burns and some areas may be closed during burns, fuel reduction burns continue to receive strong support from Tasmanians.”

“We would like to thank landowners, Councils, volunteers, and the community for their continued support of the fuel reduction program.

“It is a good time for landowners to start preparations for next bushfire season. Now is a good chance to get to those jobs you didn’t quite get done before last summer.

“This might be reviewing your Bushfire Plan, working outside to prepare your home, or undertaking fuel reduction activities. The TFS website has lots of information on how property owners can safely do their part to reduce the risk of bushfire to themselves and their neighbours’.

Further information on the Fuel Reduction Program, including a map showing all planned burns for Autumn 2025 is available via the ‘What’s Burning Now?” page of the Tasmania Fire Service website. The Tas Alerts App can also be set to send notifications when fuel reduction burns commence in a designated ‘watch zone’.