Fire
Fire is a natural process that has always occurred and will continue to occur in the Australian bush. Many Australian plant and animal species have evolved to survive in a fire prone environment and many species even rely on fire for their ongoing survival.
Historically lightning would have caused the majority of fires in NSW but the increasing occurrence of human lit fires (deliberate and accidental) as well as the growing need to contain fires to a small size and suppress bushfires to protect life and property are changing the balance of the natural fire regime. This regime will potentially be further influenced by the onset of climate change which predicts hotter and dryer weather in NSW and more days each year with extreme fire weather conditions.
Effective and efficient fire management for the protection of life and property and for biodiversity conservation is therefore of paramount importance in NSW. The management of fire is made more complex by issues such as the fragmentation of natural landscapes, pest plants and animals, and the proximity of urban and agricultural land to natural areas and is one of the many challenges faced by DECC as a primary land manager and a Fire Authority.
Find out more about the following fire topics:
- Learn about the complex relationship between fire and the NSW bush.
- DECC's approach to managing fire in NSW national parks to protect life and property and to conserve biodiversity.
- How to prepare for the fire season.