The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) carries out hazard reduction burns and other hazard reduction activities like slashing, mowing or creating fuel breaks to reduce the risk of bushfire.

The risk of bushfires cannot be eliminated but their impacts can be reduced by effective planning and bushfire management. It is a combined effort to manage bushfire risk and we all play a role.

  • A firefighter using a fire lighter to burn grass
    Pisgah Ridge hazard reduction burn near Glenbrook in the Blue Mountains National Park .
    Credit: David Croft/DPE
    Staff from Greater Sydney and Blue Mountains undertaking the Pisgah Ridge hazard reduction burn near Glenbrook in the Blue Mountains National Park
  • Fire flames and sparks in woodland with blackened tree trunks.
    Brindabella hazard reduction burn.
    Credit: Ian Dicker/DPE
    Hazard reduction burn in progress at Brindabella National Park
  • A firefighter in full uniform flying a helicopter while smoke rises up from the hazard reduction burn below
    Pilots flying over the burn in Brindabella National Park.
    Credit: Ian Dicker/DPE
    Pilots view of smoke from Tumbledown hazard reduction burn over the Brindabella National Park
  • Firefighter in a 'National Parks and Wildlife' uniform watching as bushland burns at nighttime.
    Hazard reduction at night .
    Credit: Dave Croft/DPE
    Hazard reduction burn at night in the Georges River National Park
  • Person in high-visibility gear being lowered out of a helicopter
    RAFT Remote Area Fire Team.
    Credit: S Leathers/DPE
    Remote Area Fire Team (RAFT) member winching out of helicopter
  • NPWS officr standing with the door of his vehicle open while he talks on the radio.
    Communications fire training.
    Credit: J Spencer/DPE
    Communications fire training in the Lower North Coast
  • 5 volunteer fire fighters standing between 2 fire trucks, inspecting a hose.
    Fire training.
    Credit: J Spencer/DPE
    Fire training in the Lower North Coast
  • A row of utes with sirens and fire decals parked alongside a dirt road while a small grass fire burns
    Cat 9 vehicles.
    Credit: Tom Denman/DPE
    Cat 9 vehicles on track used for control line hazard reduction burn, Yarriabini National Park

Fuel reduction

Fuel is any flammable material that might catch fire and burn. In national parks, fuel consists of accumulated deadwood and vegetation. Removing this fuel can significantly reduce the risk of bushfire.

The main fuel source for bushfires is dead vegetation that is thinner than a pencil, known as fine fuel, and bark from trees. We work to reduce fine fuel, which includes leaves and fallen bark on the ground and elevated fuel, including twigs, leaves and grasses just above the ground surface.

Hazard reduction burns

A hazard reduction burn is a type of planned burn that is used to reduce the overall fuel load and bushfire hazard.

Hazard reduction burning is also referred to as prescribed burning or planned burning. Each hazard reduction burn is the result of careful planning, consultation and monitoring, as well as a rigorous approval process. Burns can only be undertaken when the weather conditions are just right.

Early detection system

Early detection is critical to managing the risk of bushfire. We have a comprehensive fire detection system in place for our national parks.

Elements of our fire detection system include:

  • multi-agency detection towers located in strategic points throughout the state
  • regular monitoring of lightning strike tracker systems and Bureau of Meteorology
  • deployment of observation aircraft following storms
  • regular patrols of vulnerable areas during periods of heightened fire weather.

Maintaining fire roads and trails

Regular maintenance of internal roads and trails in national parks is important for firefighting access. Roads and trails also provide control lines to assist in fire containment.

Strategic fire trails are identified in park management plans and fire management strategies specific to each national park, as well as in fire access and fire trail plans, which are prepared by local bushfire management committees. 

Staff training

We have more than 1,200 staff trained in a variety of firefighting roles from crew members to incident controllers.

Firefighters are trained and equipped for firefighting anywhere in Australia and in some overseas locations. Staff are trained in specialist roles such as aviation, remote area firefighting and prescribed burning.

For most staff, firefighting is only part of their conservation work. Many are also rangers, field officers, technical officers, managers, administrative personnel and project officers.

Our fire-trained staff are required to meet annual recertification and fitness programs so they can respond quickly and safely to bushfires. We develop and deliver fire, incident and aviation training courses and fire fitness programs for our staff.

Community awareness

We provide information to promote community awareness of bushfire risk. This is an important component of fire management. We also issue alerts and information about national park fire bans and closures.

Local communities can contribute to fire management strategies. This helps to raise awareness of the complexities of managing bushfire risk.

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