Farmers urged to act now on fuel reduction

TasFarmers is calling on landholders across Tasmania to take advantage of the current winter conditions by conducting safe and responsible fuel reduction burns.

A controlled burn takes place on a Tasmanian property as part of a winter fuel reduction effort. Picture by Samuel Tracy.

Tasmanian farmers are among the state’s largest custodians and managers of forested land. Over several decades, weather conditions have become more variable, leading to hotter summers, increased fuel loads and larger fires.

These increasingly dry conditions are placing landscapes, infrastructure and communities at greater risk of impact and destruction by fire.

TasFarmers President Ian Sauer said every summer the Tasmanian landscape has been impacted by fires, many of them catastrophic, and we must learn from this to do nothing is not an option, it is imperative we reduce the flammable fuel loads on our bush through fuel reduction burns.

"Now is the safest time for fuel reduction, offering the most effective way to protect our farms, broader communities, and the volunteers, many of whom are farmers and step up when fires take hold," Mr Sauer said.

"Fuel reduction is not only about fire safety, but it also supports the environment and our economy. Properly managed burns enhance biodiversity, encourage regrowth, provide wildlife habitats, and support carbon sequestration through new plant growth."

TasFarmers is encouraging those landholders who are unsure of doing a fuel reduction burn to work with the Red Hot Tips program to develop plans and ensure burns are conducted safely and effectively.

Mr Sauer said, "This is the perfect time for people to educate themselves on fire behaviour, reduce fuel loads, now is the time to take advantage and build your skills.

“If you or your neighbours want to get together to write up a fuel reduction plan for your farms, winter conditions make it very safe and manageable, and help is available from the team at Red Hot Tips.

"Red Hot Tips delivers a program statewide that helps private landholders plan and conduct safe fuel reduction burns. The program provides training, advice, and support to increase landowner confidence in managing bushfire risk.

“Most importantly, don’t forget to register your burn. If a fire is reported and not registered, local brigades are required to respond, diverting resources unnecessarily,” Mr Sauer said.

For information on planning and registering a burn, or to access support, contact Sam Tacey, Coordinator - Red Hot Tips, at samuel.tacey@fire.tas.gov.au or 0417 153 620.