Bushfires, Trees & Houses

Check with the local brigade

A bushfire can be one of the most terrifying of all natural phenomena - particularly when it is threatening houses, and especially your home.

Many people worry that ornamental trees and shrubs in their garden increase the danger to their house during a bushfire. They are also concerned about native bushland close to houses.

Flammable trees, shrubs, and dead plant material near a house can be dangerous, and burning embers can start spot fires ahead of a wildfire, but properly planned and managed gardens may actually reduce the danger from bushfires.

Although most shrubs will burn, given the right conditions, there are many species which help to minimise the risk, and even reduce fire intensity.

There are many hints and procedures available to protect your home during a bushfire. For information on fire prevention activities and bushfire fighting, check with your local council or the Bush Fire Brigade.

This information leaflet will help you to plan tree and shrub plantings in a fire-hazardous district.

Planning for a new house

When selecting a site for a new house the effect of bushfires should be considered. Fires travel faster uphill and in front of the wind, which is likely to blow from the north-west, west or south-west on a serious fire day. The northern aspect is certainly warmer in winter, but may be more dangerous during a wildfire.

Fires may become more intense on the edges of cliffs or saddles between ridges. You should consider this if buying a house block in fire-prone suburbs.

When clearing for a house in a fire prone location consider the types of trees to be retained near the property. Rough bark trees can produce more fire brands and burning embers than smooth bark species that can impact on a structure. The main aim it to keep the amount of fuel such as leaves, twigs, logs, dead grass in the vicinity of the house to a minimum. Fires will not burn if there is no fuel.

In planning your garden:

maintain a clear area, possibly, lawn, near the house
plant trees at a distance (at least five metres) from the house so that limbs and branches will not hang over the roof, dropping leaves in the gutters
plant trees and shrubs far enough apart so that there isn’t a continuous canopy which could carry fire to the house
consider planting trees at a safe distance from your property to provide a windbreak on the side from which fires are expected. This will reduce the wind near the house and reduce the fire’s intensity and the rate at which it spreads. It can also intercept burning embers carried by the wind

Your garden should be managed so that:

there is no build-up of dried material near the house. Mow lawn, remove fallen material and leaves
no ladder of fuel exists from the ground to upper branches of trees and tall shrubs. Lower branches should be regularly pruned and removed from trees near the house. All branches touching or overhanging the house should be removed
remove dead branches and twigs and any strips of bark from trees to reduce fuels

Trees to avoid

Avoid using rough-barked or ribbon-barked trees near your property as they can produce fire brands and embers and also allow fires to spread into the tree tops. Some examples include;