Lyla Lindsey
Australia has been battling wildfires for years, and with climate change, the situation is only getting worse. One of the strategies used to combat these wildfires is back burning or backburning, a planned burning operation used to control the spread of an uncontrolled fire. This strategy has been a topic of debate, with some arguing for its effectiveness in reducing fire risk and others pointing out its limitations and hazards. While it is not a cure-all solution, back burning is a valuable tool when used in conjunction with other strategies and under the right conditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Controlled burning | Controlled burning is also known as "burning off" and is done without careful documentation or prescription settings. |
| Prescribed burning | Refers to fires that have been carefully planned and documented before implementation with a clearly stated set of management objectives. |
| Back burning | A planned burning operation used to control the spread of an uncontrolled fire. |
| Burning-out | Involves small or very large areas of deliberate lighting, but is done within the limits of an existing fire area. |
| Hazard reduction | The planned prescribed use of fire to strategically reduce fine fuel hazards to manage native vegetation and protect assets, life, and biodiversity. |
| Backburning vs Prescribed burning | Backburning is one special form of prescribed burning, but prescribed burning is far broader than just backburning. |
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What You'll Learn
- Back burning is a planned burning operation to control the spread of an uncontrolled fire
- Prescribed burning is a broader strategy to combat bushfires
- Controlled burning is opposed by the Australian Greens
- Burning to prevent fires is regulated and carried out by state agencies
- Back burning is risky and difficult and must be sanctioned by the Incident Controller of a Wildfire
Back burning is a planned burning operation to control the spread of an uncontrolled fire
Back burning is a strategic firefighting technique used to control the spread of an uncontrolled fire. It is a planned burning operation that involves lighting a new, independent fire ahead of a wildfire front to remove all the fuels from a designated control line back to the wildfire. This creates a fire belt that the wildfire has difficulty crossing, preventing its spread. Back burning is a major strategic decision that must be sanctioned by the Incident Controller of a wildfire. It is a risky and challenging strategy to implement and requires extensive consideration and skilled fire crews.
Back burning is also known as a controlled or prescribed burn, and is used to reduce the risk of fire by decreasing fuel buildup. It is often carried out during the cooler months and at night when temperatures are lower, and is particularly effective in grasslands and prairies. The technique can support the diversity of plants and animals in areas prone to fires, and has been used for millennia by indigenous peoples to promote biodiversity.
In Australia, controlled burning is regulated and carried out by state agencies, and is supported by the Australian Greens, provided it is carried out under expert guidance. It is a key tool in managing bushfires, but it is just one part of a broader strategy needed to combat extreme fires.
While back burning can be an effective strategy, there are risks involved. If a backfire spreads, it may worsen the wildfire. Therefore, it requires extensive experience and the right conditions to be effective.
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Prescribed burning is a broader strategy to combat bushfires
Prescribed burning, also known as controlled burning, is a broader strategy to combat bushfires. It is a carefully planned and documented process, implemented under specific conditions based on fire science. The primary objective is to reduce the fuel available for bushfires, thereby decreasing their speed, intensity, and potential for damage. This strategy is particularly effective against bushfires driven by fuel levels rather than extreme weather conditions, which account for around 95% of fires.
Prescribed burning is conducted by fire experts who assess the conditions on the ground, including temperature, humidity, wind, and vegetation moisture, to determine the ideal conditions for burning. This process ensures that the burning is carried out safely and effectively.
In Australia, prescribed burning has been practised for millennia by indigenous Australians and is now a key tool in managing bushfires. It is especially relevant in the context of a warming and drying climate in south-eastern Australia, where the risk of fire-prone forests increases.
However, prescribed burning is not a standalone solution. It is one part of a comprehensive strategy that includes other methods such as mechanical thinning, slashing, and weed control. Additionally, individual property preparedness is crucial for the success of prescribed burning.
While prescribed burning can reduce the intensity and spread of bushfires, it may not be sufficient to stop all wildfires, especially under extreme weather conditions. Nevertheless, it remains a valuable tool in mitigating the impact of bushfires and protecting communities, the environment, and biodiversity.
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Controlled burning is opposed by the Australian Greens
Controlled burning, also known as prescribed burning, is a fire management strategy that has been used in the Australian landscape for millennia by indigenous Australians. In recent times, land management professionals have refined landscape-scale burning as a modern bushfire mitigation tool, and indigenous Australians have been reintroducing traditional burning techniques.
However, the effectiveness of controlled burning in preventing wildfires has been questioned, especially in the context of Australia's increasingly extreme weather conditions. While some argue that controlled burning can help limit the spread of fires and make them easier to put out, others, like Swansea University professor Stefan Doerr, believe that it is less effective under extreme drought conditions.
Controlled burning has become a contentious issue in Australian politics, with some politicians blaming environmental activism, specifically the Australian Greens, for hindering controlled burning efforts. The Greens, who are not in government at either the national or state level, have denied these accusations, stating that they support controlled burning when carried out under expert guidance. They argue that the major parties are not doing enough to address climate change, which is a key contributor to the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires.
Despite the debate, controlled burning remains a regulated practice in Australia, carried out by state agencies like the fire service, park authority, or environment body. In areas of special environmental value or near heritage sites, national-level permission is required. The effectiveness of controlled burning depends on various factors, including weather conditions, the timing of burns, and the expertise of those conducting the burns. While it can be an essential tool in managing fire risk, it is just one part of a broader strategy needed to combat Australia's extreme fires.
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Burning to prevent fires is regulated and carried out by state agencies
Burning to prevent fires, also known as prescribed burning, is a key tool in managing bushfires. It is a carefully planned and documented process, carried out under specific conditions and based on fire science. This practice is regulated and executed by state agencies, including the relevant fire service, park authority, or environment body.
For instance, the NSW Rural Fire Service sets targets for the number of homes protected by prescribed burning. In the 2018-19 year, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, part of the NSW government, burned 139,500 hectares, slightly exceeding its target. Similarly, the state-owned NSW Forestry Corporation treated 20,555 hectares, falling short of its goal. Victoria, another Australian state, has also implemented plans to burn a percentage of public land annually.
The process of prescribed burning involves reducing fuel hazards to protect assets, life, and biodiversity. It includes removing fuel from areas that are not intended to burn, such as fence lines, infrastructure, or vegetation meant to be preserved. Before conducting a prescribed burn, staff undertake environmental assessments and ensure the availability of unburnt habitat for populations to use during regeneration.
While prescribed burning is a crucial strategy, it is just one component of a broader approach to combating bushfires. It may not be effective under extreme weather conditions, and other methods, such as mechanical thinning, slashing, and weed control, are also employed. Additionally, individual property preparedness is essential for the success of prescribed burning.
Indigenous Australians have a long history of using fire in the landscape, known as "fire-stick farming." They have reintroduced traditional burning techniques, contributing to the management of ecosystems and environments.
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Back burning is risky and difficult and must be sanctioned by the Incident Controller of a Wildfire
Back burning, or backburning, is a planned burning operation used to control the spread of an uncontrolled fire. It is a form of indirect fire control, involving the lighting of a new, independent fire ahead of a wildfire front. This removes the fuel that the wildfire would otherwise consume as it spreads.
Back burning is a risky and difficult strategy to implement. It requires extensive consideration and skilled fire crews. The process involves burning back into the wind, and when the backburn meets the fire front, the local fire intensity increases. Therefore, back burning must be sanctioned by the Incident Controller of a Wildfire.
Incident Controllers make the major strategic decision to initiate a back burn. This decision is based on the specific conditions of the wildfire. Back burning is one form of prescribed burning, which is a broader term for fires that have been carefully planned and documented with clearly stated management objectives. Prescribed burning is also known as controlled burning.
Prescribed burning is a key tool in managing bushfires, particularly in fire-prone forests on public and private lands. It saves lives, property, and biodiversity. However, it is not a solution for all bushfires, as intense bushfires driven by extreme weather conditions will not be stopped by prescribed burning.
In Australia, there is a debate about the effectiveness of prescribed burning, with some regions achieving less than the targeted amount of prescribed burning before the peak fire season. Climate change also poses new challenges for fire authorities, as a warming and drying climate in southeastern Australia demands urgent and appropriate strategies.
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Frequently asked questions
Back burning, or backburning, is a planned burning operation used to control the spread of an uncontrolled fire. It is used as an indirect form of fire control and should be carried out by skilled fire crews.
No, back burning is not banned in Australia. However, it is a major strategic decision that must be made by an Incident Controller at a wildfire.
Back burning is important as it helps to limit the spread and impact of bushfires, making them easier and safer to suppress. It is also a way to remove flammable vegetation, thereby reducing the risk of fires spreading.
