- Firewise Gardening guide helps homeowners and residents in
bushfire-prone areas
- New guide creates gardens to reduce the risk of property loss
or damage
- Guide developed in consultation with wide range of
stakeholders, including CSIRO
Western Australians living in bushfire-prone areas can now better protect their
homes against the destruction of a bushfire with landscaping advice from a new
Firewise Gardening guide.
Emergency
Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the free guide provided valuable insights
into the types of plants and their location around the home to help reduce the
impact of fire.
The
guide was developed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services at their
Bushfire Centre of Excellence (BCoE) in consultation with industry experts,
including the CSIRO, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions and local governments.
A review
by the BCoE on current landscaping practices in the State's bushfire-prone
areas revealed the need for a local Western Australian perspective.
Research
shows that the type of plants you choose, their position on the property and
the way they are managed as they grow are key factors that can either increase
the risk of damage or protect a home from a bushfire, even if the resident
isn't there.
The
Firewise Gardening guide provides advice on practices and assists at-risk
residents in bushfire preparation.
The guide
is available for download on the DFES website at dfes.wa.gov.au/hazard-information/bushfire/bcoe#bushfire-resources.
Comments attributed to Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"This new gardening guide
is another important tool that Western Australians can use to help protect
their homes against the destruction of a bushfire.
"The Firewise Gardening
guide provides people with free and practical advice on how to shield and
reduce the level of impact on their property from fire damage through
landscaping and the right choice of plants.
"The Cook Government is
investing an additional $140 million into equipping our first responders to
fight fires, but here is something simple and effective that residents can do
to make a difference.
"DFES recorded 1,000 more
bushfires this southern bushfire season compared to the previous year and considering
more than 93 per cent of our State is bushfire-prone, no one can afford to be
complacent.
"This comprehensive guide
will help homeowners and residents take charge of their bushfire risk by
designing and managing their own gardens to help their home withstand the force
of a fire."
