08/06/2026
🔥 A great example of bushfire fuel reduction done carefully and thoughtfully.
You'll often hear us encouraging landholders to reduce fuel loads around their properties. Just as importantly, we encourage people to do it safely, patiently and with a clear understanding of the risks involved.
This video shows a steep hillside property in a high-risk bushfire area where the owner has been undertaking small mosaic burns for nearly two decades. Rather than burning the entire 2-hectare property at once, they've gradually created a patchwork of different-aged vegetation and fuel loads across the landscape.
The footage was taken on Sunday, just before the arrival of the cold front and rain. Worth noting this is the first week of winter. Conditions were mild, but the fire still carried in almost zero wind — an example of how quickly fire can climb a slope.
What's remarkable is the owner had been trying to burn this particular section of hillside for more than ten years. Every opportunity was either too dry and dangerous, or too wet for the fire to carry effectively.
Sunday was absolute Goldilocks territory.
One of those rare days where the fire would carry through the fuel, but remain cool, slow-moving and easily contained. In drier and windier conditions, the same area could easily have developed into a wildfire.
The burn itself was only around 500m2, but contained fallen timber and decaying logs. There was also a risk of fire travelling underground through root systems and decomposing material, requiring careful monitoring.
The landholder was well prepared, with water on site, a fire pump and hose, and habitat trees protected prior to ignition.
Importantly, this hillside leads directly towards a rural residential area. Allowing fuel to continue accumulating here would increase risk not only to the property itself, but also neighbouring homes and the broader community.
This was important work that needed doing — but it's also a good demonstration of the care, preparation and patience required if you're planning to undertake fuel reduction yourself.
Although Augusta Margaret River Shire is currently in an open burning period, the landholder also notified DFES Comcen and the local Fire Control Officer before lighting up, helping ensure brigade volunteers weren't unnecessarily called out.
With winter conditions arriving, we encourage landholders to take advantage of the coming months to undertake fuel reduction where appropriate 👍.
