Fire management | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Source: https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/management/fire
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:20
Fire management | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
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Fire management
Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is responsible for managing fire in forests, parks, nature reserves and other lands that it manages.
Hopeland bushfire, January 2020. Photo by Jayden Vitler/DBCA
Parks and Wildlife Service at DBCA is responsible for managing fire in forests, parks, nature reserves and other lands that it manages by:
managing fuel loads through prescribed burning and other means
responding to bushfires
undertaking research into fire behaviour and effects.
Fire has been present in the Western Australian landscape for millions of years – since long before the arrival of humans – and it has influenced the evolution of plants and animals.
DBCA has considerable knowledge of the relationship between fire and the environment, which is underpinned by scientific research. This understanding allows the department to apply fire under prescribed conditions to help maintain the state’s biodiversity and to protect life, property and community values from the damaging impacts of bushfires.
DBCA's fire management practices are internationally recognised and highly regarded.
Western Australia is the only state that has maintained the expertise to conduct efficient and precise prescribed burning in both dry and wet forests.
Phil Cheney, Former Head of CSIRO Bushfire Research
Fire Management Strategy
The Fire Management Strategy outlines the key strategic priorities for fire management across the breadth of DBCA’s bushfire risk mitigation and suppression responsibilities. The document has been updated to ensure key strategies are current and input was sought and incorporated into the draft from a range of internal and external stakeholders.
Women in fire management
DBCA is committed to increasing gender diversity in its workforce, particularly in our fire management business where the number of women involved has been traditionally low. This plan describes the objectives, priorities and actions to help achieve the vision.
Download the Women in Fire Management Action Plan 2019-22 at the bottom of this page.
Education
DBCA provides nature-based activities for school students in and around the Perth area, including Fire Biology – a force of life and Fire Geography – a natural hazard for years 10 to 12. For more information about these and other programs visit
Nearer to Nature
.
Links to related external agencies
Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre
The Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre is conducting research into the social, environmental and economic impacts of bushfires.
Visit website
Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council
The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) is the industry body for fire, land management and emergency service organisations in Australia and New Zealand.
Visit website
CSIRO
CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.
Visit website
Department of Fire and Emergency Services
As Western Australia's leading hazard management agency, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) performs a critical role coordinating emergency services for a range of natural disasters and emergency incidents threatening life and property.
Visit website
DFES - Bushfire
Bushfires happen every summer, they can start suddenly and without warning. People have been killed or seriously injured, and homes destroyed during bushfires. If you live in or near bush, fire is a real risk to you and your family.
Visit website
Downloads
Document
DBCA Fire Management Strategy
-
2.06 MB
(PDF)
Last updated 20-04-2023
Document
Women in Fire Management Action Plan 2019-22
-
9.77 MB
(PDF)
Last updated 20-04-2023
Socials
Related
Bushfires
Bushfires
Bushfires are inevitable in the fire-prone landscapes of Western Australia.
Fire information notes
Fire information notes
A series of fire information notes have been developed to assist landowners and occupiers to manage fuel loads while minimising impacts to threatened species and ecological communities.
Fire science
Fire science
Fire research and development, and the key scientific principles of fire management
Fuel management and bushfire suppression
Fuel management and bushfire suppression
Prescribed burning can make a major difference to the success of bushfire suppression operations.
Prescribed burning
Prescribed burning
Prescribed burning is the process of planning and applying fire to a predetermined area, under specific environmental conditions, to achieve a desired outcome.
You might also be interested in
Cultural burning
Cultural burning
Traditional burning practices enhancing the health of country and culture.
Fire and the environment
Fire and the environment
Fire has been part of the Australian landscape for millions of years.
Fire ecology of obligate-seeder eucalypt woodlands in the Great Western Woodlands
Fire ecology of obligate-seeder eucalypt woodlands in the Great Western Woodlands
Effects of fire in the world’s largest temperate woodland.
Skip to main content
Fire management
Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is responsible for managing fire in forests, parks, nature reserves and other lands that it manages.
Hopeland bushfire, January 2020. Photo by Jayden Vitler/DBCA
Parks and Wildlife Service at DBCA is responsible for managing fire in forests, parks, nature reserves and other lands that it manages by:
managing fuel loads through prescribed burning and other means
responding to bushfires
undertaking research into fire behaviour and effects.
Fire has been present in the Western Australian landscape for millions of years – since long before the arrival of humans – and it has influenced the evolution of plants and animals.
DBCA has considerable knowledge of the relationship between fire and the environment, which is underpinned by scientific research. This understanding allows the department to apply fire under prescribed conditions to help maintain the state’s biodiversity and to protect life, property and community values from the damaging impacts of bushfires.
DBCA's fire management practices are internationally recognised and highly regarded.
Western Australia is the only state that has maintained the expertise to conduct efficient and precise prescribed burning in both dry and wet forests.
Phil Cheney, Former Head of CSIRO Bushfire Research
Fire Management Strategy
The Fire Management Strategy outlines the key strategic priorities for fire management across the breadth of DBCA’s bushfire risk mitigation and suppression responsibilities. The document has been updated to ensure key strategies are current and input was sought and incorporated into the draft from a range of internal and external stakeholders.
Women in fire management
DBCA is committed to increasing gender diversity in its workforce, particularly in our fire management business where the number of women involved has been traditionally low. This plan describes the objectives, priorities and actions to help achieve the vision.
Download the Women in Fire Management Action Plan 2019-22 at the bottom of this page.
Education
DBCA provides nature-based activities for school students in and around the Perth area, including Fire Biology – a force of life and Fire Geography – a natural hazard for years 10 to 12. For more information about these and other programs visit
Nearer to Nature
.
Links to related external agencies
Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre
The Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre is conducting research into the social, environmental and economic impacts of bushfires.
Visit website
Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council
The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) is the industry body for fire, land management and emergency service organisations in Australia and New Zealand.
Visit website
CSIRO
CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.
Visit website
Department of Fire and Emergency Services
As Western Australia's leading hazard management agency, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) performs a critical role coordinating emergency services for a range of natural disasters and emergency incidents threatening life and property.
Visit website
DFES - Bushfire
Bushfires happen every summer, they can start suddenly and without warning. People have been killed or seriously injured, and homes destroyed during bushfires. If you live in or near bush, fire is a real risk to you and your family.
Visit website
Downloads
Document
DBCA Fire Management Strategy
-
2.06 MB
(PDF)
Last updated 20-04-2023
Document
Women in Fire Management Action Plan 2019-22
-
9.77 MB
(PDF)
Last updated 20-04-2023
Socials
Related
Bushfires
Bushfires
Bushfires are inevitable in the fire-prone landscapes of Western Australia.
Fire information notes
Fire information notes
A series of fire information notes have been developed to assist landowners and occupiers to manage fuel loads while minimising impacts to threatened species and ecological communities.
Fire science
Fire science
Fire research and development, and the key scientific principles of fire management
Fuel management and bushfire suppression
Fuel management and bushfire suppression
Prescribed burning can make a major difference to the success of bushfire suppression operations.
Prescribed burning
Prescribed burning
Prescribed burning is the process of planning and applying fire to a predetermined area, under specific environmental conditions, to achieve a desired outcome.
You might also be interested in
Cultural burning
Cultural burning
Traditional burning practices enhancing the health of country and culture.
Fire and the environment
Fire and the environment
Fire has been part of the Australian landscape for millions of years.
Fire ecology of obligate-seeder eucalypt woodlands in the Great Western Woodlands
Fire ecology of obligate-seeder eucalypt woodlands in the Great Western Woodlands
Effects of fire in the world’s largest temperate woodland.