Penrith Bush Fire Management Committee Bush Fire Risk ...

PENRITH BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DRAFT BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN
2.1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Summary of Bush Fire Risk Factors
Identification of the level of bush fire risk within the Penrith Council area involved analysis of
the following key components:
• The bush fire issues within the Penrith Council area area;
• Assets with socio-economic value to the community
• Assets with environmental or cultural heritage value
This chapter briefly describes each of these components and outlines how they influence the
bush fire risk.
2.2 Bush Fire Issues Within the Penrith Council area
This section outlines the bush fire history of the Penrith Council area, and broadly identifies
the climatic, vegetation (fuel), and ignition factors, which influence the bush fire problem in
the area. Refer to map.12
2.2.1 Bush Fire History
Prior to 1948, bushfires regularly occurred in the pastoral and forested areas of the Penrith
Council area. From 1948 hazard reduction commenced and a fire trail network was
progressively established. Major wildfires have now been virtually excluded from large parts
of the Penrith Council area.
Significant fire seasons have occurred in the Penrith Council area area in 1968, 1977, 1981,
1990, 1993/94, 1997/8 and 2000. These seasons coincided with extended drought periods,
and fires burning in these seasons burnt extensive areas. Other smaller fires, which had the
potential to develop into major fires, have been contained within three to four hours. In recent
times, the clearing of bush land to provide for development in the rural areas has seen the
breaking up of the continuous line of bush land, which has supported fires in the past. The
introduction to the district of market gardening has seen land usage change from grazing to
crops. Sand Mining occurs in the North Western sector of the Penrith Council area providing
breaks for fires threatening from the adjoining Blue Mountains National Park.
2.2.2 Climate
(a) General
The climate in the Penrith Bush Fire District is warm subtropical with a well defined
summer/autumn rainfall peak (January to March) and a dry winter and spring. The
temperature and rainfall conditions vary across the Penrith Council area. The rainfall can be
unreliable during the normal late winter/spring period. Winter and early Spring frosts
generally cause the grasslands to cure rapidly.
Average monthly summer temperature – High 28
Average monthly winter temperature – Low 4.5
Average monthly summer rainfall 64mm
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