POLICY NO. 2/2007 FIRE TRAILS - NSW Rural Fire Service

Policy Cancellation
POLICY NO. 2/2007
FIRE TRAILS
The Bush Fire Coordinating Committee Policy No. 1/2003 – Fire Trails is hereby cancelled and is
replaced with this policy.
Rationale
The Rural Fires Act 1997 charges the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee (BFCC) with
responsibility for ensuring a coordinated response to fires for the protection of land, life, property
and the environment, consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development.
An adequate access network for fire fighting vehicles is essential for the protection of the
community and its assets.
Fire Trails and Access ways
All forms of access ways may potentially be of use for fire management. These include trails
constructed for purposes such as timber production, land management, recreational/tourism
activities, access to public and private property, as well as public roads and thoroughfares. All of
these access ways should be identified and recognised as part of the total fire access network, even
though they are not necessarily fire trails.
Fire trails exist to provide access for fire management purposes. The primary purpose of fire trails
is to provide access for fire fighting; without this primary role it is unlikely that they would exist.
Knowledge of the location, condition and vehicle carrying capacity of fire trails is essential in the
planning and management of suppression operations and mitigation activities. Fire trails can
provide access for fire fighting authorities to undertake initial attack and attempt early containment
of fires before they escalate into major fires that would incur significant suppression costs and
potentially significant damage to community and environmental assets.
In remote or undeveloped landscapes, or in difficult topography, fire trail densities may be low. In
these areas remote fire fighting techniques may be used as a preferred method of accessing fires.
Fire trails may be combined with other works to provide fire breaks, fire containment lines and the
like. Fire trails do not, of themselves, constitute these other entities, although they may occupy the
same place in the landscape, and provide a part of those features.
Consideration of fire trails and their adequacy are to be included in the bush fire risk management
planning process established by S52 of the Rural Fires Act 1997.
Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Policy No. 2/2007
Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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Notwithstanding their value in fire suppression, fire trails may have adverse impacts on
environmental, social and economic values. These impacts may include:
• Illegal activities taking advantage of improved access, such as arson, dumping, trespassing,
bush rock/soil and vegetation removal.
• Increased public access of a legal nature such as use of trail bikes and 4WDs, which may
lead to soil erosion and accelerated track degradation, noise nuisance and public safety
hazards.
• Degradation of native vegetation and biodiversity through edge effects and habitat
fragmentation, weed and pest invasion.
• Soil erosion and degradation of water quality, siltation of watercourses and storages.
• Damage to cultural heritage items and places.
• Cost of construction and maintenance.
The BFCC’s interest in fire trails is limited to fire management purposes. It is recognised that many
fire trails are used for other purposes as well.
Classification of Fire Trails
Fire trails need to be identified and identifiable in a consistent way so as to convey to fire
management personnel the condition, purpose and accessibility of the fire trail.
BFMCs must determine which access ways in their area are to be classed as ‘fire trails’. This
decision is to be reached by consensus, with a view to the entire fire access network within the area,
and adjoining areas where this is relevant (e.g. a main link road entering the BFMC’s area from the
neighbouring BFMC area).
Once the fire trails are identified, they are to be classified on the basis of strategic importance and
vehicle carrying capacity, as specified below. Two sets of classifications are to be made for each
fire trail: on current circumstances, and on desired future circumstances. Many trail classifications
will be the same in both circumstances.
Two classifications are required so that the current condition information is available for use during
fire fighting operations, while the desired future condition information is essential for the BFMC
and land owner/managers to make strategic decisions about ongoing management, maintenance and
upgrading. The difference between existing and desired future condition may involve a
classification going up (e.g. from important to essential), but may also include a classification going
down (e.g. from important to dormant because another, more strategically useful trail has been
upgraded taking over the main role of the first trail).
Strategic Classification
Essential: This is a fire trail without which fire response and suppression in an area would be
severely compromised. All reasonable efforts must be made to ensure that this trail is trafficable to
the agreed vehicle carrying capacity at all times. Sudden problems such as tree falls and land slips
should be rectified as soon as identified. This trail should be checked on occasions throughout each
year, and particularly before the commencement of the local bush fire season.
Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Policy No. 2/2007
Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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Physical barriers to vehicle access must not be deliberately installed, unless they are readily
broached by fire fighters. That is, a locked gate with key access for fire fighters would be
acceptable; fixed bollards, felled trees, piles of rock and the like would not be acceptable, as the
obstruction cannot be removed by a fire fighting crew without additional machinery.
Important: This is a fire trail that is required for fire management. If this trail was unusable due to
temporary circumstances, other trails could be used to contain a fire, albeit with some loss of fire
management efficiency. This trail should be trafficable to the agreed vehicle carrying capacity at all
times. This trail should be checked before the commencement of the local bush fire season.
Dormant: This is a track or trail that has been used at some time in the past, but where there is no
requirement for it to be constantly maintained in a trafficable state.
Vehicle Carrying Capacity
This policy is limited to the criteria required to specify the vehicle carrying capacity of various
roads, tracks and trails used for fire management purposes. This is about whether a vehicle can
physically pass from A to B, not whether it will be safe to do so in certain fire conditions. The
decision as to whether or not to use a trail under fire conditions must be made by the officer in
charge at the time of the fire, taking into account prevailing conditions.
Cat 1: This is a fire trail that can be safely traversed by a Category 1 fire fighting appliance.
Cat 7: This is a fire trail that can be safely traversed by a Category 7 fire fighting appliance.
Cat 9: This is a fire trail that can be safely traversed by a Category 9 fire fighting appliance.
Information on how to assess vehicle carrying capacity is provided at Annex A.
Fire Trail Registers
Bush Fire Management Committees must regularly maintain and update a Fire Trail Register for
their area of responsibility. Fire Trail Registers record information for administrative, planning and
operational purposes including location, strategic value and vehicle carrying capacity. Fire trail
registers are to be created and maintained in BRIMS. Fire trail register specifications are provided
at Annex B. A component of the fire trail register is a map. This map is not to be available to the
general public, due to the sensitivity of information it may contain, and the desire of landowners to
prevent unauthorised use of the trails so identified.
The BFMC must discuss and agree on an adequate fire access network for its area, across all land
tenures. This network is to include all types of access, including fire trails. The network must be
agreed on the basis of both existing and desired future standards.
In identifying fire trails, consideration should be given to the entire fire access network. Existing
tracks and trails may not be suitable for continued use and maintenance as fire trails, and
consideration should be given to reconstruction or realignment to achieve safer use or avoid
environmentally sensitive areas, or closure and rehabilitation of trails that are not required or which
have ongoing significant adverse environmental impacts. New trails may be proposed and
constructed.
Land owner/managers may make recommendations to the BFMC about the information to be
recorded in the fire trail register about trails on their estate. The BFMC must reach a decision as to
the names and categories assigned to the trails. These decisions are to be reached by consensus.
Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Policy No. 2/2007
Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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BFCC Policy 1/00 Dispute Avoidance – Dispute Resolution provides guidance if difficulty is
encountered in reaching agreed determinations.
Map Depiction of Fire Trails
There is a need to display a range of fire trail attributes on maps for a variety of purposes. Not all
attributes are required for all purposes.
Fire trails are to be depicted on maps in a consistent manner by all land managers/owners.
Depictions are to be in accordance with Annex C.
Fire Trail Signage
The purpose of marking fire trails is to convey sufficient information to fire crews on the
identification of the trail for fire fighting purposes. Consistent standards for signposting of fire trails
across NSW are provided at Annex D. The purpose of signs on fire trails is to provide information
to fire fighters to confirm the location of trails and other features. Signs for public education or
awareness purposes are outside the scope of this policy.
A sign is merely an indicator – it cannot convey all available information about a trail. The fire trail
sign is a link to another source of information about the trail: a map and/or register of trail
information, so that additional information can be sourced as required.
Fire fighting authorities’ need for signs is to ensure that fire fighting crews can check that they are
in the location they intended to be, specifically during fire fighting operations. That is, they need to
be able to check that they are in the place they were sent to, or are able to describe their location to
others.
Fire trail signs must be easily usable by fire fighters, be effective for their purpose, reliable, and it
must be realistic for land owners/mangers to install them. Fire trail signage needs to be undertaken
in the most efficient and effective means possible, recognising the need to minimise the cost of
implementation.
Signs may be prone to high levels of vandalism, theft, and degradation and trail condition can
change considerably under extreme weather conditions or through inappropriate use. Therefore
signs are only accurate at the time they were erected. Fire trail signage in no way diminishes the
responsibility of a fire fighter to inspect the condition of a fire trail prior to use, to drive within their
capacity and be able to read and understand a map.
Land management agencies and owners will determine maintenance and inspection requirements
for fire trail signs based on resources available and assessed risk.
Permanent Signs
Some permanent signs in an area are desirable. It is the prerogative of the local BFMC to decide
which signs are required for fire purposes, and for agencies to pursue funding for installation of
these. The decision as to what signage should be erected for other purposes is rightly the province
of the land owners/managers involved, and is not subject to the direction of the BFMC. It is also
reasonable for a land owner/manager to install fire trail signs for its convenience over and above
what the BFMC considers essential, if it wishes to do so.
In deciding whether to install permanent signs, the BFMC should consider:
Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Policy No. 2/2007
Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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• Strategic importance of the trail
• Bush fire risk and fire history of the locality serviced by the trail
• Needs and its benefit in aiding fire suppression operations
Temporary Signs
Temporary signs may be installed by land managers and fire fighting authorities as required. Signs
are to be in accordance with Annex D.
Construction and Maintenance of Fire Trails
Fire trails should be constructed and maintained to facilitate bush fire management activities while
ameliorating adverse impacts.
The BFMC should work together to ensure that all fire trails are inspected annually. This should be
a cooperative effort.
Best practice guidelines for construction and maintenance are attached at Annex E.
Review of Fire Trail Policy
The BFCC has agreed that this policy be reviewed by 1 August 2008.
Chairperson
1 August 2007
Annexures:
A. Assessment of Vehicle of Carrying Capacity.
B. Fire Trail Registers.
C. Map Depictions Standards for Fire Trails.
D. Fire Trail Marking and Signage.
E. Best Practice Guidelines for Fire Trail Construction and Maintenance.
Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Policy No. 2/2007
Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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Annex A to
BFCC Policy No. 2/2007
Assessment of Vehicle Carrying Capacity
Trails are to be assessed on their capacity to accommodate vehicle sizes as specified below.
Assessment can be made by measurement of specified dimensions along the trail, or can be tested in
the field by driving the vehicle along the trail. In this case the vehicle is to be driven by an
appropriately licensed and competent person. It must be possible for the vehicle to be driven safely
along the trail without damage to the vehicle due to overhanging vegetation, built structures, rough
trail surface or other physical impediments.
Category 1:
This is a fire trail that can be safely traversed by a Category 1 fire fighting appliance. A Category 1
fire fighting appliance generally has the following specifications:
Length
Width
Height
Ground clearance
Approach angle 35º
Departure angle 30º
Distance between axles for clearance of drains
Turning circle – wall to wall
Weight
8500 mm
2800 mm (including 400 mm for mirrors)
4000 mm (including 600 mm for aerials)
310 mm
4700 mm
22 m diameter
15000 kg
Category 7:
This is a fire trail that can be safely traversed by a Category 7 fire fighting appliance. A Category 7
fire fighting appliance generally has the following specifications:
Length
Width
Height
Ground clearance
Approach angle 35º
Departure angle 30º
Distance between axles for clearance of drains
Turning circle – wall to wall
Weight
6500 mm
2600 mm (including 400 mm for mirrors)
3200 mm (including 500 mm for aerials)
215 mm
3400 mm
17 m diameter
7000 kg
Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Policy No. 2/2007
Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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Category 9:
This is a fire trail that can be safely traversed by a Category 9 fire fighting appliance. A Category 9
fire fighting appliance generally has the following specifications:
Length
5500 mm
Width
2200 mm (including 400 mm for mirrors)
Height
2600 mm (including 400 mm for aerials)
Ground clearance
220 mm
Approach angle 35º
Departure angle 30º
Distance between axles for clearance of drains 3200 mm
Turning circle – wall to wall
16 m diameter
Weight
3700 kg
Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Policy No. 2/2007
Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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Fire Trail Registers
Annex B to
BFCC Policy No. 2/2007
Fire Trail Registers must contain the following information.
Field Name Field Type Comment/Description Who provides the data
Fire Trail Segment ID Unique identifier Provided by LPI.
Tenure
Land
owner/manager
list
Automatically drawn from
BRIMS
Fire Trail Map Spatial link Initial data provision by LPI,
checked and endorsed by land
manager.
Fire Trail Name Free text Allowance will be made for alias Proposed by land manager –
name/s
approved by BFMC.
Fire Trail Classification -
current
Fire Trail Classification –
desired future
Vehicle Carrying
Capacity - current
condition
Pick list
Pick list
Pick list
Will also include data for date of Proposed by land manager –
classification and identity of approved by BFMC.
person entering information.
Provision will be made for draft
entries and later adoption by the
BFMC.
Will also include data for date of Proposed by land manager –
classification and identity of approved by BFMC.
person entering information.
Provision will be made for draft
entries and later adoption by the
BFMC.
Will also include data for date of Proposed by land manager –
classification and identity of approved by BFMC.
person entering information.
Provision will be made for draft
entries and later adoption by the
BFMC.
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Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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Field Name Field Type Comment/Description Who provides the data
Vehicle Carrying
Capacity – desired future
condition
Pick list
The condition should be depicted Proposed by land manager –
on the map
approved by BFMC.
Will also include data for date of
classification and identity of
person entering information.
Provision will be made for draft
entries and later adoption by the
BFMC.
Permanent Signage Pick list Identifies if the fire trail segmentProposed by land manager –
requires permanent fire trail approved by BFMC.
signage.
Features Free text Include information on dead Land manager.
ends, float access, etc. Key
features to be identified and then
capable of being inserted onto the
map.
Access Restrictions
Pick list & free Temporary restrictions can be Land manager
text
identified as well as permanent -
temporary restrictions include
fallen trees etc.
May include locked gates,
bollards, grids, rocks, bridges,
creek crossings (width and load
limits) etc.
Note 1:
Additional data will be recorded in the future, as BRIMS capacity becomes available.
This additional information may include matters such as maintenance inspections, works
proposals and works carried out, bids for government funding grants.
Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Policy No. 2/2007
Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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Map Depiction Standards for Fire Trails
Annex C to
BFCC Policy No. 2/2007
Care must be taken when producing maps containing fire trail data to ensure that the data are
accurate and up to date. A notation about the currency and reliability of the data must be included
on any map. Care must also be taken to ensure that maps are clearly marked to indicate whether
they are displaying data relating to current or desired future condition.
FIRE TRAIL CLASSIFICATION
Essential Fire Trails:
Important Fire Trails:
Dormant trails:
FIRE TRAIL VEHICLE CARRYING CAPACITY
Fire trails with vehicle carrying capacity Cat 1 tanker
Fire trails with vehicle carrying capacity Cat 7 tanker
Fire trails with vehicle carrying capacity Cat 9 tanker
Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Policy No. 2/2007
Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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Annex D to
BFCC Policy No. 2/2007
Fire Trail Marking & Signage
Where fire trail signs are to be installed, they are to meet the following minimum standard:
Permanent Signs
Essential
• Must show the name of the trail
• Minimum lettering size – 50 mm height
• Clearly indicate the direction of the trail
The minimum standard for fire trail name signs is a
chevron sign design. Note: existing signs installed
by land management agencies, such as routed
wooden signs used for recreation, scenic and high
visitation areas, are considered to be of a higher
standard than the basic chevron design for fire trail
identification.
Desirable
• Colour: high visibility yellow.
• Contain reflective background or strip to attract attention in low light conditions.
• Located where unlikely to be obscured by vegetation (reduce maintenance requirements)
• Durable construction that will withstand fading, vandalism, and heat from bush fires (reduce
maintenance costs).
Note 1:
Additional information may be included on the sign, provided that the trail name remains
highly legible.
Temporary Signage – normally used in fire fighting or bush fire hazard reduction
operations
Essential
• Flexible to allow a range of information to be included as required in the circumstances.
Where symbols are to be used, these are to be the mapping symbols adopted by the BFCC.
Desirable
• Use of Fireground Marking Kit.
• Contain reflective background or strip to attract attention in low light conditions.
• Minimum lettering size – 50 mm height
• Clearly indicate the direction of the trail
Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Policy No. 2/2007
Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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Annex E to
BFCC Policy No. 2/2007
Best Practice Guidelines for Fire Trail Construction and Maintenance
Generic Feature Cat 1 Cat 7
Width
carriageway)
(formed
4 metres 3 metres
Grade Gradients generally less than 15°
for natural surfaces.
Cross Slope Finished
Surface
Cross slope less than 5°, which
gives a 28cm drop over 4 metre
width.
Gradients generally
less than 20 ° for
natural surfaces.
As per Cat 1
Clearance Height 4.5 metres 3.5 metres
Clearance Side
Dead trees and other vegetation
that may impede trucks or be
dangerous during fire management
activities should be removed.
As per Cat 1
Contour Banks As per attached As per Cat 1
Bridges and Culverts 15 Tonne Capacity 8 Tonne Capacity
Passing/Turnaround
Bays
Dead Ends
Safety Refuges
Curves
Located at 500 metre intervals
where possible. Turnaround bays
should be constructed to allow
vehicles to make a three point turn.
Due to terrain (e.g. hairpins, ridge
tops and spurs) some standards
cannot be achieved such as
passing bays, and may result in
hairpin turns etc. In these
circumstances passing bays
should be created if possible
adjacent to the hazardous sections
of trail.
12 metre minimum radius turning
circle fuel reduced or as per
turnaround bays.
To be considered where practical
dependant on the vegetation and
terrain, with all vegetation removed
from the area including windrows.
Curves should have a minimum
turning radius of 6 metres
As per Cat 1
As per Cat 1
As per Cat 1
As per Cat 1
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Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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Contour Bank Construction
Contour banks should be constructed at the spacing indicated below.
Contour Bank Spacing
Road Grade Soil Class A Soil Class B Soil Class C
Up to 8 ° 70 to 90m 60 to 70m 20 to 30m
8 ° to 12 ° 60 to 70m 50 to 60m not desirable
12 ° to 16 ° 40 to 60m not desirable not desirable
16 ° to 20 ° 30 to 40m not desirable not desirable
20 ° to 22 ° 20 to 30m not desirable not desirable
Note 1: -Iindicates that tracks should not be constructed on these soil types within the
slope range.
Erosion classes in relation to soil types
Class A – Low soil erodibility. Brown and red soils derived from finer sediments and
metasediments.
Class B – High soil erodibility. Red soils on fine granites, fine sandstone and basalt.
Class C – Very high soil erodibility. Grey and yellow soils derived from granites,
sediment and metasediment, especially coarse drained types.
Class D – Extreme soil erodibility. Unconsolidated sediment. As a general rule, fire trails
should not be built on Class D soils.
Notwithstanding the above, the stability of the fire trail in operation will dictate the need for
variations in the location and spacing of contour banks.
The following points are to be considered when choosing sites for contour banks:
• Recommendations for spacing tempered by experience and the existing condition
of the fire trail;
• Location of stable and clear outlet points;
• Location of short sections of flatter track grade allowing contour bank construction
on a generally steep track.
Select a suitable drainage outlet point for the bank, one that is not blocked by a stump or
rock. Site the outlet so that runoff will spill into undisturbed vegetation and cannot flow
back onto the track.
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Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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Rip the track to a depth of 20 to 30cm for a distance of one or two tractor lengths back
from the chosen outlet point. Then push the loose earth down the track into a bank,
commencing at the uphill side of the road and working across the outlet side. A long,
shallow excavation for the bank is preferred to a short, deep excavation.
Sufficient loose earth must be used to give the required dimensions (Figure 1) after
shaping and compaction. Depending on the size of the machine being used, up to eight
ladlefuls of earth may be required (Figures 2 and 3). Ensure that the crest width
dimensions are long enough to ensure comfortable vehicle access over the contour bank.
The channel depth dimensions are essential to prevent runoff from overtopping the bank.
Contour banks are most effective if construction with only a slight angle to the track
obtaining a grade of approximately 1:20. This ensures that runoff does not pond in the
bank channel.
A sweep with the blade will clean loose earth from the channel of the bank. The small bank
of earth resulting at the outlet can often be left as silt trap and water spreader. Push this
earth only just far enough so that draining water can clear the track effectively.
If you have to fill an eroded table drain to build a bank, compact the bank at the point with
extra earth to allow for slumping and to cope with the concentrated runoff in the table
drain.
Figure 1: Dimensions of cross banks
Figure 2: Cross bank construction
Figure 3: The bank of earth resulting from the spillway clearing can be left
to act as a silt trap and water spreader.
Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Policy No. 2/2007
Adopted by the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee – Minute No. 26/2007
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