Fire
Fire is an integral part of the ecology of Wellington Park - but wildfires are a threat to life and property and to many of the values of the Park. Park visitors and neighbours can reduce the risk of fire through simple precautions.
French expeditions in the late eighteenth century reported extensive Aboriginal firing of the forests on the foothills of the Wellington Range. Since European settlement severe fires are known to have occurred on parts of the Wellington Range in 1806, 1851, 1897, 1914, 1934, 1945, and 1967. Approximately 90% of the Park was burnt in the 'Black Tuesday' wildfires on 7th February 1967. These wildfires burnt 270 000ha across southern Tasmania including the fringe of Hobart. In five hours 1300 houses and 128 major buildings were burnt. Sixty two people lost their lives. Since 1967 there have been major wildfires in the Park in 1983 and 2001.
Wildfires within the Park can threaten surrounding property and vice versa. Within the Park wildfires can damage and destroy infrastructure and cultural heritage, reduce scenic values and affect the quality and amount of water that can be extracted from the drinking water catchments in the Park. Although many of the plant communities in the Park benefit from occaisional fire, some can be severly degraded by fire. Much of the vegetation in the higher parts of the Park is still recovering from the 1967 wildfires.
Park neighbours should reduce the risk of fire through simple preparation and precautions. Every neighbouring household should have a Bushfire Survival Plan and this must be implemented early. Visitors to the Park are reminded to observe fire restrictions during total fire bans as no outside fire places can be used during these periods. To minimise the risk to Park visitors and reduce the risk of wildfires, the Park will be closed on days with an Extreme or Catastrophic fire danger rating.
The Wellington Park Fire Management Strategy aims to minimise the threats posed by fires through consistent policies, appropriate procedures, and community involvement. The Strategy uses planned burning as a tool to reduce fuel loads and to maintain plant communities and species of conservation value that require occaisional fire to ensure their long-term viability. Planned burning is also used to assist in removing weeds and regenerating degraded bushland. Current and planned bushfire managment activities in the Park are listed in the Bushfire Management Works Summary.
Downloads
For more information on fire and fire management research opportunities in Wellington Park contact the Trust’s Fire Management Co-ordinator.
Other information on fire safety and management is available through the Tasmania Fire Service and Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service.
