FireTools Cloud is a web-based GIS processing environment developed by the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub, a NSW focused research partnership between the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, the University of Wollongong, Western Sydney University, the University of NSW, the University of Tasmania, the University of Melbourne and the NSW Rural Fire Service. It is designed to replicate and replace the functionality of the FireTools II ArcGIS processing plugin to assist in fire management planning. Users upload a datapack containing the GIS files used to run a standard FireTools II analysis, configure the layers and fields that define the analysis, and submit the analysis for processing. After processing is complete, users can download a results pack containing GIS files with analysis results. Selected results are distributed for use as described below. Results are true and correct only for the reserves within the NPWS South Coast Branch. Fire history outside the reserves is incomplete so results should not be relied upon. Layers in this data package: Heritage threshold status: Input vegetation classified into LongUnburnt, WithinThreshold, Vulnerable, TooFrequentlyBurnt, Unknown and NoFireRegime (raster and vector). This layer is used to monitor the status of vegetation across the study area with respect to its biodiversity-related impacts of fire. Number of times burnt: The number of times any given point within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history (raster and vector) Time Since Last Fire: The number of years since any given point within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history (raster and vector) Time Since Last Fire SFAZ: The number of years since any given Strategic Fire Advantage Zone (SFAZ) within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history. This is then classified into 3 time slices whereby 0-6 years = Recently Treated, 7-10 years = Monitor OFH in the field and >10 years = Priority for Assessment and Treatment. (raster and vector). This layer is used to find candidate burn blocks to assess for addition into a hazard reduction program of works. Vegcode: A simple display layer showing the input vegetation groups over the study area. This is not a fully attributed vegetation layer – it is designed as a simple visual (raster only). VegBase. This is a copy of the input veg used, showing just the VEG code, MIN, MAX. Can be used to analyse what is driving results in a given location. Data is updated up to 4 times per year.

FireTools Cloud is a web-based GIS processing environment developed by the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub, a NSW focused research partnership between the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, the University of Wollongong, Western Sydney University, the University of NSW, the University of Tasmania, the University of Melbourne and the NSW Rural Fire Service. It is designed to replicate and replace the functionality of the FireTools II ArcGIS processing plugin to assist in fire management planning. Users upload a datapack containing the GIS files used to run a standard FireTools II analysis, configure the layers and fields that define the analysis, and submit the analysis for processing. After processing is complete, users can download a results pack containing GIS files with analysis results. Selected results are distributed for use as described below. Results are true and correct only for the reserves within the NPWS West Branch. Fire history outside the reserves is incomplete so results should not be relied upon. Layers in this data package: Heritage threshold status: Input vegetation classified into LongUnburnt, WithinThreshold, Vulnerable, TooFrequentlyBurnt, Unknown and NoFireRegime (raster and vector). This layer is used to monitor the status of vegetation across the study area with respect to its biodiversity-related impacts of fire. Number of times burnt: The number of times any given point within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history (raster and vector) Time Since Last Fire: The number of years since any given point within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history (raster and vector) Time Since Last Fire SFAZ: The number of years since any given Strategic Fire Advantage Zone (SFAZ) within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history. This is then classified into 3 time slices whereby 0-6 years = Recently Treated, 7-10 years = Monitor OFH in the field and >10 years = Priority for Assessment and Treatment. (raster and vector). This layer is used to find candidate burn blocks to assess for addition into a hazard reduction program of works. Vegcode: A simple display layer showing the input vegetation groups over the study area. This is not a fully attributed vegetation layer – it is designed as a simple visual (raster only). VegBase. This is a copy of the input veg used, showing just the VEG code, MIN, MAX. Can be used to analyse what is driving results in a given location. Data is updated up to 4 times per year.

FireTools Cloud is a web-based GIS processing environment developed by the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub, a NSW focused research partnership between the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, the University of Wollongong, Western Sydney University, the University of NSW, the University of Tasmania, the University of Melbourne and the NSW Rural Fire Service. It is designed to replicate and replace the functionality of the FireTools II ArcGIS processing plugin to assist in fire management planning. Users upload a datapack containing the GIS files used to run a standard FireTools II analysis, configure the layers and fields that define the analysis, and submit the analysis for processing. After processing is complete, users can download a results pack containing GIS files with analysis results. Selected results are distributed for use as described below. Results are true and correct only for the reserves within the NPWS Greater Sydney Branch. Fire history outside the reserves is incomplete so results should not be relied upon. Layers in this data package: Heritage threshold status: Input vegetation classified into LongUnburnt, WithinThreshold, Vulnerable, TooFrequentlyBurnt, Unknown and NoFireRegime (raster and vector). This layer is used to monitor the status of vegetation across the study area with respect to its biodiversity-related impacts of fire. Number of times burnt: The number of times any given point within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history (raster and vector) Time Since Last Fire: The number of years since any given point within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history (raster and vector) Time Since Last Fire SFAZ: The number of years since any given Strategic Fire Advantage Zone (SFAZ) within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history. This is then classified into 3 time slices whereby 0-6 years = Recently Treated, 7-10 years = Monitor OFH in the field and >10 years = Priority for Assessment and Treatment. (raster and vector). This layer is used to find candidate burn blocks to assess for addition into a hazard reduction program of works. Vegcode: A simple display layer showing the input vegetation groups over the study area. This is not a fully attributed vegetation layer – it is designed as a simple visual (raster only). VegBase: This is a copy of the input veg used, showing just the VEG code, MIN, MAX. Can be used to analyse what is driving results in a given location. Data is updated up to 4 times per year.

FireTools Cloud is a web-based GIS processing environment developed by the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub, a NSW focused research partnership between the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, the University of Wollongong, Western Sydney University, the University of NSW, the University of Tasmania, the University of Melbourne and the NSW Rural Fire Service. It is designed to replicate and replace the functionality of the FireTools II ArcGIS processing plugin to assist in fire management planning. Users upload a datapack containing the GIS files used to run a standard FireTools II analysis, configure the layers and fields that define the analysis, and submit the analysis for processing. After processing is complete, users can download a results pack containing GIS files with analysis results. Selected results are distributed for use as described below. Results are true and correct only for the reserves within the NPWS Hunter Central Coast Branch. Fire history outside the reserves is incomplete so results should not be relied upon. Layers in this data package: Heritage threshold status: Input vegetation classified into LongUnburnt, WithinThreshold, Vulnerable, TooFrequentlyBurnt, Unknown and NoFireRegime (raster and vector). This layer is used to monitor the status of vegetation across the study area with respect to its biodiversity-related impacts of fire. Number of times burnt: The number of times any given point within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history (raster and vector) Time Since Last Fire: The number of years since any given point within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history (raster and vector) Time Since Last Fire SFAZ: The number of years since any given Strategic Fire Advantage Zone (SFAZ) within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history. This is then classified into 3 time slices whereby 0-6 years = Recently Treated, 7-10 years = Monitor OFH in the field and >10 years = Priority for Assessment and Treatment. (raster and vector). This layer is used to find candidate burn blocks to assess for addition into a hazard reduction program of works. Vegcode: A simple display layer showing the input vegetation groups over the study area. This is not a fully attributed vegetation layer – it is designed as a simple visual (raster only). VegBase: This is a copy of the input veg used, showing just the VEG code, MIN, MAX. Can be used to analyse what is driving results in a given location. Data is updated up to 4 times per year.

FireTools Cloud is a web-based GIS processing environment developed by the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub, a NSW focused research partnership between the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, the University of Wollongong, Western Sydney University, the University of NSW, the University of Tasmania, the University of Melbourne and the NSW Rural Fire Service. It is designed to replicate and replace the functionality of the FireTools II ArcGIS processing plugin to assist in fire management planning. Users upload a datapack containing the GIS files used to run a standard FireTools II analysis, configure the layers and fields that define the analysis, and submit the analysis for processing. After processing is complete, users can download a results pack containing GIS files with analysis results. Selected results are distributed for use as described below. Results are true and correct only for the reserves within the NPWS Blue Mountains Branch. Fire history outside the reserves is incomplete so results should not be relied upon. Layers in this data package: Heritage threshold status: Input vegetation classified into LongUnburnt, WithinThreshold, Vulnerable, TooFrequentlyBurnt, Unknown and NoFireRegime (raster and vector). This layer is used to monitor the status of vegetation across the study area with respect to its biodiversity-related impacts of fire. Number of times burnt: The number of times any given point within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history (raster and vector) Time Since Last Fire: The number of years since any given point within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history (raster and vector) Time Since Last Fire SFAZ: The number of years since any given Strategic Fire Advantage Zone (SFAZ) within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history. This is then classified into 3 time slices whereby 0-6 years = Recently Treated, 7-10 years = Monitor OFH in the field and >10 years = Priority for Assessment and Treatment. (raster and vector). This layer is used to find candidate burn blocks to assess for addition into a hazard reduction program of works. Vegcode: A simple display layer showing the input vegetation groups over the study area. This is not a fully attributed vegetation layer – it is designed as a simple visual (raster only). VegBase: This is a copy of the input veg used, showing just the VEG code, MIN, MAX. Can be used to analyse what is driving results in a given location. Data is updated up to 4 times per year.

This dataset provides fire frequency mapping for many major bush fires that have burnt within South Australia. It also provides fire frequency mapping for prescribed burning activities that have occurred on land managed by the State Government Agencies (Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Forestry SA and SA Water).

We used a case study in an Australian wet montane forest to establish how predictive fire simulation models can be interpreted as management tools to identify potential fire refuges. We tested the ability of a topographically based fire prediction model developed by Mackey et al (2002) in the O’Shannassy and Maroondah water catchments, NE north-east of Melbourne, Australia, with fire severity data collected following a large wildfire in 2009 in the same area. We derived our fire severity data from a larger map created by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (2009), using SPOT satellite imagery and the normalised-burnt ratio. We examined the relationship between the probability of fire refuge occurrence as predicted by an existing fire refuge model and fire severity experienced during a large wildfire. We also examined the extent to which local fire severity was influenced by fire severity in the surrounding landscape. We used a combination of statistical approaches including generalised linear modelling, variogram analysis and receiver operating characteristics and area under the curve analysis (ROC AUC). We found that the amount of unburnt habitat and the factors influencing the retention and location of fire refuges varied with fire conditions. Under extreme fire conditions, the distribution of fire refuges was limited to only extremely sheltered, fire-resistant regions of the landscape. During extreme fire conditions, fire severity patterns were largely determined by stochastic factors that could not be predicted by the model. When fire conditions were moderate, physical landscape properties appeared to mediate fire severity distribution. Our study demonstrates that land managers can employ predictive landscape fire models to identify the broader climatic and spatial domain within which fire refuges are likely to be present. It is essential that within these envelopes, forest is protected from logging, roads and other developments so that the ecological processes related to the establishment and subsequent use of fire refuges are maintained. Department of Sustainability and Environment (2009) Remote sensing guideline for assessing landscape-scale fire severity in Victoria’s forest estate. Unpublished technical manual., Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne. Mackey, B., D. Lindenmayer, M. Gill, M. McCarthy, and J. Lindesay. 2002. Wildlife, Fire and Future Climate: A Forest Ecosystem Analysis. CSIRO publishing, Collingwood.

The NSW Bush Fire Prone Land dataset is a map prepared in accordance with the Guide for Bush Fire Prone Land Mapping (BFPL Mapping Guide) and certified by the Commissioner of NSW RFS under section 146(2) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Over time there has been various releases of the BFPL Mapping Guide, in which the categories and types of vegetation included in the BFPL map have changed. The version of the guide under which, each polygon or LGA was certified is contained in the data. An area of land that can support a bush fire or is likely to be subject to bush fire attack, as designated on a bush fire prone land map. The definition of bushfire vegetation categories under guideline version 5b: Vegetation Category 1 consists of: Areas of forest, woodlands, heaths (tall and short), forested wetlands and timber plantations. Vegetation Category 2 consists of: Rainforests. Lower risk vegetation parcels. These vegetation parcels represent a lower bush fire risk to surrounding development and consist of: - Remnant vegetation; - Land with ongoing land management practices that actively reduces bush fire risk. Vegetation Category 3 consists of: Grasslands, freshwater wetlands, semi-arid woodlands, alpine complex and arid shrublands. Buffers are created based on the bushfire vegetation, with buffering distance being 100 metres for vegetation category 1 and 30 metres for vegetation category 2 and 3. Vegetation excluded from the bushfire vegetation categories include isolated areas of vegetation less than one hectare, managed lands and some agricultural lands. Please refer to BFPL Mapping Guide for a full list of exclusions.The legislative context of this dataset is as follows: On 1 August 2002, the Rural Fires and Environmental Assessment Legislation Amendment Act 2002 (Amendment Act) came into effect.The Act amended both the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Rural Fire Services Act 1997 to ensure that people, property and the environment are more fully protected against the dangers that may arise from bushfires. Councils are required to map bushfire prone land within their local government area, which becomes the trigger for the consideration of bushfire protection measures when developing land. BFPL Mapping Guidelines are available from www.rfs.nsw.gov.au This dataset is update upon certification of each LGA BFPL change or spot change.

This dataset provides state-wide fire scar mapping for major bushfires that have occurred within South Australia. It also provides fire scar mapping for prescribed burning activities that have occurred on land managed by the State Government Agencies (Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Forestry SA and SA Water). A landscape approach is used for fire history mapping but may be incomplete for a given reserve and region. “Burnoffs” on private land are excluded from this dataset.