Sparking Conversations, Igniting Action

30/01/2025

🔥 Expert Advice on Fire Preparation 🔥

With bushfire risk increasing, it’s more important than ever to be prepared. International fire expert Professor David Bowman and researchers at the UTAS FireLab are working to identify which plants are less flammable to help communities build resilience.

Their research highlights how different vegetation can ignite at varying speeds and intensities—critical information for protecting our homes and neighbourhoods. 🌿🔥

Key takeaway: Not all plants burn the same way! By understanding fire-resistant species and removing highly flammable ones, we can better safeguard our properties.

🚒 Be proactive:
✅ Remove dry and dead vegetation
✅ Maintain a defensible space around your home
✅ Choose fire-resistant plants for landscaping

Read more in today’s Mercury article. Let’s work together to create a safer Hobart! 🌏💪

📸 City of Hobart

Glenorchy City CouncilKingborough CouncilCity of ClarenceUniversity of Tasmania

30/01/2025

*** Please note the location for the meeting has changed ***

Community members seeking an update about the Snug Tiers bushfire are invited to attend a community meeting:

📆 Friday, 31 January 2025
🕣 6pm
🏢 Margate Primary School Gym (across the road from Community Hall), Van Morey Road, Margate

For more information, visit TasALERT.com

30/01/2025

🔥 New Flammability Guide Now Available! 🔥

The Flammability Guide is a collaboration between the four Greater Hobart councils and researchers at UTAS FireLab as part of the Sparking Conversations, Igniting Action Bushfire Resilience Project.

This two-year pilot program, funded by the National Emergency Agency’s Preparing Australian Communities Grants Program, helps communities across City of Hobart, Glenorchy City Council, Kingborough Council, and City of Clarence build resilience against bushfires.

📍 Grab a copy at your local Council Customer Service Centre or select nurseries and garden centres across Greater Hobart.
💻 Prefer digital? Access it online here: www.sparkingconversations.com.au/fire-adapted-gardens

Stay informed. Stay prepared. 🌿🔥

30/01/2025

🚒 Firefighting activity is continuing as firefighters respond to the bushfire at Snug Tiers in the Channel region with the fire currently uncontrolled and having burned through over 410 hectares.

👨‍🚒👩‍🚒 Yesterday, more than 80 personnel from both TFS and Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service worked to establish containment lines around the fire, with the support of 10 firefighting aircraft.

The Bureau of Meteorology has indicated temperatures are set to increase later this week with high fire danger weather predicted across inland parts of Tasmania.

The current focus is on constructing and consolidating containment lines to limit the fire's spread ahead of the forecast fire weather next week.

Three Bushfire Advice warnings are currently in place for:
⚠️ Pelverata, Kaoota and surrounds
⚠️ Margate, Snug and surrounds and
⚠️ Oyster Cove and surrounds
⚠️ a Smoke Alert remains in place for Margate, Snug, Kettering and surrounding areas.

➡️ If you're a resident in the area please monitor conditions, be aware of ember attacks, and make a plan to stay safe.
ℹ️ Decide early if you are going to leave, and make sure you have a clear path to a safer place.
ℹ️ If you have made a bushfire plan, review it now.
ℹ️ Visibility may be reduced due to smoke and all motorists are asked to slow down, drive with caution, and always obey road closures that are in place.
ℹ️ If you are at higher risk from smoke, enact your personal health plans
ℹ️ If you don't live in the area stay away. The roads could become highly dangerous.
ℹ️ For fire updates, listen to ABC Local Radio or visit TasALERT.com.

For further info see alert.tas.gov.au/media-releases/firefighting-response-continues-snug-tiers-bushfire

28/01/2025

Thanks for the shout out Plants of Tasmania Nursery. The Flammability Guide is an important resource developed by the Sparking Conversations, Igniting Action project, and we are thrilled that you can see the value in the guide.

If you want to view the guide it can be found on our website: https://www.sparkingconversations.com.au/fire-adapted-gardens

As we are currently experiencing some days of high fire danger, we would like to remind customers about planning for bushfires with consideration to plant choices on your property. While all plants can burn under the right conditions, some are less flammable than others.
"Sparking Conversations, Igniting Action" has been a Greater Hobart Bushfire Resilience project by the City of Hobart funded through the National Emergency Management Agency. The brochure (which can also be found at https://sparkingconversations.com.au/) provides information on the flammability of many common plants found around greater Hobart gardens. Research for this brochure was undertaken at UTAS Fire Centre with plants measured on how easily, how hot, how long and how much of the plant was burnt under controlled conditions.
Stay Safe!

28/01/2025

When considering the impact of bushfires, most people think about the impact of radiant heat and the flames. However smoke has a much larger impact on people's health than radiant heat and flames.

In this video, the fourth in our Sparking Conversations Igniting Action video series, Dr Sharon Campbell explains how bushfire smoke impacts on people's health, and ways to reduce the risks..

Dr Sharon Campbell is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Environmental Health Research team at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research (University of Tasmania). She specialises in the human health impacts of climate change. Her main research interests include climate-related extreme events such as heatwaves and poor air quality, and the impact of these events on healthcare systems and vulnerable populations.

Dr Sharon Campbell is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Environmental Health Research team at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research (University of T...

24/01/2025

As part of the Sparking Conversations Igniting Action project we identified three publicly owned buildings, and one private, in each of the four local government areas, to undergo works to reduce their bushfire risk.

Each property had a series of works such as: gaps greater than 2mm closed to reduce the ability for burning embers to enter the building, metal screens on windows and vents, strips put under doors to remove gaps, fire rated paint on lower sections, gutter guards and landscaping.

This video explains the works undertaken and shows many of the features.

22/01/2025

We understand how the arrival of bushfire season or the occurrence of fires like those in LA can understandably heighten people's anxiety. In this video, the third in our Sparking Conversations Igniting Action video series, Dr James Brady explains what bushfire anxiety is, ways to manage it and where to seek help.

Dr James Brady is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Wicking Dementia Centre University of Tasmania, where he assist in the design and management of the ISLAND Resilience Initiative.

Dr James Brady is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, where he assist in the design...

20/01/2025

Mount Rumney - Bushfire Mitigation :)

We have partnered with local contractors Programmed and Tasmanian Tree Care to undertake verge clearing works in some of our high fire danger areas in an effort to improve community safety and reduce the movement of fire through these areas. Works include the removal of fuel loads throughout road networks in Mount Nelson, Sandfly/Allens Rivulet, Lenah Valley and Mount Rumney. Ground works to clear fuel loads and tree canopy thinning including the removal of dangerous overhanging branches have been the focus. Check out this video produced with thanks by Tasmanian Tree Care

16/01/2025

We were out and about today in Clarence and Kingborough, for two Risk and Readiness site visits..

15/01/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8OvdFzv8eo

15/01/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9LmhyfFNqI