The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) is responsible for ensuring that ‘public authorities’ with responsibility for ‘managed land’ and ‘local authorities’ (as defined in the Rural Fires Act 1997) report on their bush fire hazard reduction activities. 

Under section 74 of the Rural Fires Act 1997, public authorities with responsibility for managed land are required to report to the RFS Commissioner, no later than three months after the end of the financial year, on their activities to reduce bush fire hazards on that managed land during the preceding financial year.

Local authorities (as defined in the Rural Fires Act 1997) are also required to report to the RFS Commissioner, no later than three months after the end of the financial year, on their activities in respect of bush fire hazard reduction work during the preceding year on land (other than managed land) in their areas.

The reporting of bush fire hazard reduction activities is facilitated through the RFS online Bush Fire Reporting Information Management System (BRIMS).  This system allows data to be entered throughout the year, as bush fire hazard reduction activities are undertaken.

Effective responses to bush fires and their prevention across NSW rely heavily on gaining an understanding of the threats faced in an upcoming bush fire season.  The RFS needs to be aware of bush fire mitigation and related land management activities (such as slashing roadsides, rail corridors and hazard reduction burning) undertaken by public authorities, in order to take them into consideration during bush fire operations (including those bush fire mitigation activities conducted on private land).

All public authorities are also reminded of their statutory obligation under section 63 of the Rural Fires Act 1997, among others, to ensure all practicable steps are taken to prevent the occurrence of bush fires on, and to minimise the danger of bush fires spreading on or from, any land vested in or under their control or management, or any highway, road, street, land or thoroughfare for which they have maintenance responsibility.

Peter Duncan
A/Director General