Living with Fire

I’m often asked by novice tree-changers about the pros and cons of living in a natural environment. I don’t see them as either. I see it as learning to live in tune with nature, the land and therefore each other. And that’s ongoing. Nature, after all, will teach you something new every day.

However, the one key thing that is obviously raised about living in semi-rural to rural areas, such as the Dandenong Ranges, is the possibility of bushfires.

There’s no doubt that fire has been on this entire continent for millennia. In fact, it’s a rich part of the Australian landscape. But it’s the nature of fire and how we regard or even respond to it that has changed significantly.

For starters, we are seeing longer and more intense fire seasons. With that in mind, I agree with those firefighters who say that it may be more appropriate to call them “fire years” or even “a year-round cycle”. As a result, we are seeing devastating bushfires, be it loss of life, homes and ecosystems.

Since more and more people are seeking to live in bushland or coastal areas, it comes with a need to relearn how we approach fire. Because when it comes to the land and how we manage it, we have a responsibility.

Aboriginal people have known this for thousands of years. In terms of fire, they saw it as a management tool that focused on the health and wellbeing of the land, not something that was destructive or to be fearful of.

Although there are some parallels, the planned, prescribed or controlled burns that are utilised nowadays to reduce fuel loads are not a straightforward answer. Yet when it came to traditional fire management by Aboriginal people, it would involve small, cool burns, which were conducted with awareness, respect and knowledge. They were more ecological.

First off, they would listen to the country, telling them when the best time to burn was. For example, before rain was due and not when the soil was powder dry or vegetation was tinder dry. They also knew where the fire would burn. After all, cool burns trickle through the landscape much the same as what water does, unlike a raging inferno that engulfs everything in its path.

A cool burn does not involve hot flames or intense heat, therefore the earth cools down quickly and oils aren’t ignited in the trees. In addition, it gives wildlife and insects the opportunity to move out of the cool burning, or even circular burning, safely. It also changes the way vegetation grows and what type will flourish. It can even maintain native grasslands and preserve the canopy, which is regarded as sacred.

Basically, a cool burn produces white smoke from grass, then travels up to the canopy, triggering seeds to germinate. Furthermore, the smoke quickly dissipates. Clearly this is the complete opposite to the black smoke that occurs with bushfires, which has adverse effects on people and the environment.

Another thing about cool burns is that it was preferable to conduct them in the early morning or evening. They weren’t done in a blazing sun, when fire is likely to intensify. In addition, cool burns were ignited with a firestick, hence it became known as firestick farming. Afterwards, these burns had a propensity to self-extinguish.

Overall, the traditional practice of cool burning is a gentler process; it maintains balance and encourages biodiversity. From this perspective, living with fire is nurturing.

Of course, a cool burn has to be done according to the conditions of an individual area, it’s not a matter of one technique suits all land types and environments. That means getting to know the nature of the soil, the vegetation and the animals that inhabit a particular area. Therefore, suitable fire management needs to be in place. And this is where we can draw wisdom from the traditional custodians.

If planning to live in a rural, bush or coastal area, including near national parks, it’s important to be fire savvy. And that requires deepening our awareness and understanding of the land, individually and through communities. It even includes the types of homes we build or rebuild. For example, choosing more eco-friendly and non-combustible materials both in and around the home, including fences, is going to reduce the risk of fire.

So is the way you maintain your property. Keeping gutters, roofs and downpipes clean and grass at a healthy length (and green where possible) is essential. Again, living in bushfire prone areas comes with added responsibility. But if you’re not willing to completely become a part of those landscapes, it’s probably best to choose another. You can still greenify it in your own way.

At the end of the day, ourselves, our homes and the land are all interconnected. And when we understand that, there is more balance and harmony. We cultivate intimacy with the natural world.

As novel as it may seem, living with fire is how we reconnect with the land and each other. Who knows, one day Australians might even embrace the idea of the “backyard burn”.

Until then, there is a lot to re-learn.