How planned burns helped at Taradale

Overview

Seasonal conditions and risk environment

Planned burning at Fryers Ridge

Fuel management across Fryers Ridge NCR was delivered through a multi-year fuel reduction program designed to create strategic continuity of treated areas.

Key burns included:

• Drummond North – Wattle Track (2021)
• Taradale – Kemps Track (2022)
• Taradale – Salt Water Track (2024)

Taradale – Kemps Track

The Taradale – Kemps Track planned burn was a critical element of this program and directly influenced fire behaviour during the Taradale fire in January 2026. The burn was delivered from 26 March to 4 April 2022 within a Bushfire Moderation Zone (BMZ). The duration of the burn allowed for safe ignition, blacking out and patrol, consistent with standard operational practice.

The primary objective of BMZ burns is to create fuel-reduced areas of sufficient width and continuity to:

• reduce bushfire speed and intensity
• moderate fire behaviour under severe conditions
• support safer and more effective suppression operations.

The planned burn was developed in accordance with Land Management Manual 3: Bushfire Mitigation.

Key planning elements

• Ignition strategy: Final ignition patterns determined on the day by the Planned Burn Operations Officer, based on weather, topography and fuel conditions
• Control lines: Identified during planning and constructed or repaired to meet Planned Burning Control Line Preparation Standards
• Contingency planning: Developed in line with Planned Burn Contingency Planning requirements

Ignition was conducted using handheld drip torches and matches, with delivery timed to the autumn burning season to align with biodiversity values and suitable fuel moisture conditions. The target was to achieve an overall fuel hazard of low or moderate across 60–80% of the planned area.

Before treatment, fuel hazard assessments indicated Very High to Extreme fuel loads, particularly in adjacent forested areas with no recent fire history. Dense surface fuels, elevated fuels and bark hazards presented significant challenges for suppression.

After treatment, the planned burn achieved:

• low to Moderate overall fuel hazard across 60–80% of the area
• reduced surface, elevated and bark fuels
• improved access and safer working conditions for crews.

These outcomes remained effective during the 2026 fire event.

Outcomes

Fuel management treatments delivered measurable benefits, including:

• reduced flame heights and fire intensity
• slower rate of spread
• improved access and egress for firefighting resources
• safe and effective first attack under catastrophic conditions.

The combination of long-term fuel reduction (2008 burn), recent planned burning (2022) and maintained track networks allowed the fire to be contained to less than one hectare. Fire behaviour analyst mapping of the potential spread of this fire under the conditions of that day show that if the fire had not been contained at this size, the bushfire would have likely spread quickly. Within one hour, it would likely have significantly impacted homes in Drummond North and after 6 hours, the western parts of Malmsbury.

The fire’s run towards the south-east would likely have been slowed when it hit Malmsbury Reservoir, but this would have impacted critical water storage for the surrounding communities.

Under the catastrophic fire conditions, the fire was also likely to have spotted across the reservoir and into Kyneton where new fires could have started as a result, putting that township at risk. Modelling using advanced software (below) demonstrates what could have happened without the fuel reduction at Taradale.

What worked well

• Planned burn objectives were met and directly influenced fire behaviour
• Early response supported by strong local knowledge
• Effective access from associated track maintenance and reduction of hazardous trees
• CFA support enabled rapid blacking out, freeing resources for further response

Lessons learned

This incident reinforces that effective fuel reduction burning significantly improves first-attack capability, particularly under extreme fire danger.

Opportunities taken during burn planning and delivery to maintain and improve track networks were critical, ensuring safe, efficient access into forested areas. Fuel management programs remains essential for protecting communities, responders and landscapes.