@article {bnh-6221, title = {Urban planning: historical changes integrating bushfire risk management in Victoria}, journal = {Australian Journal of Emergency Management}, volume = {34}, year = {2019}, month = {07/2019}, pages = {60-66}, abstract = {

Bushfires represent an increased risk for people and properties in exposed urban areas. The integration of bushfire risk management considerations into urban planning is one of the approaches used to address this challenge. This paper summarises the key changes in urban planning and building regulations that were introduced in Victoria over time to minimise the effects of bushfire on settlements. These have generally occurred within four main eras, being the independent origins of planning and bushfire risk management, the progressive emergence of bushfire risk management into urban planning between the late 1970s and the early 1990s, the formalisation of bushfire risk management via urban planning with the Wildfire Management Overlay in 1997 and the 2011 reforms associated with the Bushfire Management Overlay and its following adjustments. Advancements in urban planning regulation have usually occurred after bushfire events that inflicted significant losses on communities. These changes represent an ongoing trend towards the integration of bushfire risk reduction measures into urban planning mechanisms.

}, keywords = {Bushfire, risk management, urban planning}, url = {Australian Journal of Emergency Management}, author = {Constanza Gonzalez-Mathiesen and Alan March and Justin Leonard and Mark Holland and Blanchi, Raphaele} } @article {bnh-4404, title = {Surviving bushfire: the role of shelters and sheltering practices during the Black Saturday bushfires}, journal = {Environmental Science \& Policy}, volume = {81}, year = {2018}, month = {03/2018}, pages = {86-94}, chapter = {86}, abstract = {

The decision of whether to leave or stay and defend is a well communicated public safety policy for those at risk from bushfire in Australia. Advice relating to sheltering practices during bushfire is less developed. This paper presents findings from a study of sheltering practices during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. The study examined the circumstances and challenges experienced by residents when sheltering and/or exiting houses, sheds, and personal bunkers. The analysis considered a number of factors including human behaviour and decision making, house design and construction, the surrounding landscape and fire behaviour.

The results show the need for contingency planning and the need for active sheltering, involving regular monitoring of conditions inside and outside the shelter and actions to protect the shelter and its occupants. Also discussed is the tenability and location of the shelters and key questions around how bushfire-related building controls can improve the predictability of shelter failure, reduce the rate of shelter tenability loss and facilitate egress. This research highlights the need for enhanced community engagement and education to encourage residents to plan and prepare for active sheltering.

}, doi = {10.1016/j.envsci.2017.12.013}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901117309085}, author = {Blanchi, Raphaele and J Whittaker and Katharine Haynes and Justin Leonard and Kimberley Opie} } @article {bnh-4110, title = {Experiences of sheltering during the Black Saturday bushfires: Implications for policy and research}, journal = {International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction}, volume = {23}, year = {2017}, month = {07/2017}, pages = {119-127}, chapter = {119}, abstract = {

More than half of those who died in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Australia, were sheltering inside a house at the time of their death. This marks a shift in bushfire fatality trends, which previously saw most fatalities occurring outside while residents attempted to protect assets or evacuate. This paper presents findings from research that examined people{\textquoteright}s experiences of sheltering in and exiting houses, sheds, personal shelters and other structures on Black Saturday. Qualitative data were sourced from 315 semi-structured interviews with residents affected by the bushfires and 50 witness statements presented to the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. Results indicate that despite limited planning and preparation specifically for sheltering on Black Saturday, many residents protected themselves from fire by sheltering inside houses, other structures and in open spaces. Most sheltered actively, engaging in regular monitoring and action to protect the shelter and occupants. However, some found sheltering challenging due to heat, smoke and responsibilities for children, vulnerable household members and the incapacitated. Misconceptions persist about the safety offered by houses and, in particular, bathrooms during bushfires. Education and advice should emphasise the need to plan and prepare for active sheltering, regardless of whether people intend to stay and defend or leave. The paper offers recommendations to promote planning and preparedness for active sheltering and identifies areas for further research.

}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2017.05.002}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221242091730050X$\#$!}, author = {J Whittaker and Blanchi, Raphaele and Katharine Haynes and Justin Leonard and Kimberley Opie} } @article {bnh-2676, title = {Sheltering practices during bushfire}, year = {2015}, month = {11/2015}, institution = {CSIRO}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

This project aimed to examine circumstances and challenges experienced by residents when sheltering\ during bushfires in order to establish an evidence base to support policy reform and community education\ initiatives. To address this, this report presents: 1) a review of sheltering practices in Australia and 2) the\ results of a qualitative and quantitative investigation of people{\textquoteright}s experiences while sheltering during the\ {\textquoteright}Black Saturday{\textquoteright} bushfires on 7 February 2009.

}, author = {Blanchi, Raphaele and J Whittaker and Katharine Haynes and Justin Leonard and Kimberley Opie and Mark Holland and Stephanie Dreyfuss} } @article {BF-4274, title = {Environmental circumstances surrounding bushfire fatalities in Australia 1901{\textendash}2011}, journal = {Environmental Science \& Policy}, year = {2013}, month = {11/2013}, pages = {1-12}, chapter = {1}, abstract = {This paper describes the development and analysis of a dataset covering bushfire related life loss in Australia over the past 110 years (1901{\textendash}2011). Over this time period 260 bushfires have been associated with a total of 825 known civilian and firefighter fatalities. This database was developed to provide an evidence base from which an Australian national fire danger rating system can be developed and has benefits in formalising our understanding of community exposure to bushfire. The database includes detail of the spatial, temporal and localised context in which the fatalities occurred. This paper presents the analysis of 674 civilian fatalities. The analysis has focused on characterising the relationship between fatal exposure location, weather conditions (wind speed, temperature, relative humidity and drought indices), proximity to fuel, activities and decision making leading up to the death. The analysis demonstrates that civilian fatalities were dominated by several iconic bushfires that have occurred under very severe weather conditions. The fatalities from Australia{\textquoteright}s 10 worst bushfire days accounted for 64\% of all civilian fatalities. Over 50\% of all fatalities occurred on days where the McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) exceeded 100 (the current threshold for declaring a day as {\textquoteleft}catastrophic{\textquoteright}) proximal to the fatality. The dominant location category was open air representing 58\% of all fatalities followed by 28\% in structures, and 8\% in vehicles (6\% are unknown). For bushfires occurring under weather conditions exceeding an FFDI value of 100, fatalities within structures represented over 60\% of all fatalities. These were associated with people dying while attempting to shelter mainly in their place of residence. Of the fatalities that occurred inside a structure in a location that was specifically known, 41\% occurred in rooms with reduced visibility to the outside conditions. Over 78\% of all fatalities occurred within 30 m of the forest.}, keywords = {Fatalities, Policy, Warnings, Wildfire, WUI}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2013.09.013}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901113002074}, author = {Blanchi, Raphaele and Justin Leonard and Katharine Haynes and Kimberley Opie and Melissa James and Felipe Dimer de Oliveira} } @article {BF-3175, title = {Exploiting three dimensional vegetation structure to map wildland extent}, journal = {Remote Sensing of Environment}, volume = {123}, year = {2012}, month = {8/2012}, pages = {155 - 162}, abstract = {Wildland and wilderness refer to areas of land which have been subject to little or no modification by human activity. These areas are important due to their role as wildlife habitats, the contributions they make to air and water quality and for human recreation. However, the intermingling of wildland and homes also increases the risk to life and property through wildfires. Management of this risk requires current and detailed knowledge of the spatial extent of wildland. What constitutes wildland vegetation is often difficult to define and may be influenced by both the horizontal continuity and vertical structure. We present a method to map wildland vegetation based on a combination of a vertically stratified cover threshold and spatial morphology. To test its practical application, the method was applied to airborne lidar data collected prior to a major wildfire that occurred in Australia in 2009. Distance between the lidar defined wildland extent and homes impacted by the fire was assessed and compared to previously published data using manual delineation of wildland extent. Results showed that the proportion of homes destroyed at the wildland boundary was greater than reported in previous fires and that there was an exponential decline in the proportion of homes destroyed as a function of distances to wildland. Although the method is objective the extent of wildland depends on the parameters which define thresholds of cover and lateral extent and connectivity. This highlights the need for a clear definition of wildland that can be used to determine extent using objective methods such as those described, whether this is in the context of quantifying wildfire vulnerability or other related applications such as ecological assessment and monitoring.}, issn = {00344257}, doi = {10.1016/j.rse.2012.02.026}, author = {Glenn J Newnham and Siggins, Anders S. and Blanchi, Raphaele and Culvenor, Darius S. and Justin Leonard and Mashford, John S.} } @article {BF-2556, title = {Spray system design for ember attack - Research findings and discussion paper}, year = {2010}, abstract = {This research report has been developed to provide background support for areas of the AFAC guideline. AFAC members and CSIRO have developed the AFAC guideline {\textquotedblleft}Bushfire spray systems for the protection from ember attack{\textquotedblright} to provide guidance to the Australian community when considering or installing a bushfire spray system. This report has been developed to provide a science basis and discussion for positions taken in the draft guideline. The analysis will address those sections of the guideline where concern has been raised during the drafting process as to its appropriateness. The areas requiring analysis are: {\textbullet} Water supply duration {\textbullet} Combustibility of tanks {\textbullet} Automatic activation requirements {\textbullet} Pump performance under adverse conditions {\textbullet} Pipe material selection {\textbullet} Pipe location {\textbullet} Water source/quality {\textbullet} Spray nozzle design and performance {\textbullet} Spray system to protect against surrounding infrastructure ignition}, author = {Mark Potter and Justin Leonard} } @inbook {BF-1277, title = {Property Safety: judging structural safety}, booktitle = {Community bushfire safety}, year = {2008}, url = {http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/18/pid/5819.htm }, author = {Justin Leonard}, editor = {John Handmer and Katharine Haynes} } @article {BF-1271, title = {Fire tests at the interface between Timber Decks and exterior walls}, year = {2007}, url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/cmmt-2007-048-fire-tests-interface-between-timber-decks-and-exterior-walls.pdf}, author = {Bowditch, PA and Justin Leonard and Macindoe, L and Sargeant, AJ} } @article {BF-1266, title = {Measurements of Moisture Content in Decking Timbers Exposed to Bushfire Weather Conditions}, year = {2007}, url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/8730_cmmt-2007-141-measurements-moisture-content-decking-timbers-exposed-bushfire-weather-conditions.pdf}, author = {Bowditch, PA and Justin Leonard and Macindoe, L} } @article {BF-1272, title = {Under Flames - Fire tests on timber decks}, year = {2007}, url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/cmmt-2007-049-under-flame-fire-tests-timber-decks.pdf}, author = {Bowditch, PA and Justin Leonard and Macindoe, L} } @article {BF-1274, title = {Water tank behavior in Bushfires}, year = {2007}, institution = {BlueScope Steel Limited and the Bushfire CRC}, type = {A collaborative project }, url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/water-tank-behavior-bushfires_0.pdf}, author = {Blanchi, Raphaele and Justin Leonard and White, N and Sargeant, AJ and Bicknell, A and Anderson, Alan} } @article {BF-2328, title = {Lessons learnt from post-bushfire surveys at the urban interface in Australia}, journal = {Forest Ecology and Management}, volume = {234}, year = {2006}, month = {11/2006}, pages = {S139 - S139}, doi = {10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.184}, author = {Blanchi, Raphaele and Justin Leonard and Leicester, R} } @article {BF-1268, title = {Report into the perfomance of steel power poles in bushfires}, year = {2006}, url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/bluescope_sureline_report_-final.pdf}, author = {White, N and Justin Leonard and Sargeant, AJ} } @article {BF-1264, title = {Research and investigation into the performance of residential boundary fencing systems in bushfires}, year = {2006}, institution = {CSIRO Manufacturing \& Infrastructure Technology, Fire Science \& Technology Laboratory, Bushfire Research}, url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/_6baf_bluescope_fence_report_final.pdf}, author = {Justin Leonard and Blanchi, Raphaele and White, N and Bicknell, A and Sargeant, AJ and Reisen, Fabienne and Cheng, M} } @article {BF-1263, title = {Window and Glazing Exposure to Laboratory-Simulated Bushfires}, year = {2006}, type = {Confidential CMIT Doc. 2006{\^a}{\texteuro}{\textquotedblleft}205}, url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/__66d_window_and_glazing_2006-205.pdf}, author = {Bowditch, PA and Sargeant, AJ and Justin Leonard and Macindoe, L} } @article {BF-1262, title = {Investigation into the house loss in the ACT bushfires 2003}, year = {2005}, url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/bushfire_risk_at_the_rural_urban_interface_-_brisbane_2006.pdf}, author = {Justin Leonard} } @article {BF-1275, title = {Investigation into the stringency provided by the draft standard AS 3959}, volume = {Bushfire CRC Project D1}, year = {2005}, institution = {Bushfire CRC Project D1}, type = {Confidential Doc }, url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/__fef_d1i-stringencyas3959_final.pdf}, author = {Blanchi, Raphaele and Justin Leonard} } @article {BF-1267, title = {Investigation of bushfire attack mechanisms resulting in house loss in the ACT bushfire 2003}, year = {2005}, institution = {Bushfire CRC}, url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/act_bushfire_crc_report.pdf}, author = {Blanchi, Raphaele and Justin Leonard} } @article {BF-1273, title = {Risk Model Basis development}, year = {2005}, url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/research/downloads/RISK MODEL-(C)-2005-152.pdf}, author = {Blanchi, Raphaele and Justin Leonard and Leicester, R} }