Purpose
The purpose of developing a fire service track is to provide access to maintenance service and emergency vehicles.
Requirements
Standard Fire Track
- Creation of a vegetation exclusion envelope that is a minimum 6m wide and 3.8m high and able to be driven by vehicles to the dimensions nominated in the purpose.
- Be constructed with passing bays permitting two-way access at selected points.
- Provide passing bays with a minimum length of 17m, a minimum width of 6m and a maximum width in native vegetation of 8m.
- Provide opportunities to pass no less than once every 400m unless service tracks are less than 1200 m.
- To utilise any existing tracks within Fire Reduction Areas where possible.
- Fire Service Tracks are to be generally back from property boundarys or similar exclusion fences where possible but are able to navigate where necessary to avoid large trees, batters walls etc.
- To ensure access is possible by 4WD fire vehicles and other suitibly equiped emergency vehicles including trucks.
- To remove all vegetation at ground level ensuring there is no risk of tyre spiking for vehicles.
- Remove all fallen timber or other obstructions within the Service Track zone to ensure it can be easily driven.
Major Fire Service Tracks
- As per standard
- Be maintained to a minimum width of 7m
- Be sufficiently clear of vegetation to allow ready and safe two-way access
Location of Fire Service Tracks
- Wherever possible, tracks should be established on land where native vegetation has already been modified.
- Tracks should be incorporated within a fuel break, where possible.
- Tracks should be positioned so that they complement other fire access tracks outlined in relevant bushfire prevention plans.
Constructing Fire Service Tracks
Erosion control
Where possible, the placement of fire access tracks should minimise soil disturbance and retain sufficient vegetation cover to reduce erosion. Track design should include erosion control measures.
Formed or cut tracks should be designed and constructed to maintain natural drainage lines. All tracks should be designed to allow run-off, and any tracks across a watercourse should allow safe vehicle crossing, but not interfere with stream flow.
Vehicle access
Tracks used for fire service access should be as straight as possible and allow easy passage for firefighting vehicles. Entry points to tracks that do not allow passage for firefighting vehicles should be clearly identified.
Curves
All tracks used for fire access should have curves with a minimum inside radius of 8.5m.
No through roads and dead ends
No through roads are only permitted provided appropriate signage and turnaround points are in place.
No through roads without turnaround points are to be barricaded at their entrances and not included on fire maps.
Turnaround points
In line with the above, construction of tracks with dead ends should be avoided. Where this is not possible, safe, suitable turnaround points must be provided to accommodate large firefighting vehicles by the construction of either:
- a turnaround point with a minimum diameter of 25m; or
- a “T” or “Y-shaped” turnaround point with minimum leg lengths of 7.5m and a minimum inside road radius of 8.5m
Sign posting
All tracks should be named and sign posted. Signage should meet with Australian Standard 1743 (2001), and track names/numbers should be shown on maps.
Sign posts should include the following where applicable:
- Track name, or number or destination (if specifically named)
- No Through Road (dead-end)
- Appropriate signage to indicate local variations in track (e.g. Roads Narrows, Localised Hazard, Steep Gradient, etc.)
- Load limits (e.g. for bridges)
- Signs with grid references
Concurrent Works
- May be undertaken with the construction of Fuel Reduction Zones
Methodology
- Onsite Client meeting and final brief prior to works.
- Before photos taken with geotagging.
- Schedule works frame
- Notification of works to neighbouring properties, sensitive sites, fire authorities for area.
- Schedule and recruit (if required) workforce and ensure required training is up to date.
- Fire Service Track mark out and survey for sensitive
- Training refresher and site induction including species identification guides
- Onsite works begin
- Inital pass to reduce ground vegitation such as grasses within the zone and remove any obstructing debris. Photos of works
- Second pass, cut and brush small trees and weeds, mulching of small trees vegitation with the Fire Service track envolpe with scattered distribution of mulch or removal from site if required. Photos of works
- Third pass, herbicide spray of selected ground vegitation (refer to species guide). Photos of works
Maintenance Run