Victoria is part of one of the most fire prone areas in the world. Not surprisingly, fire also plays an important role in maintaining many native ecosystems.
For many years a comprehensive fire research and development program has existed in Victoria. Based primarily with the School of Forest and Ecosystem Science, an alliance between DSE and the University of Melbourne, Victoria's fire research scientists continue to undertake projects of national and international significance.
Research themes include fire threat analysis, fuel assessment and management, fire behaviour, fire and biodiversity, fire suppression, smoke management and airshed management. A number of research projects are also conducted in collaboration with organisations such as the University of Melbourne and the Bureau of Meteorology. The reports listed below detail some of the more important fire research work conducted in Victoria since 1977.
Research reports listed by year number.
How do I access copies of these research reports?
Research report copies can be downloaded as PDFs - click on the title of the report in the table below.
Hard copies can be purchased from Information Victoria.
Report Topics
Fire and adaptive management
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Relationships between disturbance regimes and biodiversity: background, issues and approaches for monitoring
Research Report - 91(2012)
Authors: J. Di Stefano and A. York
Review of resilience concepts and their measurement for fire management
Research Report - 90(2012)
Author: M. McCarthy
Establishing a link between the power of fire and community loss: the first step towards developing a bushfire severity scale
Research Report - 89(2011)
Authors: S. Harris, W.Anderson, M. Kilinc and L. Fogarty
The impacts, losses and benefits sustained from five severe bushfires in south-eastern Australia
Research Report - 88(2011)
Author: C. Stephenson
A literature review on the social, economic and environmental impacts of severe bushfires
Research Report - 87(2011)
Author: C. Stephenson
Guide to monitoring habitat structure: a rationale report
Research Report - 86 (2012)
Author: S. Treloar
Guide to Monitoring Habitat Structure
Research Report - 85 (2012)
Author: S. Treloar
Growth stages and tolerable fire intervals for Victoria's native vegetation data sets
Research Report - 84(2010)
Author: D.Cheal
Guiding Principles: facilitating learning, understanding and change through relationships
Research Report - 80 (2012)
Authors: C. Campbell, M. Campbell and S. Blair
A case study of a "Strategic Conversation" about fire in Victoria, Australia
Research Report - 79 (2010)
Authors: S. Blair, C. Campbell, and M. Campbell
Developing a fire learning network: a case study of the first year
Research Report - 78 (2010)
Authors: C. Campbell, S. Blair and A. A. G. Wilson
Understanding, developing and sharing knowledge about fire in Victoria, Australia
Research Report - 77 (2010)
Authors: S. Blair, C. Campbell, A. A. G. Wilson and M. Campbell
Adaptive management of fire: the role of a learning network
Research Report - 76 (2010)
Authors: C. Campbell, S. Blair and A. A. G. Wilson
Flora monitoring protocols for planned burning: a rationale report
Research Report - 75 (2008)
Authors: J. Cawson and A. Muir
Flora monitoring protocols for planned burning: a user's guide
Research Report - 74 (2008)
Authors: J. Cawson and A. Muir
Underpinnings of fire management for biodiversity conservation in reserves
Research Report - 73 (2008)
Author: A. M. Gill
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Fire behaviour
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Development, Behaviour, Threat and Meteorological Aspects of a Plume - Driven Bushfire in West-Central Victoria: Berringa Fire February 25-26, 1995
Research Report - 48. (1999)
Authors: Chatto, K.,Tolhurst, K.G., Leggett,T., Treloar,A.
Fire behaviour and fire suppression in an elevated fuel type in East Gippsland: Patrol Track wildfire, February 1991...
Research Report – 42 (1994)
Author: Buckley, A.J.
Fuel reducing regrowth forests with a wiregrass fuel type: fire behaviour guide and prescriptions..
Research Report – 40 (1993)
Author: Buckley, A.J.
Wildfire behaviour in heath and other elevated fuels: a case study of the 1991 Heywood fire....
Research Report - 36 (1993)
Author: Wouters, M.A.
Fire behaviour and fuel reduction burning — Bemm River wildfire, October 1988...
Research Report – 28 (1990)
Author: Buckley, A.
Otways Fire No 22 — 1982/83: Aspects of fire behaviour....
Research Report – 20 (1983)
Author: Billing, P |
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Fuel management
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Overall Fuel Hazard Assessment Guide - 4th edition
Research Report - 82 (2010)
F. Hines, K.G. Tolhurst, A.A.G. Wilson and G.J. McCarthy
Overall Fuel Hazard Guide (Note - superseded by Research Report 82))
Research Report – 47 (1999)
Authors: McCarthy, G.J., Chatto, K., Tolhurst, K
The development and testing of the Wiltronics T-H Fine Fuel Moisture meter.
Research Report – 46 (1997)
Authors: Chatto, K., Tolhurst, K
Surface fine fuel hazard rating – forest fuels in East Gippsland
Research Report – 44 (2004)
Author: Gregory J. McCarthy
Fuel hazard levels in relation to site characteristics and fire history: Chiltern Regional Park case study...
Research Report – 43 (1996)
Authors: Chatto, K
The effect of fuel reduction burning on the suppression of four wildfires in western Victoria...
Research Report – 41(1993)
Authors: Grant, S.R., Wouters, M.A
The accumulation and structural development of the wiregrass (Tetrarrhena juncea) fuel type in East Gippsland....
Research Report - 37 (1993)
Authors: Fogarty, L.G.
Elevated fuel guide.. (Note - superseded by Research Report 82))
Research Report – 35 (1993)
Authors: Wilson, A.A.G
Fuel reducing a stand of eucalypt regrowth in East Gippsland — a case study....
Research Report – 33 (1992)
Authors: Buckley, A.J.
Eucalypt bark hazard guide. (Note - superseded by Research Report 82))
Research Report – 32 (1992)
Authors: Wilson, A.A.G.
Assessing fire hazard on public land in Victoria: fire management needs, and practical research objectives.....
Research Report – 31 (1992)
Authors: Wilson, A.A.G.
Fire hazard and prescribed burning of thinning slash in eucalypt regrowth forest....
Research Report – 29 (1991)
Authors: Buckley, A., Corkish, N.
Effectiveness of Fuel Reduction Burning -10 Case Studies-
Research Report 25 (1985)
Authors: Rawson, R., Billing, P., Rees, B
Hazard reduction burning in the Big Desert
Research Report – 9 (1981)
Authors: Billing, P.R.
Changes in understorey vegetation in Sherbrooke Forest following burning or slashing....
Research Report – 8 (1981)
Authors: Rawson, R., Rees, B |
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Fuel management in Radiata Pine plantations
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Fuel management in Radiata Pine following heavy first thinning ....
Research Report – 24 (1985)
Author: Norman, P.
Fuel properties before and after second thinning in Radiata Pine....
Research Report – 17 (1982)
Author: Woodman, M.
Using fire to reduce aerial fuels in first thinned Radiata Pine ....
Research Report – 16 (1982)
Authors: Billing, P.R., Bywater, J.V.
Fuel reduction burning in Radiata Pine plantations....
Research Report – 14 (1982)
Authors: Woodman, M., Rawson, R.
Fuel moisture changes under Radiata Pine...
Research Report – 13 (1982)
Authors: Woodman, M.
A low intensity prescribed burning operation in a thinned Radiata Pine plantation....
Research Report – 6 (1980)
Author: Billing, P.R.
Some effects of low intensity burning on Radiata Pine ....
Research Report – 5 (1979)
Authors: Billing, P.R.
Using fire to reduce fuel accumulations after first thinning in Radiata Pine plantations....
Research Report – 4 (1979)
Author: Billing, P.R.
Fuel properties before and after thinning in young Radiata Pine plantations....
Research Report – 3 (1978)
Author: Williams, D.F
Low intensity prescribed burning in three Pinus radiata stand types....
Research Report – 2 (1978)
Author: Thomson, D.S. |
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Wildfire management
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A review of the relationship between fireline intensity and the ecological and economic effects of fire, and methods currently used to collect fire data
Research Report - 67 (2003)
Authors: K. Chatto & K.G. Tolhurst
Prediction of firefighting resources for suppression operations in Victoria’s parks and forests
Research Report - 56 (2003)
Authors: G.J. McCarthy, K.G. Tolhurst, M. Wouters
Analysis of wildfire threat: issues and options
Research Report - 55 (2004)
Author: A.A.G. Wilson
Assessment of the Effectiveness and Environmental Risk of the Use of Retardants to Assist in Wildfire Control in Victoria
Research Report - 50 (2000)
CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products
Effectiveness of Firefighting First Attack Operations by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment from 1991/92 - 1994/95
Research Report - 45 (1998)
Authors: McCarthy, G.J., Tolhurst.K.G.
A case study of wildfire management in the Byadbo and Tingaringy Wilderness Areas....
Research Report - 38 (1993)
Author: Bartlett, A.G.
Heathcote fire: Bendigo Fire No. 38 — 1986–87...
Research Report – 27(1987)
Author: Billing, P.
The Avoca fire, 14 January 1985....
Research Report – 23 (1985)
Author: Billing, P.
Otways Fire No 22 — 1982/83: A case study of plantation protection....
Research Report – 21(1983)
Author: Billing, P
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The Bright plantation fire: November, 1982....
Research Report – 19 (1983)
Authors: Watson, N., Morgan, G., Rolland, D.
A fire tornado in the Sunset Country January 1981
Research Report – 11(1982)
Authors: Billing, P., Rawson, R.
Some aspects of the behaviour of the Caroline Fire of February 1979....
Research Report – 7 (1980)
Author: Billing, P.R. |
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Aircraft related reports
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Fire Boss amphibious single engine air tanker: Final Report. November 2008
Research Report - 81(2010)
Author: H. Biggs
Operational performance of the S-64F Aircrane Helitanker - 1997–98 fire season
Research Report - 72 (2004)
Author: H. Biggs
An evaluation of the performance of the Simplex 304 helicopter belly-tank
Research Report - 71 (2004)
Author: H. Biggs
Effects of fire retardant on soils of heathland in Victoria
Research Report - 70 (2003)
Authors: Peter Hopmans & Ross Bickford
Effects of fire retardant on heathland invertebrate communities in Victoria
Research Report - 69 (2003)
Authors: N. Collett & C. Schoenborn
Effects of fire retardant on vegetation in eastern Australian heathlands: a preliminary investigation
Research Report - 68 (2003)
Author: T.L. Bell
Effectiveness of aircraft operations by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and Country Fire Authority 1997 - 1998
Research Report - 52 (2003)
Author: Gregory J. McCarthy
Operational aspects of the Infra-Red Line Scanner...
Research Report – 26 (1986)
Author: Billing, P.
Retardant distributions from six agricultural aircraft ....
Research Report – 18 (1983)
Author: Rees, B.
Project MAFFS/HERCULES: the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System in Victoria....
Research Report – 15 (1982)
Authors: Rawson, R., Rees, B., Stuckey, E., Turner, D., Wood, C., Woodman, M.
A study of the distribution of aerially applied fire retardant in softwood plantations....
Research Report – 1(1977)
Author: Rawson, R.
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Ecological effects
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Relationships between disturbance regimes and biodiversity: background, issues and approaches for monitoring
Research Report - 91(2012)
Authors: J. Di Stefano and A. York
Review of resilience concepts and their measurement for fire management
Research Report - 90(2012)
Author: M. McCarthy
Effects of repeated low-intensity fire on tree growth and bark in a mixed eucalypt foothill forest in south-eastern Australia
Research Report - 66 (2003)
Authors: Karen Chatto, Tina Bell & John Kellas
Effects of repeated low-intensity fire on reptile populations of a mixed eucalypt foothill forest in south-eastern Australia
Research Report - 65 (2003)
Authors: Marc Irvin, Martin Westbrooke & Mathew Gibson
Effects of repeated low-intensity fire on insectivorous bat populations of a mixed eucalypt foothill forest in south-eastern Australia
Research Report - 64 (2003)
Authors: Marc Irvin, P. Prevett & M. Westbrooke
Effects of repeated low-intensity fire on terrestrial mammal populations of a mixed eucalypt foothill forest in south-eastern Australia
Research Report - 63 (2003)
Authors: Marc Irvin, Martin Westbrooke & Mathew Gibson
Effects of repeated low-intensity fire on bird abundance in a mixed eucalypt foothill forest in south-eastern Australia
Research Report - 62 (2003)
Authors: Richard H. Loyn, Ross B. Cunningham & Christine Donnelly
Effects of repeated low-intensity fire on the invertebrates of a mixed eucalypt foothill forest in south-eastern Australia
Research Report - 61 (2003)
Authors: Nick Collett & Fred Neumann
Effects of repeated low-intensity fire on carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in the soils of a mixed eucalypt foothill forest in south-eastern Australia
Research Report - 60 (2003)
Author: Peter Hopmans
Effects of repeated low-intensity fire on fuel dynamics in a mixed eucalypt foothill forest in south-eastern Australia
Research Report - 59 (2003)
Authors: Kevin G. Tolhurst & Natalie Kelly
Effects of repeated low-intensity fire on the understorey of a mixed eucalypt foothill forest in south-eastern Australia
Research Report - 58 (2003)
Author: Kevin G. Tolhurst
Ecological effects of repeated low-intensity fire in a mixed eucalypt foothill forest in south-eastern Australia - Summary report (1984–1999)
Research Report - 57 (2003)
Author: Department of Sustainability and Environment
Determination of sustainable fire regimes in the Victorian Alps using plant vital attributes
Research Report - 54 (2003)
Authors: Gregory J. McCarthy, Kevin G. Tolhurst and Karen Chatto (2003).
Ecological Effects of Fuel Reduction Burning in a Dry sclerophyll Forest – A summary of principal research findings and their management implications.
(1992)
Authors: Tolhurst, K.G., Flinn, D.W., Loyn, R.H., Wilson, A.A.G., Foletta, I.
Note - cost $20.00 plus postage
Monitoring vegetation for fire effects....
Research Report – 34 (1992)
Author: Wouters, M.A.
Monitoring the ecological effects of fire....
Research Report – 30 (1987)
Edited by Hamilton, F.
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To acquire copies of these research reports
Printed copies of reports that are still in print may be purchased from:
Information Victoria
Level 20, 80 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Phone: 1300 366 356 for the cost of a local call, anywhere in Australia.
Fax: 9208 3316
Web : www.bookshop.vic.gov.au
Cost: $12.50 each plus postage (except Report No.82 - Overall Fuel Hazard Assessment Guide at $7.70 plus postage).
Printed copies of reports 73-89 that are in print can be aquired by contacting Fire Group, Knowledge and Learning Team at - fire.monitoring@dse.vic.gov.au
