Fences and walls
Fences and garden walls can be used to shield the home during bushfire
Fences and garden walls can protect against the four main modes of bushfire attack (embers, heat, flame, and wind). If possible, consider installing a solid, non-combustible fence to screen the house and garden from bushfire attack. If you have an existing fence, keep the area around the fence clear of combustible materials.
Do’s
- Keep fences clear of overhanding trees and shrubs, and free of vines and other creeping plants.
- If possible, use solid non-combustible materials, such as brick, stone, concrete or galvanised iron.
- Timber fences should be treated using an appropriate fire retardant.
- Fences and walls can be sited to protect people and buildings from bushfire (see Screen plantings). Similar principles apply to both natural and artificial barriers.
- Timber fences should be sited away from vulnerable building elements, such as windows, doors, decks and eaves. All timbers can burn under intense bushfire conditions.
Don’ts
- Do not store garden waste or combustible mulches next to fences.
- If possible, avoid combustible building materials, such as timber and brushwood – timber fencing can ignite and spread fire to other parts of the property.
- Avoid porous designs such as chain linked fences and gapped picket-fences. This style of fence is ineffective as a barrier and may restrict movement.
Non-combustible garden walls can protect against bushfire attack (source: Kinek00/Shutterstock)