Data Source: CFA PLANNED BURNS

Institutional Environment: Data Collector(s): Data are collected by Country Fire Authority (CFA).

Collection authority: CFA is bound by the Information Privacy Act 200 (Victoria), and data were collected in accordance with these principles to maintain confidentiality and privacy of the data provided.

Data Compiler(s):
Data are collected by CFA which is a volunteer and community-based fire and emergency service organisation.

Additional information: CFA ensures data are securely maintained, and does not report identifiable information.

Relevance: Data topic: Aggregate locations of planned burns attended by CFA. Planned burns are defined as fully planned burns on private land that have been proposed, initiated, completed and the treatment signed off.

Level of geography: Data are available for all planned burns attended by CFA within CFA jurisdiction in the state of Victoria.

Key Data Items: Key data items available include: • Location of planned burns

Numerator/Denominator Source: N/A

Additional information: Planned burns refer to the controlled use of fire under carefully managed conditions to reduce fuel such as dead wood, leaf litter, bark and shrubs. Planned burning is conducted by CFA brigades on behalf of, and at the request of, private land owners or managers of other reserves such as roads rail corridors, council reserves and water authority land.

Timeliness: Data collected: Data are collected on an ongoing basis and reported as required.

Data available: Data are available as and when required.

Referenced Period: The reference period is financial years 2013-14 to 2014-15.

Additional information: Planned burn sign off processes have a variable time lag for entry into the system, so the final numbers may not be reflected in the data.

Accuracy: Method of Collection: • Written burn plans are prepared and signed off at completion of the burn • Data are manually entered on completion of the burn

Data Adjustments: Data were adjusted to aggregate, de-identify and confidentialise records.

Collection size: CFA conducts planned burns at the request of private land owners, which varies by year.

Under Counts: • Burn plans are required for fires 0.1Ha and larger, so smaller planned burns may not be reflected in the data.

Over Counts: • When a planned burn occurs over multiple time periods (e.g. over multiple years) the same burn may be included in the data multiple times.

Additional information: • Data are provided only for burns with a written plan. Coherence: Consistency over time: Data are relatively consistent over time.

Consistency of jurisdictions: There are no state-based standards for reporting planned burn efforts.

Numerator/denominator: N/A

Interpretability: Context: N/A

Other Supporting information:

Further information is available from CFA: http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/planned-burns/

Additional information: • Data have been aggregated into numbers of planned burns by location.
Accessibility: No further data are available.

Contact details:

CFA Headquarters Address: 8 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East, Victoria Australia 3151 Postal Address: PO Box 701,Mount Waverley, Victoria Australia 3149 Telephone: +61(3) 9262 8444 Fax: +61 (3) 9264 6200

Additional information: Data captured include identifiable information, therefore records have been aggregated prior to release.

For further information please contact: Name: Bernie Marshall Telephone Number: 03 9262 8951 Email Address: B.Marshall@cfa.vic.gov.au