Fire and Forests Fire and Forests Fire is as much a part of the South West forest environment as sunshine, water and soil nutrients. Forest plants and animals have evolved alongside fire. They are adapted to it and many of them depend on fire for regeneration and survival. They also can have a big impact on forest values such as aesthetics, recreation sites, water catchment protection, wildlife habitat and timber. Since the disastrous forest fires that devastated Dwellingup in 1961, CALM and its predecessor have successfully implemented a fire management strategy that lessens the threat from wildfires and makes them easier and safer to control when they do occur.
Prescribed burns create a mosaic of burned and unburned areas.
This patchwork effect ensures a variety of habitat for native animals. The season and frequency in which prescribed burns are carried out is varied between five to 15 years and during spring and autumn months. Only 60 to 80 per cent of each burn area is burned and many areas remain unburned for several decades. This promotes the biological diversity of the forest. Fire also is used to regenerate habitat for native fauna and to regenerate areas cut for timber.