The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships (QPWS&P), manages more than 13 million hectares of protected area and forest estate across Queensland.

QPWS&P is responsible for fire management in the protected area and forest estate that it manages. QPWS&P fire management objectives are to:

• protect life, critical infrastructure and assets from the adverse impacts of fire,
• maintain and restore the natural and cultural values of the protected area and forest estate,
• protect the social and economic values of the protected area and forest estate and that of its neighbours.

Fire management targets

QPWS&P has two state-wide targets for its fire management program.

• More than 5% of the QPWS&P managed estate has fuel loads reduced by planned burning to reduce fire risk to life and property and protect biodiversity.
• More than 90% of the scheduled one-quarter of the total area of protection zones is treated across the state annually to protect life and property.

These targets are measured using the financial year.

Reducing the adverse effects of bushfires

The Strategic Fire Management Program (SFMP) provides one of the main funding sources for rangers to deliver priority planned burn programs, including aerial incendiary programs, and the non-burn treatments of protection zones.

The SFMP is one of QPWS&P’s critical programs for on-ground delivery of fire management because it works towards the fire management objectives and delivery of fire management targets.

The successful implementation of the priority planned burn program and the maintenance of protection zones are critical for reducing the risks of adverse impacts from bushfires. The SFMP funding has averaged around $1.2 million annually over the past five years.

Bushfires in national parks and state forests

In response to the unprecedented bushfire events in 2018, 2019 and a significant bushfire season in 2023, the Queensland Government demonstrated a strong commitment to support bushfire management in national parks and state forests.

In 2024, the Queensland Government committed $39.1 million for the QPWS&P's Fire Management Uplift Program (the Uplift Program). The Uplift Program is aimed at enhancing QPWS&P's capacity to expand its planned burn program (by 5% in 2024-25) and bushfire response capabilities, at both the state and regional levels. This Uplift Program will provide the necessary resources, including additional staff, vehicles, appliances, equipment, and radio communications, to improve QPWS&P's firefighting capabilities and ensure the safety of QPWS&P firefighters and communities.

More specifically, QPWS&P is investing:

• $4.7 million on upgrading, maintaining and establishing firelines to support planned burning and bushfire response.
• $13.4 million on new and replacement heavy plant and equipment required to support the QPWS&P fire program.
• $1.7 million towards accommodation and workbase upgrades across the State.
• $1.6 million for the QPWS&P fire training program, which includes First Nations partners and Land and Sea Rangers.

Within the first six months of 2024, the Uplift Program delivered:

• 239 planned burns and other treatments, reducing bushfire hazard risk for approximately 213,000 hectares;
• the largest total area burnt in planned burn activity, in comparison to the previous four years;
• an approximate 38% increase of planned burn area from 2023-24; and
• an expanded aerial prescribed burn program across the State.

In addition, the agency delivered (and exceeded) on the target that 80% of bushfires, that started on a park or forest during the 2024 Bushfire Risk Period, were to be contained within the QPWS managed area.

More information:

• Fire Management