Flammability Projects

FireLab3's flammability Lab delivers fundamental applied insights into species and landscape-level flammability. The knowledge of how live and dead fuels burning provides the critical evidence base for design of fuel-management programs, fire-safe gardens and models of flammability and fire risk.

This flexible research space enables us to ask a range of questions like- How does whole-plant flammability vary between native and introduced species? How do drought and flammability interact? What native and non-native plants can be used to create ‘green firebreaks’ and safe gardens? How does landscape fire hazard vary between different vegetation types and structures? Can thinning, with or without planned burning, effectively reduce fire hazard?

With capacity to create small, 'model system' bushfires, this facility opens the door to a diverse suite of projects from charcoal, through to the chemistry and health impacts of bushfire smoke.