A fence acts like a wick and carries a fire to your home

A timber or brushwood fence might look harmless, but in a bushfire it provides a direct pathway for flames.

Embers can ignite dry grass at the base of a fence and once the timber catches, the fire travels fast - straight towards your house.

Risks

A burning fence creates multiple dangers:

• It delivers flames directly to external walls,  eaves and roof space.
• When it collapses it smashes windows, letting embers enter your home.er your home.
• Brushwood fences burn intensely, producing enough radiant heat to destroy a house beyond the boundary fence line.
• Pressure-treated pine fence posts in a rural setting fail easily, creating problems keeping animals contained.

A fence fire is not just a boundary problem - it's a direct threat to your home.

Fixes

Quick fix: Clear dry grass and debris along fence lines before the fire season. Keep the base of the fence tidy and free of fuel.

Long-term fix: Construct fences from non-combustible materials, such as Colorbond steel.

Metal fencing:

• Doesn't ignite
• Doesn't carry fire towards your home
• Doesn't collapse and break windows
• Keeps animals safely contained even after a fire passes

For rural properties, fire-safe fencing protects both your home and your livestock.

Why it matters

Your fence is often the first thing embers hit. If it burns, it becomes a wick that pulls a fire straight to your house. A non-combustible fence breaks that chain.

Take action today

• Clear grass and debris along fence lines.
• Replace damaged or rotting timber sections.
• Upgrade to Colorbond or other metal fencing.
• Check rural boundary fences to ensure animal safety.

For more on timber fences, visit our Resource Hub