NSW bushfire task force - October 2013

NSW RFS members and Bushfire CRC researchers worked side by side

In October 2013, bushfires swept across parts of New South Wales, leaving a trail of destruction and loss. Following the fires, the NSW Rural Fire Service commissioned the Bushfire CRC to coordinate a field research task force, conducting community-focused research with a number of communities hit hard by the bushfires in the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and Port Stephens. The aim was to understand how people prepared for and reacted to these disasters and assist future development of emergency management responses, community education and public safety initiatives.

This research had two separate – but interconnected – components

  • a series of interviews with residents in a number of fire impacted communities, and
  • an online survey (also targeted to those communities but open more broadly to fire impacted areas in NSW)

Both components have been analysed, with the research reports available below. In addition, a summary document provides the common themes of both research reports. 

A Fire Note about the research can be viewed here.

Related News

Research has been released following the Oct 2013 NSW bushfires
Resident experiences of the October 2013 bushfires in New South Wales' Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and Port Stephens areas have been analysed in a report by the Bushfire CRC.
Assist us with research into the October 2013 NSW bushfires
The Bushfire CRC and NSW Rural Fire Service are seeking your assistance with research relating to the October 2013 bushfires via an online survey.
Community research is underway in NSW following the October 2013 bushfires
The Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre have been engaged by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service to conduct independent community research into the October 2013 bushfires.
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Residents in several NSW regions are encouraged to contribute to a major research program which commences this week, looking into recent fire activity in the area.

Publications from this Project