What is an Asset Protection Zone (APZ)?

An Asset Protection Zone (APZ) is a buffer zone between a bush fire hazard and buildings. The APZ is managed to minimise fuel loads and reduce potential radiant heat levels, flame, localised smoke and ember attack.

An APZ a fuel-reduced area that allows for bush fire related emergency and operational activities between bushland and an asset. Assets are primarily residential dwellings but may include public structures/items, infrastructure and utilities as well as sites of cultural and/or biological significance. The size of the required APZ varies with slope, vegetation and forest fire danger index.

An APZ provides:

• A buffer zone between a bush fire hazard and an asset
• an area of reduced bush fire fuel that allows suppression of fire
• an area from which backburning may be conducted; and
• an area which allows emergency services access and provides a relatively safe area for firefighters to defend assets.