What is a fire hazard and a fire risk?

A fire hazard is any potential threat to people or property from flammable materials or actions which are not fire safe.

Fire hazards may be on any land tenure – private or public owned, developed or undeveloped land, new or old buildings, within any planning zone, and within any building type or land use.

Examples of fire hazards include:

• Unmanaged vegetation, such as hedges, scrub, bush, grass, or weeds.
• Accumulated rubbish, inflammable material, or other matter.
• Defective building construction.
• Dilapidated buildings or structures.
• Inflammable materials close to buildings.
• Inadequate means of evacuation from a building.
• The escape of inflammable liquid or vapour.

Fire hazards become fire risks if the hazard is likely to have significant impact on people and/or property.

If a fire hazard is a fire risk, action needs to be taken to reduce or remove the risk.