Bushfire Risk Management

Summer's coming. So is your firebreak deadline.

We clear Perth Hills and Great Southern blocks so they meet the shire's requirements and stand a better chance when the season turns. Book a free quote and we'll come and look at it.

Family owned and run Hills residents for over 15 years Free, no-obligation quotes

Two reasons your block needs doing

One of them is the law. The other is the one that keeps you up when the wind picks up in February.

01

Because you legally have to

Your shire sends a firebreak notice every year with a date on it and a fine attached. It specifies widths, clearances and what has to be cut back, and it doesn't care how big your block is or how busy you are.

We clear to the notice. If you're not sure what yours is asking for, bring it to the quote and we'll go through it with you.

02

Because summer is coming

Fuel load is the part of a bushfire you can actually do something about. Long grass, built-up leaf litter, scrub grown in against the house — all of it decides how a fire behaves when it reaches your boundary.

Cleared ground gives firefighters somewhere to work from. That's the whole point of doing it properly rather than just enough to pass.

What we do

Property preparation now, accredited assessments from November, and full bushfire consulting after that.

Available now

Property Maintenance

Getting the block ready before the season turns.

  • Slashing
  • Firebreaks to shire spec
  • Hand-clearing around structures
  • Gutter and roof clearing
  • Green waste taken away
From November 2026

BAL Assessments

Bushfire Attack Level ratings for building and renovation applications, once accreditation is complete.

  • BAL ratings and reports
  • For permits and approvals
  • Accredited practitioner
Coming 2027

Bushfire Consulting

Full management plans and fire suppression system design, following completion of the Diploma.

  • Bushfire Management Plans
  • Suppression system design

Why we do this

We've lived in the Hills for over 15 years

We know the sound of the sirens going up the highway. We know what it's like to walk outside in February, smell smoke, and start working out which way the wind's blowing. We've watched the helicopters go over and refreshed the emergency page more times than we'd like to count.

That's not a sales angle. It's just why we take this seriously and why we'd rather do a block properly than quickly.

Firezone Services is family owned and run, based in the Perth Hills, working across the Great Southern too.

How it works

Three steps, no mucking about.

STEP 01

Book a free quote

Pick a time from the calendar and tell us a bit about the property. Takes two minutes.

STEP 02

We come out

We walk the block, look at access, terrain and fuel load, and work out what actually needs doing.

STEP 03

You get a price

A written quote with the scope spelled out. If you're happy, we book the work in.

Get it sorted before the deadline

Spring books out fast, and everyone leaves it until the notice arrives. Get in early and pick your date.

Book a Free Quote Or call 0422 295 010
Taking enquiries now, assessments from November 2026

BAL assessments for Perth Hills builds and renovations.

If you're building in a bushfire-prone area, you'll need a Bushfire Attack Level rating before your application goes anywhere. Get on the list and we'll be in touch as soon as we're accredited.

The basics

What is a BAL assessment?

A Bushfire Attack Level assessment measures how much bushfire exposure a building site is likely to face. It looks at the vegetation around the site, how far away it is, the slope it sits on, and the fire danger index for the area.

The result is a rating, and that rating determines the construction standard your build has to meet under Australian Standard AS 3959. It's usually one of the first things a shire or building surveyor will ask for.

It matters more than most people expect, because the rating drives real cost. The difference between a low rating and a high one can be tens of thousands of dollars in construction requirements, so getting it assessed properly rather than conservatively is worth actual money.

The ratings

The six levels

Each level carries different construction requirements. Higher rating, stricter build.

  • BAL LOW

    Insufficient risk to warrant specific construction requirements.

  • BAL 12.5

    Risk of ember attack. Basic construction requirements apply.

  • BAL 19

    Increasing ember attack and burning debris, with some heat exposure.

  • BAL 29

    Heightened ember attack and burning debris, with increasing heat exposure.

  • BAL 40

    Increased heat exposure, ember attack, and the likelihood of flame contact.

  • BAL FZ

    Flame Zone. Direct exposure to flames. The most demanding construction requirements.

Who needs one

If your property is in a designated bushfire-prone area, a BAL is usually required before approval.

Building a new home

A BAL is required as part of the building permit application in bushfire-prone areas. Best done early, because the rating shapes design decisions and budget before you're committed to either.

Extensions and renovations

Significant additions to an existing building generally trigger the same requirement. Worth checking before you finalise plans rather than after.

Sheds and outbuildings

Habitable outbuildings, granny flats and some larger structures can also require an assessment, depending on the shire and the use.

Subdivisions

Creating new lots in a bushfire-prone area usually needs bushfire assessment as part of the planning process, often alongside a management plan.

Rebuilds

Replacing a building on an existing site typically requires a current assessment, even where a previous one was done years ago.

Not sure?

Your shire or building surveyor will tell you whether your site is in a designated bushfire-prone area. If you've been asked for a BAL, you need one.

Why Firezone

The assessor who also clears blocks

Most BAL assessors do assessments and nothing else. They arrive, measure the vegetation, produce a rating, and leave.

We do the assessment and the work. That matters because vegetation classification and distance are what set your rating, and in some cases managed vegetation can change where you land on the scale. An assessor who also does clearing can tell you whether that's a realistic option on your block or a waste of time.

Brad also started his flying career as a fire spotter, which means he's spent time looking at how fire actually moves across country rather than only reading about it in a standard.

Straight about where we are

BAL assessments for statutory purposes must be carried out by an accredited practitioner. Brad's accreditation course is booked and we'll be taking assessments from November 2026.

We're not taking BAL bookings before then, and we won't tell you otherwise. If you need one urgently, we'd rather point you to someone accredited now than string you along.

Questions we get asked

When can you actually do my BAL?

From November 2026, once accreditation is complete. The course is booked. If you register your interest now we'll contact you as soon as we're taking bookings, and you'll be near the front of the queue.

What if I need one before November?

Tell us and we'll point you toward an accredited assessor who can help now. We'd rather you got it done than waited on us.

How long does an assessment take?

The site visit itself is usually an hour or two depending on the size and complexity of the property. The written report follows after that.

Can I lower my BAL rating?

Sometimes. The rating is driven by vegetation type, distance and slope, so in some cases managed vegetation or a change to where the building sits can shift the outcome. It depends entirely on the site, and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth pursuing on yours.

How long is a BAL assessment valid?

There's no fixed expiry, but it reflects site conditions at the time of assessment. Vegetation grows and neighbouring properties change, so surveyors and shires generally want a current one. If yours is a few years old, expect to need it redone.

Is a BAL the same as a Bushfire Management Plan?

No. A BAL is a rating for a specific building site that determines construction standards. A Bushfire Management Plan is a broader document, usually required for planning approvals and subdivisions, covering how bushfire risk will be managed across the site. We'll be offering management plans from 2027.

Get on the list for November

Tell us about your project and we'll be in touch the moment we're taking BAL bookings.

Register Your Interest