Bushfire Risk Check by Address
Is your property in a bushfire prone area? Get your Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating, proximity to fire-prone land, 20-year fire history and 2050 risk projection for any Australian address.
BAL rating · Fire history · 2050 CSIRO projections · From A$69
Understanding BAL ratings
Australia’s Bushfire Attack Level system classifies a property’s exposure to fire. ClimateNest identifies which BAL level applies to your address.
Insufficient risk to warrant specific construction requirements. Lowest exposure to ember attack.
Low risk. Ember attack and burning debris likely. Some construction requirements apply.
Moderate risk. Increased ember attack and burning debris, with some radiant heat exposure.
High risk. Higher radiant heat exposure, significant ember attack. Stricter construction standards.
Very high risk. Extremely high radiant heat, heavy ember attack. Significant construction cost impact.
Flame Zone. Direct exposure to flames. Most stringent construction requirements. Some properties uninsurable.
Source: AS 3959-2018 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas, CSIRO, NSW RFS
What your bushfire risk report includes
BAL rating for your address
Your property’s Bushfire Attack Level based on vegetation type, slope and distance from bushfire-prone land per AS 3959.
Distance to bushfire-prone land
Exact distance from your property boundary to the nearest classified bushfire-prone land using Geoscience Australia data.
20-year fire history
Fire activity within 5km of your property over the past 20 years, sourced from state fire authority records.
2050 fire season projection
How fire weather severity and season length are projected to change at your location under CSIRO RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios.
Insurance cost impact
Estimated insurance premium loading for your BAL rating and how this is likely to change as risk increases to 2050.
Adaptation recommendations
Property-specific guidance on ember protection, vegetation management, construction upgrades and BAL-appropriate insurance.
Bushfire risk by Australian state
NSW
Risk: Very High
Blue Mountains, South Coast, Mid-North Coast and Hunter Valley at high BAL. 2019–20 Black Summer burned 5.5M ha in NSW alone.
Sources: NSW RFS, CSIRO
VIC
Risk: Very High
Dandenong Ranges, Yarra Valley, Gippsland and Grampians are high BAL zones. 2009 Black Saturday remains Australia’s deadliest fire.
Sources: CFA VIC, CSIRO
WA
Risk: High
Perth Hills (Roleystone, Kalamunda) and south-west WA face growing fire risk as urban expansion pushes into bushland.
Sources: DFES WA, Geoscience AU
QLD
Risk: High
South-east QLD (Sunshine Coast hinterland, Gold Coast ranges) and far north QLD are actively fire-prone. Dry season risk extends year-round in the tropics.
Sources: QFES, BOM
SA
Risk: High
Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island had catastrophic 2019–20 fire seasons. Ongoing high risk in Hills Face Zone.
Sources: CFS SA, CSIRO
TAS
Risk: Moderate-High
Historically moderate but fires in 2019 burned buttongrass moorlands thought fire-resistant. Risk increasing with drying trends.
Sources: TFS, CSIRO
Frequently asked questions
Is a bushfire risk check free in Australia?
State fire authorities (NSW RFS, CFA Victoria, DFES WA) publish free bushfire prone area maps online. These show zone-level risk, not your specific property's BAL rating. ClimateNest provides a free address preview with a full BAL report from A$69.
Do I need a BAL assessment before buying a property?
There is no legal requirement for buyers to obtain a BAL assessment before purchasing, but it is strongly recommended for properties near bushland. BAL ratings affect insurance availability, premium cost and any future renovation or construction costs (higher BAL = more expensive building standards).
Can I reduce my property's bushfire risk?
Partially. You cannot change your property's location relative to bushfire-prone land, but asset protection zones (vegetation clearance), ember-resistant vents, mesh screens and ember guards can reduce the effective risk. A ClimateNest report includes adaptation guidance specific to your BAL rating.
Did the 2019–20 Black Summer fires change bushfire risk ratings?
Yes. Following Black Summer, several state governments revised bushfire prone land maps, expanding the extent of classified areas. Some properties that were BAL-LOW before 2020 have since been reclassified. A current ClimateNest report reflects the latest classifications.
Check your property's bushfire risk now
BAL rating · Fire history · 2050 projections · Insurance impact · Adaptation guidance. From A$69.
From A$69 · Free preview · 24-hour satisfaction guarantee