Work in teams to gather data specific to your local area. Use your best research skills to learn the following:
Field work
To find out
Helpful sources
Demographics
Population size, rural or urban?
National parks, endangered animals?
Wikipedia
Climate
Length of hot and dry seasons, rainfall, lightning strikes, prevailing wind speed and direction?
Bureau of Meteorology
Bushfire fuels
Vegetation types, area and density of vegetation, forest types: old growth, rainforest etc, wetlands, grasslands?
Google Earth
Topography
Flat or undulating landscape, mountains, rivers, dams?
Aboriginal sites
Scar trees, rock art, burial places, water holes, historic sites?
Local knowledge
Assets
Town centres, developments, homes, infrastructure eg power lines, bridges, historic sites, old growth forest?
Access
Roads: one or two-way, 4WD access, any barriers: eg sand, fences and creeks?
Water supply
Fire trucks, hydrants, rivers, tanks, bores, static water supply?
Local fire brigade
Fire knowledge and management
Cool burn methods used locally, plans from the local fire brigade?
Local fire brigade, Aboriginal community knowledge, Cool Australia website