How to Prepare for a Bushfire

Australia experiences frequent bushfires due to its predominantly hot and dry climate. In fact, Southeastern Australia including South Australia, Victoria, and Southern New South Wales are recognised as the most fire-prone regions in the world, with 45,000 to 60,000 cases of bushfires being responded to by fire and emergency services annually.

The bushfire season follows distinct patterns in different parts of Australia. In Southern Australia, it typically runs from December to May, while in Northern Australia, the bushfire season extends from May to October. Central Australia, however, has a much longer fire season, running from August to March.

According to the Fire and Emergency Services of Western Australia, one of the most important decisions to make is to have a bushfire plan. So in this article, we will discuss the steps you need to take to ensure that you, your family and your property are prepared for a bushfire.

What are the 4 steps the RFS recommends to prepare for a bushfire?

In New South Wales, a bushfire is a common occurrence, which means that you should be prepared and be bushfire ready all year round. To ensure your safety during a bushfire situation, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) recommends that you have a Bushfire Survival Plan to prepare for and respond to bushfires. As part of the plan, here are the four essential steps you must take:



Discuss

Create a plan containing the strategies that you will take in case of a bushfire. This should include a step-by-step process of what you should do as well as an equipment checklist that includes the tools that you will use to stay safe during a bushfire. If you decide to stay inside the house, it is your responsibility to prepare all the necessary equipment for your survival.



Once you have discussed and reached a decision, have your family members sign a document indicating their agreement and commitment to the chosen course of action.

Prepare

When it comes to bushfires, it's better to have a plan in place than to be caught off guard. Thus, here are five things that you can do before and during the bushfire season.

• Trim overhanging trees and shrubs to prevent fire from spreading quickly to your area.
• Mow grass and ensure your area is clear from trimmings and clippings.
• Remove items from your home that may catch fire such as outdoor furniture, wood pilings, fallen leaves, paint and even door mats.
• Clear gutters from leaves and any other debris that can burn
• Prepare hoses long enough to cover the entire perimeter of your house. Ensure you have a reliable water source available.



Know

Even before a fire starts, the decisions you make in advance can significantly impact your safety and survival. Hence, it is essential to monitor the Fire Danger Ratings regularly, which can be found at http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fdr.



The Fire Danger Ratings provide crucial information about the potential danger posed by fires. Remember that the higher the fire danger rating, the greater the risk and danger associated with a fire event. This information is typically used in the decision-making and planning for fire prevention and control, as well as to warn people about the potential dangers of bushfires.

Keep

The NSW Rural Fire Service highly recommends that you keep the following emergency contact numbers, links, and apps to receive bushfire alerts and stay informed and updated on the current conditions in your area.

• In a bushfire emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
• For information regarding bush fire, call the Bush Fire Information Line 1800 NSW RFS (1800 679 737).
• NSW Rural Fire Service Website: rfs.nsw.gov.au
• For Fire Danger Rating: rfs.nsw.gov.au/fdr
• ‘Fires Near Me’ Free smartphone app
• Local radio, local ABC/emergency broadcaster frequency, TV, newspapers
• facebook.com/nswrfs
• twitter.com/nswrfs

How does Australia prepare for bushfire season?

Bushfire season in Australia is not the same in every city. The risk and severity of bushfires can vary depending on factors such as climate, terrain, and vegetation. While some areas may be prone to bushfire risk due to a combination of these factors, other areas may have a lower risk. In any case, if you are living in a bushfire-prone area, here are some steps that you can take:

Structure

• Clear gutters and remove any leaves, twigs, bark or debris from the roof, and consider the installation of a gutter guard if you don't want to clean your gutters regularly. If you plan on installing metal gutter guards, attach a fire sprinkler system to the gutters.
• Secure open areas beneath decks and floors to prevent potential fire hazards.
• Install steel wire mesh screens on windows, doors, vents, and weep holes to prevent the entry of embers and maintain a barrier against fire.
• Ensure that LPG cylinder relief valves are away from the fire's direction.
• Regularly inspect and maintain firefighting pumps, generators, and water systems to ensure they are in proper working condition when needed.
• Seal any gaps found in the external roof and cladding to prevent the infiltration of embers and potential fire spread.
• Keep flammable items, such as woodpiles, mulch, boxes, hanging baskets, and outdoor furniture, at a safe distance away from your home to minimise bushfire risk.

Vegetation

• Reduce vegetation along access paths to create a clear and accessible route.
• Maintain your lawn by regularly mowing it to keep the grass at a manageable height.
• Remove long dry grass, dead leaves, and branches from your property which may be flammable
• Cut shrubs overhanging buildings. Clean the surrounding area and keep it free from fallen leaves, twigs, and debris.
• Trim low-hanging branches around your home to a height of two meters from the ground, reducing the risk of fire spreading from ground-level vegetation to your property.

Access

• Ensure your house number is displayed clearly on the road for easy identification of emergency responders.
• Provide ample space for fire trucks to access your property entrance. Ensure that the access road is at least four meters wide and high, allowing for convenient passage. Additionally, create a turn-around area to enable maneuvering of emergency vehicles if necessary.

Personal

• Pack enough supplies of personal protective clothing and equipment for everyone in your household. Store these items in a readily accessible location.
• Prepare an evacuation kit or an emergency kit with essential supplies that you may need during an evacuation or emergency.
• Ensure your first aid kit is well-stocked and up to date with necessary medical supplies.
• Review your insurance policies for both your home and vehicles to ensure they provide adequate coverage for potential risks.
• Stay informed and update your Bushfire Survival Plan regularly as a family, ensuring that it reflects any changes or updates to your circumstances.
• Create a contingency plan ahead that outlines an alternative course of action in case your initial plans don't work out.
• Go to your Neighbourhood Safer Place (NSP), if available in your area, for safe protection during emergencies.
• Make preparations for your pets, ensuring they also have an emergency kit containing necessary supplies, shelter, and a safety plan.

Contingency Plan

As bushfires are highly unpredictable, it's essential to have a contingency plan that outlines alternative options in case your initial plans fail. This can make a significant difference in saving your life if you happen to be trapped in a fire. Some factors to consider when creating your contingency plan may include:

• What actions will you take if you are not at home?
• What if your pet is missing?
• What if you're the only one at home?
• What measures will you take if you have guests residing with you?
• What are your plans in case your travel route is blocked?
• What strategies will you use if you got stranded inside your house?
• If your intended stay is no longer feasible due to safety concerns, where will you relocate?



Where is the safest place in your house during a bushfire?

Bushfires are highly unpredictable. So even if you have no plans to stay in your house to defend your property, it is crucial to be prepared for the possibility of sheltering in your home if evacuation becomes unsafe. In such cases, the best plan of action is to stay inside your home until the fire passes and go to the safest room which should ideally be farthest from the fire front.



What should you do in case of a bushfire?

If you are seeking refuge inside a building, it's important to seal all doors and windows as effectively as possible. If seeking safety in an open area, try to protect yourself from radiant heat and embers. Ensure to cover exposed skin with clothing or blankets and stay low on the ground as the fire approaches. Be cautious of potential ember attacks and the emergence of new fire fronts. Call fire and emergency services immediately and do not attempt to fight the bushfire yourself.

Conclusion

Bushfires in Australia can emerge suddenly at any time of the year, without prior warning. They can rapidly spread and cause significant impacts on people and have the potential to devastate homes, wildlife, agricultural land, and even entire cities.



The far-reaching consequences of bushfires emphasise the urgent need for a comprehensive fire safety strategy. This begins with understanding the risk factors associated with these natural disasters and how important it is to ensure individuals, communities, and organisations are adequately prepared for bushfires. Hence, by taking preventive measures, and having a bushfire plan in place, Australians can reduce the risks and impact of bushfires.