Bushfire Prevention Tips
While it is not currently bushfire season, if you live in a bushfire-affected area, it can be good to begin preparing early. Bushfires can have a devastating effect on a property, so ensuring you have taken measures to prevent them or lessen their impact is vital. Read on for a few bushfire prevention tips below.
What is the best way to prepare for a bushfire?
Although it is not possible to completely prevent bushfires from occurring, you can make sure you’re prepared for a bushfire and hopefully lessen its damage. Here are a few bushfire safety tips:
Keep an eye on the Fire Danger Rating
During bushfire season (and even throughout the entire year), keep track of the Fire Danger Rating for your area. This can be found online, displayed by the side of the road, or sometimes broadcast on television and radio. The Fire Danger Rating ranges from Low-Moderate through to Catastrophic, and the level is determined by the Bureau of Meteorology. Obey the rules that coincide with the ratings, and do not light fires if a Total Fire Ban is in place.
Check for updates
If you are concerned about bushfires in your area, keep a lookout for any updates to stay informed on the situation. Each Australian state and territory has a government site through which you can keep an eye on local updates. For example, for New South Wales, the site is the NSW Rural Fire Service. There are also apps that you can download to track local fire spread.
Prepare your property
When it comes to learning how to prepare for a bushfire, a big part is ensuring your property is bushfire ready. There are several steps you can take to prepare your property for bushfire season. The NSW Rural Fire Service has a great list of things to do to help prepare your home for a bushfire. This includes:
- Making sure your gutters are cleared before bushfire seasons comes around
- Enclosing the space underneath your house
- Installing metal guards into your gutters
- Cutting back bushes and trees that hang over buildings
- Putting a SWS sign on your property entrance if you have a pool, tank or dam to let firefighters know water is available
- Keeping your lawn short and maintained
- Placing seals around your windows and doors to stop gaps
If you are unsure, don’t risk it
While those with experience and understanding of bushfires may choose to stay and defend their homes, if you are at all unsure, evacuate your home. If you are in the line of a bushfire, the emergency services should get in touch with you to ask you to evacuate. While it can be heartbreaking to lose a house to fire, your life is so much more important. Don’t hesitate to leave when you need to.
Want to know more about how bushfires begin and move? Check out our blog post on How Bushfires Start and Spread for more info.
