Plan for Bushfires

Published on Thursday, 31 August 2023 at 12:00:50 PM

BUSHFIRES:

Bushfire season is fast approaching, now is the time for our communities to prepare themselves and their homes. Firefighters will be too busy fighting fires on the frontline to defend your home and property, so it is your responsibility to be prepared. Download, print and complete the Property Preparation Checklist  to give your home and property the best possible chance of surviving a bushfire.

PLAN FOR BUSHFIRES

• You should develop an understanding of – 

• Fire Danger Ratings (FDR) describe the potential danger level you could face if a bushfire and provide you with important information so you can take action to protect yourself and others from the dangerous impacts of bushfires. You need to understand the Fire Danger Rating to assess your level of bushfire risk and decide what actions to take. Click here for more information on the Fire Danger Ratings and Bushfire Warnings.

         Know your Fire Danger Rating 

• Australian Warning System (AWS) – During a bushfire, the emergency services will issue a warning if the fire is impacting, or likely to impact the community. There are 3 levels of warning (Emergency, Watch and Act, Advice). These warnings change to reflect the increasing risk to your life or property and the decreasing amount of time you have until the fire arrives. You can keep up to date with any warnings in your area by visiting Emergency WA.
• You need to make a Bushfire Plan – Bushfires happen every year. To survive a bushfire, you must be prepared to make your own decisions. The single biggest killer is indecision.

Download the Bushfire Preparation Toolkit here.

Prepare your home for bushfires

Four simple steps

• Create your bushfire plan, prepare your property, pack an emergency kit and make sure you understand the Bushfire Warning and Rating Systems.

Prepare your property Simple and ongoing monthly property upkeep includes:

• Cut the grass around your property to 10cm or less • Prune shrubs so they are not dense
• Clean gutters
• Check gas release valves face away from property More lasting actions to prepare your property include:
• Create a minimum two metre gap between your house and tree branches
• Install metal fly wire mesh on all windows and vents and install a protective screen on evaporative air conditioners.
• Block any gaps under the floor, in roof spaces, under eaves, external vents, skylights, chimneys and wall claddings.
• Install a fire or heat radiant shield such as a solid fence

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