Bushfires: Are You Prepared?

Have you seen the light?

A guide to preparing for and enduring a bushfire

By Emma Kae - 3rd February 2003 - Back to News

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As the sun is hotting up in anticipation for Summer, some people will be lucky enough to relax at the beach. Others may spend the season watching the bushfires rage across Australia with open-mouthed horror and more than one glance out to their own backyard with a sense of forbidding…

Bushfires are devastating. They rage through the countryside, swallowing picturesque landscape, native wildlife and family homes and leaving as little as blackened ash behind.

Don’t wait until it is too late! Take action now to protect your family, pets and property.

An action plan for protecting your home from a bushfire…

Clear the area well around the house to create a firebreak. Material to be removed includes dry grass, thick undergrowth, dead leaves, branches, woodpiles, boxes, crates, hanging baskets and wooden garden furniture. Keep grass short and green.
Store wood, fuel, and paints, etc, well clear of the house, downhill and undercover
Clean gutters regularly and ensure roofing is firmly fixed
Ensure LPG gas tanks are vented away from the house
Ensure that you have sufficient supplies of water and fire fighting equipment
If possible, install heavy-duty hoses with wide spray nozzles. Make sure the hoses are long enough to reach all sides of the house and are attached to taps
If possible, reserve water supplies from tanks, dams or swimming pools around your area as mains water will be in high demand
Gather buckets, mops, spray backpack units, ladders, rakes and shovels in one place for easy access during a fire
Have a battery-operated radio and torch handy in case of electricity failure
Store treasured heirlooms, valuables and documentation (such as birth certificates) in one location for easy access
Have a fire safety plan for all members of the family, including animals

If, despite all of your preparation, your house is caught in a bushfire, don't panic - there are things that can be done!

If a fire eventuates…

Phone the bushfire brigade - don’t assume they know
Listen to the radio for news of the fire's progress
Turn off gas and power
Dress in protective clothing, drink water frequently
Hose your house and garden and turn on the sprinkler system if you have one
Block down pipes and fill gutters with water
Close all external windows and doors and block gaps from inside with wet towels
Wind up car windows, and move cars away from the house to open ground
Close heavy curtains and shutters if your home has them
Fill baths, sinks, buckets, etc, with reserve water
As the fire gets closer, go inside and remain inside (away from doors and windows) until the fire has passed - it is best not to flee but to remain indoors as statistics prove that people who have remained inside their homes have not only survived, but have often managed to save their homes as well.
When the fire has passed, patrol your property and put out any small spot fires started by flying embers
Quickly extinguish any fires that may have started in, near, or under the house or roof, checking inside also
If the house is alight and can’t be extinguished, move away onto burnt ground

Please Note: In emergency situations, ALWAYS follow the advice of on site professionals, such as fire fighters or the SES.

For more tips on what to do if you get caught in a fire (on foot, in your car or in your home) please visit : http://www.nt.gov.au/pfes/es/bushfires.htm

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com