If a bushfire is threatening your home or property, it’s too late to think about what you and your family will do and where you will go. A Bushfire Survival Plan makes sure you are ready.  

Leaving early is always the safest option. But you may want to discuss with your family if you are capable and prepared to stay and defend your home.

You need to think about:

• Your understanding of bushfire, including how fires develop and move.  
• If your home can survive the impact of a bushfire.  
• If you will be alone. You need at least two able adults to defend a home.  
• Your health: fire conditions can worsen medical conditions, making it difficult to defend your home.
• Your physical abilities: you may need to defend your home for several hours in extreme heat and smoke which will require intense physical activity.
• Your mobility: you will need to move around your property with ease, potentially in dark, windy, and noisy conditions.
• Your mental health: the impact of bushfire can be traumatic.
• Your ability to make critical and informed decisions under stressful conditions.
• If staying will put anyone in your family at risk, including children, the elderly, and people with medical conditions or disabilities.  
• If you have enough firefighting equipment to defend your home, and know how to use them.  
• If you have an independent water supply. You cannot rely on access to mains water during a bushfire.