Your decisions

You need to make a Bushfire Survival Plan so everyone knows what to do. 

Think about:

• How to stay informed about warnings and updates.
• If your home is able to withstand the impact of a bushfire.
• How you could improve your home preparedness.
• If you have any experience with or knowledge of defending a property during a bushfire.
• If you have the tools you need to defend your home, and know how to use them.
• If you have an independent water supply. Do not plan to rely on mains water.
• How many people will be defending the property?  
  • It is unsafe to defend a property on your own - if you are injured you may not be able to seek medical assistance and there may be too many locations that need attention for just one person.
• Do you or your family members have any disabilities or medical conditions that you need to take care of?
• Will someone else be responsible for looking after others (young, elderly, or disabled)?
  • If you are defending the property, someone else needs to be available to supervise or help dependants.
  • Think about evacuating children and the elderly who are more vulnerable to heat stress.  
• Is there anyone outside your neighbourhood that you need to help or check up on?
• What are you going to do with your pets or livestock? Will you have someone dedicated to looking after your animals so that you can focus on defending your home?
• What will you do if it’s too dangerous to stay? Where will you go? Do you have any family or friends you can stay with? What will you take? Make sure you have a backup plan.
• Do you have a bushfire survival kit? 

What to expect

A bushfire is a terrifying and stressful experience. Understanding what to expect and planning what you will do will help you cope.

• It will be hot and dark. The sky may turn orange.
• Strong gusty winds and intense heat will make you tired quickly.
• Thick, heavy smoke will sting your eyes, and  will make it hard to breathe.
• Strong winds will push you around.
• The roaring sound of the wind and fire approaching will make it hard to hear.
• Embers will rain down causing spot fires all around you.
• Power, water and internet may be cut off.
• You could be isolated.
• You might hear explosions nearby.
• While the fire front may pass quickly, it could be hours before the danger is over and you can rest.
• Do not expect a fire truck to defend your home.  

On days when the fire danger rating is Extreme or Catastrophic, a bushfire can be uncontrollable, unpredictable, and fast moving. Leaving is the only option for your survival. 

Before the fire front arrives

If you choose or are forced to stay at your property, it is essential you are prepared for the oncoming bushfire. Plan to have no more than 30 minutes before the fire hits after hearing about a fire in your area. Bushfires can travel extremely fast and hit without warning.

Do these tasks well before there are any signs of fire.  

• Make sure vehicles have sufficient fuel and move them to a safe location.
• Move garden furniture, door mats and other outdoor items inside.
• Block downpipes at the top and fill gutters with water if possible.
• Wet down the sides of buildings, decks and plants close to your home in the likely path of the bushfire.
• Move animals and livestock to a well-grazed or ploughed area.
• Turn on garden sprinklers for 30 minutes before you leave to soak the ground.
• Close windows, doors, and vents. Shut blinds.
• Take down curtains and move furniture away from windows.
• Seal gaps under doors and windows with wet towels.
• Fill containers with water, e.g. sinks, bathtub, buckets, bins.
• Bring pets inside, contain them in one room and provide them with plenty of water.
• Tune in to warnings to monitor local radio, websites or social media for updates.
• Put on protective clothing.
• Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
• Gather your firefighting equipment.  

As the fire front arrives

Extinguish any falling embers outdoors as best you can. When it gets too hot you will need to go inside to protect yourself from radiant heat. The skin on your ears and hands will alert you that radiant heat has become too hot to survive outside.  

Expect to stay inside for at least 20-30 minutes as the fire front passes.

• Disconnect hose and fittings and bring inside.
• Go inside for shelter.
• Drink lots of water.
• Shelter in your house on the opposite side from the approaching fire, in a room with multiple escape points.
• Patrol and check for embers inside, particularly in the roof space.
• Check on family and pets.
• Maintain a means of escape.
• Continually monitor conditions.
• Stay tuned to information channels.
• Turn on your external sprinkler system (if you have one).  

After the fire front passes

Be very cautious about going outside. Depending on what is burning, the radiant heat could be very high and potentially fatal. Note that large trees can continue to burn for many hours after the fire has passed.  

• Stay tuned to information channels.
• Contact friends and family to tell them you are safe.
• Continue to check for small spot fires and burning embers:
  • Inside your roof space.
  • Under the house.
  • On verandahs and decks.
  • In roof lines and gutters.
  • Under floor boards.
  • In wood piles.
  • In garden beds.
• Continue to drink lots of water and monitor for signs of heat stress (cramps, fatigue, dizziness). 
  • Call Triple Zero (000) if someone is badly affected by heat stress or heat stroke.  

If you get trapped in a burning house

If your house catches fire while you are in it, you need to act quickly.  

• Close the door to the room that is on fire.  
• Move to the other end of the house, closing doors behind you.  
• Keep low to the ground to avoid breathing in smoke.  
• Do not get trapped in a room without an alternate exit. Never shelter in a bathroom.  
• Move outside to burnt ground as soon as possible.
• Take shelter in another building if it is too hot outside.
• Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.