Bushfire safety – what you should know

Key points:

• The Australian Fire Danger Rating System is your guide and warning system for local bushfire risks
• If you live in a bushfire zone you should have a Bushfire Survival Plan in place
• Bushfires are unpredictable but there are steps you can take to better protect your property

It is essential that you are organised and ready for any outcome during the bushfire season. Depending on where you live, the bushfire season can start in early November and end in April.

During this time you should be aware of what safeguards should be in place, how fires behave, and what considerations need to be made to look after yourself or anyone with a disability.

Understanding the Australian Fire Danger Rating System

Last year there was a big change to the fire danger ratings used across the country with the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) introduced as a nationally-consistent warning system.

The AFDRS calculates, forecasts and reports fire danger and is based on a wide range of data and modelling. There are two main ways the data is shared: Fire Danger Ratings (AFDRS) and Fire Behaviour Index (FBI).

The AFDRS is similar to what you would already see with four clear danger levels and recommendations:

• Moderate (green – plan and prepare)
• High (yellow – be ready to act)
• Extreme (orange – take action now to protect life and property)
• Catastrophic (red – for your survival, leave bushfire risk areas)

Meanwhile, the FBI uses a numerical scale from 0-100+ to provide a more detailed look at the severity of fires so fire management professionals, such as emergency services, can make informed decisions in response to a bushfire threat. 

You can use the levels as a guide to leave your home, particularly if you know that more time is required. For example, you might choose a ‘high’ or ‘extreme’ warning as the appropriate time to leave a bushfire risk area as you can safely avoid any imminent threats from a ‘catastrophic’ bushfire. 

The traditional AFDRS levels will continue to be visible across roadside signs, on emergency websites and on Government websites such as the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

Protecting your property from bushfire risks

A range of bushfire risks are likely to impact your home’s safety and it always helps to understand bushfire behaviour and the role those risk factors play in spreading the fire.

Bushfire behaviour depends on several factors, including weather conditions (temperature, wind), fuel sources (vegetation) and even the topography of the environment.

Grassfires are one of the most common types of bushfires. Dried out, dead grass burns easily and fire can spread rapidly, which is why long grass must be slashed, mowed and cleared regularly during summer.

You will also find that Australia’s native scrubland/shrubland vegetation creates serious fire risks. They burn slowly, but intensely, and the additional heat could lead to trees or man-made structures catching on fire. 

Trees can also pose a major risk factor as the embers can spread easily through the wind if treetops catch fire. However, fire will only reach the top of a tree if there is enough fuel around the base and dry, fibrous bark that helps the flames travel upwards.

Those strong winds often create unpredictability as embers can travel hundreds of metres away, while the bushfire front – that is the leading edge of the fire – can change directions suddenly.

To reduce the impact of natural fuels strengthening a bushfire around your house, you should:

• Mow, slash, rake and weed any grasses within 20 metres of your home (and other buildings) to remove fast-burning fuels
• Clean the gutters
• Prune shrubs to keep their tops away from low-hanging tree branches
• Prune lower branches of trees and remove nearby ground fuels and foliage
• Remove or reduce loose bark, dead twigs, branches and leaves in the garden
• Keep any other flammable items away from the home, such as firewood or paper recycling contents

If you are unable to complete any of the tasks due to disability or limited mobility, contact a family member, friend, neighbour, local maintenance person or the local Country Fire Service/Authority and they may be able to assist you.

If you are after additional information on how to best prepare your home, the South Australian Country Fire Service has a helpful checklist.

A Bushfire Survival Plan is necessary

Bushfire Survival Plans outline all the critical steps you should take when a bushfire threat is imminent. It is a personalised document that is designed to reflect the needs of those in your house, your location and the exact steps you need to take to safely escape and relocate.

It is particularly important that your Bushfire Escape Plan is designed to accommodate a person, or people, with disability or limited mobility as additional support may be required.

The Bushfire Survival Plan should be a detailed plan that everyone in the household is familiar with, outlining important information such as:

• Who it includes, e.g. adults, kids and animals?
• What trigger or event will indicate it is time to leave early?
• Where will you go, e.g. public refuge or a family member’s house?
• How can you get there, e.g. car, taxi or public transport?
• What are the escape route options available to you?
• What belongings and medical equipment do you have to take?
• How easy is it to make your home fire-ready if you have to leave in an emergency?
• How will you notify family and friends of where you are?
• What happens if someone is at work or school?
• What happens if guests are over?

Take your time when creating the Bushfire Safety Plan as you want to have multiple options in place – and be fully aware of what local resources are available.

For example, will a Bushfire Last Resort Refuge support your needs if you cannot relocate to a safe location such as a relative’s house? 

A Last Resort Refuge is a local space or building that is your last option to shelter from a bushfire and often it has limited capacity, does not cater for animals, and may not be supported by emergency services.

As a result, you will need to research when preparing your Bushfire Safety Plan and ask yourself questions such as:

• Are there multiple roads or exits that are accessible for your car and people with limited mobility?
• If you do have to rely on external transport or a driver, do you have different people to contact in an emergency that can pick you up?
• If you cannot relocate to another house and need to go somewhere public – such as a Bushfire Last Resort Refuge – can they accommodate any specific accessibility requirements, medical equipment or medicine storage?
• Do you have extra batteries and chargers ready to go in case you cannot access a stable power supply for any mobility aids, communication tools or equipment?

You can learn more about creating a Bushfire Safety Plan that caters for people with disability in our article, ‘Top tips to prepare you for a bushfire’.

Where to find more information

Keep a close eye on your state’s relevant authority websites to ensure you have all the latest information on risks, safety tips, your nearest Bushfire Safe Place or Last Resort Refuge, and the resources available during the bushfire season.

Public broadcasters, such as the ABC, also provide ongoing updates across their FM and digital radio stations. You can also find support through the State Emergency Services by searching online for your local State or Territory branch website.

For detailed State or Territory specific bushfire information, you can look to the following websites and mobile applications:

• Bureau of Meteorology
• ABC Emergency and ABC Radio
• ACT – Australian Capital Territory Rural Fire Service
• NSW – New South Wales Rural Fire Service and myfireplan.com.au 
• NT – Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service
• QLD – Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
• SA – South Australian Country Fire Service and Alert SA
• TAS – Tasmania Fire Service
• VIC – Victorian Country Fire Authority 
• WA – Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services and mybushfireplan.wa.gov.au

How have you, or your household, prepared for a bushfire threat this summer? Tell us more in the comments below.

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