How to create a bushfire safety plan for you and your family

As Australia faces an ever-changing climate, peak activity depends on regional weather patterns. In northern Australia, bushfire season typically coincides with the dry winter and spring months, while in the southern parts of the country, fires are more common in summer and autumn, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

It’s important to recognise however that local condition such as high winds, prolonged heat, and drought can cause dangerous bushfire activity at any time of the year.

With these unpredictable risks, being prepared is essential. Having a bushfire survival plan, staying informed of local warnings, and taking steps to protect your home and family are key to minimising risks - especially if you live in a regional or rural area where there's a greater chance of bushfires coming near your home.

From clearing gutters and creating defensible space around your property to knowing evacuation routes and packing an emergency kit, careful preparation is your best defence. In the following sections, we'll explore specific safety measures you can take to ensure you're ready for the bushfire season, no matter where in Australia you live.

Preparing your home before bushfire season can greatly reduce the risk of damage and improve the chances of it surviving a fire. One of the most important steps is clearing vegetation and flammable materials from around your home. This includes cutting back overhanging branches, removing dry leaves, and ensuring that woodpiles, garden furniture, and other combustible items are stored away from the house. Creating this cleared space acts as a defensible zone where firefighters can safely operate if they need to protect your home, and it reduces the amount of fuel available for a fire to spread.

Additionally, fireproofing your home involves taking steps to protect your roof, windows, and vents. Embers can easily enter homes through these openings, so installing mesh screens on windows and roof vents can prevent embers from getting inside. Ensuring your gutters are free of leaves and debris will also help prevent them from catching fire. In the event that you cannot evacuate early, these preparations can buy valuable time and make your home a safer place to shelter in temporarily, giving you a better chance of survival until help arrives.

These actions not only protect your property but also contribute to your personal safety in the event of a bushfire, especially when early evacuation isn’t an option.

We are lucky in Australia to have excellent resources, like NSW Rural Fire Safety and the Country Fire Authority (CFA), who share their own tips on being bushfire ready.

These are the five top actions as shared by NSW Rural Fire Safety:

1. Trim overhanging trees and shrubs.
2. Mow grass and remove the cuttings.
3. Remove material that can burn around your home such as door mats, wood piles, and outdoor furniture.
4. Clear debris and leaves from the gutters surrounding your home. Burning embers can set your home on fire.
5. Prepare a sturdy hose that will reach all around your home. Ensure you have a reliable source of water (pool, tank, dam) and a diesel/petrol pump available.

NSW Rural Fire Service Leave Early Actions Checklist also offer these steps to take when you have decided you will be leaving:

• Close doors, windows and vents.
• Fill baths, sinks, buckets and bins with water.
• Soak towels and rugs and lay them across external doorways.
• Move furniture away from windows.

The CFA also advises the following for your property in their Fire Ready Kit booklet:

• Keep grass cut to 10cm or less
• Don’t have flammable materials surrounding the home. Use non-flammable mulch alternatives in the garden, such as pebbles and rocks. This is fire fuel that can ignite during an ember attack.
• Do not have large shrubs next to or under windows.
• Consider storing your irreplaceable family keepsakes and valuables in a safe location (like a fireproof safe) and moving these out of the area during summer.

The CFA also recommends the following:

• Turning off the gas supply.
• Blocking the downpipes and partially filling the gutters with water, if time permits.
• Leaving your front or access gate open for emergency services to access

Keep a listen and watch out for media updates especially on hot, dry, windy days. Monitor conditions. Listen to the emergency radio broadcast in your area. ABC Emergency will notify you of any local alerts.

Leaving early is the safest option in the event of an approaching bushfire. On CFA’s ‘Leaving Early Bushfire Survival Template’, ‘leaving early’ means being away from high-risk areas before there are any signs of fire. It’s important to know that this does not mean waiting for an official warning, siren, or seeing or smelling smoke. Don’t expect a fire truck to arrive. Fires can spread quickly and it may be too late if you leave it too long.

Decide and agree with others in your home when you will leave. This should be based on the Fire Danger rating. On 'Catastrophic' days, you should not be in a bushfire risk area and leave early.

It’s important to leave early, as driving during a bushfire is extremely dangerous and can result in serious injury or death.

Driving to get out may take longer due to road closures, smoke, and traffic jams. Identity more than one route as bushfires can close roads at short notice.

The CFA suggest the following evacuation options near you, if you didn’t leave early and you cannot leave the high-risk area:

• Another, safer home near you, such as a neighbour's.
• A private bushfire shelter that meets current regulations.
• Designated community fire refuge.

If those options are not available, try to seek shelter in one of the below:

• Bushfire Place of Last Resort (Neighbourhood Safer Place).
• Stationary car in a clear area.
• Ploughed paddock or reserve.
• Body of water (i.e. beach, swimming pool, dam, river, etc).

If you make the decision to defend your home, you risk being seriously injured, suffering psychological trauma or dying. CFA has a Fire Ready Kit you can read, and you should also seek advice from your local brigade or state fire authority before planning to defend your property.

There will come a time where it is too late to leave -  for instance roads may be in accessible. Your option then is to defend your home.

Protecting your belongings during a bushfire requires careful planning and quick action. First and foremost, it’s essential to prioritise items that are irreplaceable, such as family photos, heirlooms, and important documents. Store these in fireproof containers or safes to ensure they remain safe in the event of a disaster.   Create a "grab-and-go" bag with essential items like identification, insurance papers, medical records, and any other documents that are difficult to replace. Keeping these documents in one easily accessible location can save precious time when evacuation becomes necessary.

In addition to documents, other valuable belongings like electronics, jewellery, and sentimental items should be moved to a safer area if possible, ideally in a part of the home that’s farthest from the anticipated path of the fire. If you have the time and resources, consider taking a photo inventory of your possessions, which can be helpful for insurance purposes in the aftermath of a bushfire. While it’s impossible to protect everything in a fire, having a plan for what to take and where to store it can make a significant difference in safeguarding your most treasured items.

Ensure you have an emergency kit stored in a waterproof container that is easily accessible and make sure everyone in the home knows where it is.

Here are items to include in the kit to take with you in case of a fire evacuation:

• Portable battery-operated radio
• Waterproof torch
• Spare batteries
• Medications and toiletries
• First aid kit
• Emergency contact numbers (including your doctor, local hospital, chemist, vet, local council)
• Food and water
• Protective clothing
• Identification papers
• Woollen blankets
• Emergency contact numbers
• Drinking water
• Woollen blankets for protection in case you get caught in the car

Make a list of the following items to place near the emergency kit. Take these with you as well upon leaving:

• Cash, ATM cards, credit cards
• Special requirements for infants, elderly, injured, or disabled people
• Mobile phone and charger
• Change of clothes for everyone

Plan for your pet’s safety too, to prevent putting yourself in danger trying to save your animals.

No matter what your evacuation pan is, it's recommended to wear loose-fitting long pants, long-sleeved shirts and sturdy shoes, preferably leather boots. Clothes should be natural fibres such as pure wool, heavy cotton drill or denim. No synthetic clothing.