Preparing your home for a bushfire
Walk around your property and imagine a bushfire is coming. Look for items likely to burn or places where embers could start a fire, for example embers can enter through gaps in roofs, walls, evaporative air conditioners and gutters. Remember to install a stainless steel open weave mesh cover over your evaporative air conditioner and metal fly screens on your windows and vents to keep sparks and embers out.
Clear vegetation and rubbish from around your property and create a 20 metre circle of safety (building protection zone), to reduce the risk that burning vegetation will spark your house alight.
When the Fire Danger Rating (FDR) is catastrophic in your area it means these are the worst conditions for a bush or grass fire. If a fire starts and takes hold, it will be very difficult to control and will take significant firefighting resources and cooler conditions to bring it under control.
Homes are not designed or constructed to survive fires in these conditions. If this weather is expected you should leave the night before or early in the day, this is the best option for your survival.
Before bushfire season
- Ensure your house number is clearly displayed (for emergency service crews)
Mow your lawn regularly
Remove excess combustible material (e.g. dry grass, dead leaves and branches) from your yard
Move any flammable items such as wood piles, paper, boxes, crates and garden furniture well away from the house
Trim low-lying branches (those under 2m in height)
Keep gutters clear of leaf litter
Buy and test gutter plugs
Enclose open areas under decks and verandas
Install fine steel wire mesh screens on all windows and doors
Make sure any LPG cylinders are upright and relief valves are pointed away from the house
Check that pumps, generators and water systems are working
Replace any damaged roofing and seal any gaps
Check that your first-aid kit is fully stocked