Bush fire season has already begun. There are easy things you can do now to help protect your property from fire.
1. Trim any trees or shrubs that are close to your home.
Remove branches that hang near your roof, as well as low-hanging branches that are two metres from the ground. This reduces the amount of flammable materials around your property.
2. Remove dead leaves from gutters, roofs, and downpipes – they can catch alight easy in a fire.
Flying embers can easily ignite in dead leaves and debris in your gutters, roofs, and downpipes. It is one of the most common ways for fires to spread between houses.
The safest and most effective way to have your gutters cleaned is by a professional. Wet/dry gutter cleaning equipment ensures that all debris is removed from gutters, roofs, and downpipes. Don’t risk your personal safety or your home – contact gutter cleaning experts.
3. Check the condition of your roof and external surfaces and get any damaged areas repaired.
Embers can land in gaps in your roof and exterior walls. Repair or block these holes to reduce ember entry points.
4. Keep your lawn cut short.
Long grass spreads fires quickly. Mow your grass frequently.
5. Clean up around your home, moving things like mulch away from the house.
Make sure toys, furniture, and other objects aren’t strewn across your yard. These can be fuel for fires, and can also be trip hazards for your family and fire fighters during an emergency.
6. If you have a pool, water tank, or dam, consider installing a Stable Water Supply (SWS) sign outside your property.
An SWS sign will help firefighters identify available water sources to use to combat fires.
7. Check that your home and contents insurance is up-to-date and discuss your Bushfire Survival Plan with your family and neighbours.
Everyone in your home should know whether you will:
•stay and defend the property, or if you will evacuate
•what you will take with you
•what you will do with your pets.
Knowing how and when to act is essential. Make a plan and act decisively.
Bushfire Survival Plan (PDF), issued by the Tasmanian Fire Service
8. Seek out information – do not assume you will receive a warning.
Be aware of the Fire Danger Rating in your area, and what the ratings mean.
Keep up-to-date by checking your state department’s website or following them on Twitter.
Department websites
QLD Fire and Rescue Service: https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/
NSW Fire and Rescue Service: http://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/
VIC Country Fire Authority (CFA): http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/ and VIC Emergency: http://emergency.vic.gov.au/
SA Metropolitan Fire Service: http://www.mfs.sa.gov.au/
ACT Emergency Services: https://esa.act.gov.au/actfr/
NT Fire and Rescue Service: http://www.pfes.nt.gov.au/Fire-and-Rescue.aspx
WA Fire and Emergency Services: http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx
Twitter pages
QLD – @QLDFire: https://twitter.com/QldFire
NSW – @FireRescueNSW: https://twitter.com/firerescuensw
VIC – Country Fire Authority (CFA): https://twitter.com/CFA_Updates and VIC Emergency: https://twitter.com/vicemergency
SA – @SA_FMS: https://twitter.com/SA_MFS
ACT – @ACT_ESA: https://twitter.com/act_esa/
NT – @NTPolice: https://twitter.com/ntpolice
WA – @DFES_WA: https://twitter.com/dfes_wa
