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.

• Smoke will make it hard to breathe easily.

• 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 may be isolated.

• The fire could impact you very fast, so you need to remain calm and stay focused

• You may hear explosions nearby.

• While the fire front may pass quite quickly, it could be hours before the danger is over and you can rest.

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.

You need to discuss your options with your family and prepare your Bushfire Survival Plan so that your whole household knows their roles. Some things that you need to consider are:

• How will you stay informed about warnings and updates?

• Is your property able to withstand the impact of a bushfire?

• What can you do to better prepare you home?

• Do you have any experience with or knowledge of defending a property during a bushfire?

• Do you have the supplies you need to defend your home, and know how to use them?

• Do you have an independent water supply or will you rely on water mains?

• How many people will be defending the property in the event of a bushfire? 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 into consideration?

• Will someone else be responsible for looking after others (young, elderly, or disabled)? If you are defending the property, it is preferable that someone else is available to provide supervision or assistance to dependents.

• 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 property?

• 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 contingency plan.

If you choose or are forced to stay at your home, a Bushfire Emergency Kit will equip you to extinguish small fires and provide you with basic protection from heat, smoke, and flames. Make sure you have enough supplies for everyone staying.

• Hat

• Safety Glasses

• Long Sleeve Shirt (natural fibres)

• Smoke Masks

• Drinking Water

• Sturdy Gloves

• Jeans or long pants (natural fibres)

• Boots

• Batteries

• Blankets (natural fibres)

• Bucket

• Fire extinguisher

• First aid kit

• Hoses

• Knopsack Sprayer

• Ladder

• Medications and prescriptions

• Mop

• Mobile phone and charger

• Radio (battery operated)

• Shovel

• Torch

• Towels

If you choose or are forced to stay at your property, it is essential you are prepared for the oncoming bushfire.

• Ensure vehicles have sufficient fuel and move them to a safe location.

• Relocate garden furniture, door mats and other outdoor items indoors.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Bushfires are unpredictable and plans can fail. A contingency plan that identifies your alternate options may save your life if you are caught in a fire. You need to consider:

• What will you do if you are away from home (work, school, shopping)?

• What if your pet is scared and you cannot find them?

• What if you are home alone?

• What if you have guests staying with you?

• What will you do if your travel route is cut off?

• What will you do if you are trapped in your home?

• Where will you go if you had planned to stay but it is now unsafe and you need to leave?

You may need to leave at short notice, and you should be prepared with your Bushfire Evacuation Kit to ensure you and your family have important  items and equipment ready to relocate until you can return to your home. Make sure you have enough supplies for everyone.

• Long sleeve shirt (made of natural fibres)

• Jeans or long pants (natural fibres)

• Boots

• Hat

• Safety glasses

• Drinking water

• Battery-operated radio

• Batteries

• Mobile phone and charger

• Blankets (natural fibres)

• Important documents such as insurance and home ownership papers.

• Drivers Licenses, Passports and birth certificates

• Wallets and purses

• Medications and Prescriptions

• Family photos, valuables & documents

• Pet supplies

• Children's toys