Bushfire checklists

Before the bushfire

Be prepared at the start of the bushfire season. There are plenty of things you can do right now to get bushfire ready.

• Keep up the gardening. Rake up leaves, trim grass and cut back overgrown shrubs and tree branches. If you can’t afford expensive equipment like chainsaws or scrub-cutters to clear overgrown areas, hire the gear you need or get a professional to assist
• Clean out gutters and downpipes regularly.
• Remove all rubbish from around the house.
• Regularly recycle newspapers. Don't store piles of recycling material close to the house.
• Store flammable liquids and paint away from the house. Face LPG gas bottle valves away from the house.
• Pool chemicals can ignite if placed near other flammable liquids, so store them separately.
• Buy a fire extinguisher and fire blanket and know how to use them.
• Keep a torch and portable radio with spare batteries.
• Think about the impact of a power failure - cordless phones and automatic garage doors won't work. Your mobile phone may not have coverage.
• Keep garden hoses connected to outside taps and make sure they reach all parts of your home and garden.
• Keep a ladder handy that can reach the roof, plus basic tools like a rake, spade, axe and saw.
• Put spark guards in your chimney and clean your chimney every year.
• Put fire-resistant mesh screens under verandahs if you live in a bushfire-prone area.
• Clearly mark all water sources and keep access clear. In NSW, call the Rural Fire Service to register your water with the Static Water Supply (SWS) marking system for use in fire fighting.
• Prepare an emergency evacuation kit: include valuables, important documents, photos, food and water, first aid kit, pet food and any essential medication.

During the bushfire

Want to stay to defend your home? The only people who should stay are those physically capable of working quickly before, during and after the main fire has passed.

• Keep a portable radio on for the latest information
• Turn off the electricity and gas and remove gas cylinders near the house
• Close all windows and doors, and put wet towels in gaps around windows and beneath doors
• Block downpipes and fill gutters with water. Also fill the bath, basins, sinks, buckets and bottles of drinking water
• Hose down the roof, walls and gardens and turn on the sprinkler. When the fire is very nearby, take hoses and plastic fittings inside or they will melt
• Remove curtains and blinds from windows. Put doormats inside
• Park the car in a cleared area. Close the windows and leave keys in the ignition. Store woollen blankets inside

The right clothes can protect you from radiant heat. Wear:

• Long sleeved woollen or heavy cotton clothing. Make sure everything you wear is of natural fibre
• Solid boots or shoes with wool or cotton socks
• Gloves, especially if your hands aren't used to working with tools
• A wide-brimmed hat or hardhat. Leave ears uncovered - they warn you of heat levels
• A bandanna or large handkerchief tied loosely over your mouth and nose can protect you from smoke and hot air
• If clothing catches fire - stop, drop to the ground and roll

When the main fire front is nearby:

• Stay outside for as long as you can to put out spot fires near the house or in the guttering
• Go inside when the smoke starts to thicken and stay away from windows until it passes - usually 5 to 15 minutes. Keep pets inside too
• Keep checking all the rooms for embers and broken windows.

After the bushfire

It will be hot, dark, smoky and noisy, but the main firefront will pass in 10 to 20 minutes. However, the period up to 10 hours following a bushfire can be crucial. This is when spot fires can start from burning embers.

• Constantly check for and put out any spot fires near the house or in the roof cavity
• If the house is alight and can't be extinguished, move away onto burnt ground. Wait for help
• Do not drive until police allocate safe routes