Guidance

Fighting a sustained forest/bush fire has risks.

Evaluate the risk between life and property.

Remember. People before property.

To defend a location for fire requires substantial planning and resources. Prepare your building before an event.

Consult local fire brigade units on tips and tactics.

Prepare your property

– Clear your house gutters of leaves

– Prepare ground hoses

– If you have fire extinguishers, check the pressure and expiry date. They have a shelf life.

– Note water storage areas in the neighborhood

– If you have water storage with open access, fill the storage i.e. dam. These can be used by helicopters to draw water from, and fight fires.

If you are considering creating a fire break, an area around your property free of vegetation which reduces the risk of fire entry to your property, talk to your local government, Clearing of vegetation in some jurisdictions is illegal and may result in fines.

If there are insufficient resources available or it is too late, secure the building(s) and leave the area at the earliest opportunity.

Equipment to consider

– Fire blankets

– Fire extinguishers

– Axes to break down barriers to entry / exit

– Goggles or eyewear

– Leather or heat proof gloves

– Face masks to reduce the risk of smoke inhalation

Guidance

If you live near fire prone areas, be prepared.

Fire can move quickly from rural to urban areas.

In fire risk prone areas, have an available store of basic fire safety clothing. This will enhance your survivability.

Items to consider:

– Fire retardant/proof clothing including boots

– Gloves

– Portable extinguishers

– Fire blankets

– Fireproof high visibility jackets

– Protective eyewear

– FFP2 / N95 face masks

– Water in containers

– Shovels, axes

– LED lights to mark your location

– Colored panels for aircraft visibility. Select colors that contrast a fire i.e. fluorescent yellow.

Guidance

Monitor conditions and telecommunications during periods of severe weather. Change your response to the conditions.

Keep track of what is going on in your area.

Core Lite will send through any Severe Weather alerts for your area (US Only). These detail:

– the nature of the event

– how long it ix expected for

– options to improve your safety

Use AM/FM radio in addition to any electronic media such as mobile phones. Infrastructure may be damaged or destroyed and you may miss visual cues to leave or stay.

Maintain visual inspections of the surrounds and be alert for any changes.

Monitor conditions every 30 minutes.