Bush Fire

Fahrenheit Fire can help you the homeowner prepare for this years bush fire season, please contact us either by email or by “Fire Away” for specific information on how we can help protect you property.

Bush fires can occur at any time either through natural forces of nature or human negligence. When a bush fire threatens, residents are often told to evacuate their homes on a moment’s notice. the NSW Fire Brigade  & NSW Rural Fire Service recommends that any homeowner who lives in a “Bushfire Prone Area”  prone to fires should have a bushfire survival plan in place.

Fire Facts…

  • Take steps now to protect your home from a future bushfire. This can spell the difference between your property’s destruction or survival.
  • During a bushfire, the local fire brigade may ask you to evacuate with little warning. Take precautions now to prepare for that possibility.
  • Even if you are forced to evacuate your home, there are some things you can do to help firefighters defend it.

Fire Protection in Rural Areas

The South East region of Australia is undergoing increasingly greater development. More people are building homes in bush areas to take advantage of these natural environments.

Often, these sites are quite remote. However, people moving from urban settings expect traditional fire and emergency services. They do not understand the fire protection limitations that exist in rural areas:

  • Most rural fire services are volunteer and firefighters are not generally present at the fire stations.
  • Response time may be quite long as volunteer fire fighters are usually required to turn up at to the local fire station from home or work, and then drive to the fire scene.
  • Water supplies and firefighting equipment are limited. Often, the only significant water supply is that which the fire trucks themselves carry.
  • Approaching the fire scene may be difficult. Narrow, steep roads and driveways, fallen trees, may limit or even prevent access for emergency equipment. From last years Victorian bushfire we learnt just how fast a fire can strike, it can occur with little warning and spread rapidly. Fire crews and equipment often are overwhelmed by the task of fighting a rapidly advancing fire. There may simply not be enough personnel and equipment to defend every home.

What Can You as the Homeowner Do

Homeowners can do a great deal to prepare their property for bushfires. The following checklist and guidelines will help you prepare your property for fire safety, evacuation and your “Stay and Defend” plan. Use it as a guide to enhance your property’s safety.

This is an annual checklist. Don’t wait until a fire is approaching to perform these tasks.

External Preparations
Safety checklist points
Figure 1:
1)Cut Back trees and brush cover.
2)Dispose of slash and debris left from thinning.
3)Remove dead limbs, leaves and other litter.
4)Stack firewood away from home.
5)Maintain irrigated greenbelt.		 6)Mow dry grasses and weeds.
7)Prune branches to 10 feet above the ground.
8)Trim branches.
9)Clean roof and gutters.
10)Reduce density of surrounding forest.
  • Remove dead branches and trim all trees and shrubs.
  • Ask your utility company to trim trees away from power lines.
  • Cut back trees near your home and roof.
  • Clean gutters and remove debris from your roof.
  • Cover the chimney with a screen.
  • Remove all flammable materials from your yard.
  • Store firewood at least 15 meters from your home.
  • Rake dead twigs and tree droppings.
  • Consider fire resistant building materials for your roof.
  • Buy a ladder that will reach your roof.
  • Note the location of the closest fire hydrant.
  • Keep operational hoses connected to taps in the front and back yard.
Interior Home Fire Prevention

When disaster is eminent, utility companies often shut off gas and electricity to homes that are located in the path of fire. It’s a good idea to keep a stash of batteries, flashlights, candles, matches and a battery-operated radio for such emergencies. If a fire is approaching, turn off the gas or A/C, disconnect garage door openers and close windows.

  • Install smoke alarms in all bedrooms and main living areas.
  • Replace batteries in your smoke alarms annually.
  • Buy a fire extinguisher and read the instructions for use.
  • Unplug appliances when not in use.
  • Buy a fireproof safe in which to store important documents.
  • Create an evacuation plan and practice.
  • Plan for pet evacuation, and consider transporting smaller pets in pillow cases.
  • Keep flammable window coverings away from heat sources.
  • Do not use extension cords under any circumstances.
  • Replace inoperable or defective receptacles.
  • Cover exposed junction boxes.
  • Extinguish hot ashes before disposal.

You might want to ask Fahrenheit Fire or your local fire brigade to come out and assess your home for fire risk.