Fire Ready Kit Updated 2013 - cfa.vic.gov.au
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Fire Ready Kit
Updated 2013
cfa.vic.gov.au
Everyone. Everywhere. Every day. cfa.vic.gov.au
KNOW YOUR FIRE WEATHER DISTRICT
Mallee District Wimmera District Northern Country District Central District Moonee Valley City
Buloke Shire Hindmarsh Shire Campaspe Shire Ballarat City Moorabool Shire
Gannawarra Shire Horsham Rural City Greater Bendigo City Banyule City Moreland City
Mildura Rural City Northern Grampians Shire Greater Shepparton City Bass Coast Shire Mornington Peninsula Shire
Swan Hill Rural City West Wimmera Shire Loddon Shire Bayside City Nillumbik Shire
Yarriambiack Shire Yarriambiack Shire Moira Shire Boroondara City Port Phillip City
(north of the netting fence) (south of the netting fence) Strathbogie Shire Brimbank City Queenscliffe Borough
Cardinia Shire Stonnington City
South West District North Central District Casey City Surf Coast Shire
Ararat Rural City Central Goldfields Shire Darebin City Whitehorse City
Colac Otway Shire Lake Mountain Alpine Resort Frankston City Whittlesea City
Corangamite Shire Mitchell Shire French Island Wyndham City
Glenelg Shire Mount Alexander Shire Glen Eira City Yarra City
Moyne Shire Murrindindi Shire Golden Plains Shire Yarra Ranges Shire
Pyrenees Shire Greater Dandenong City
Southern Grampians Shire North East District West & South
Greater Geelong City
Warrnambool City Alpine Shire Gippsland District
Hepburn Shire
Benalla Rural City Baw Baw Shire
Hobsons Bay City
Falls Creek Alpine Resort Latrobe City
Hume City
Indigo Shire Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort
Kingston City
Mansfield Shire South Gippsland Shire
Knox City
Mount Buller Alpine Resort Wellington Shire
Macedon Ranges Shire
Mount Hotham Alpine Resort
Manningham City East Gippsland
Mount Stirling Alpine Resort
Mallee Towong Shire
Maribyrnong City
Maroondah City
District
Wangaratta Rural City East Gippsland Shire
Melbourne City
Wodonga City
Melton Shire
Monash City
Northern
Wimmera Country North East
North
Central
East
Gippsland
Central
South West
West & South
Gippsland
KNOW YOUR RESTRICTIONS KNOW YOUR DAILY FIRE DANGER RATING
CODE RED
TOTAL FIRE BAN
otal Fire Bans tell you what you can and can’t do to
T
Fire Danger Ratings (FDR) tell you how dangerous a fire
prevent a fire starting and what activities are banned.
would be if one started – the higher the rating, the more
They are legal restrictions which if broken can be dangerous the conditions. Check your district’s rating
penalised with large fines and imprisonment. every day during summer. The rating is your trigger to act.
CHECK THE SIGNS. KNOW WHEN TO GO.
cfa.vic.gov.au | Victorian Bushfire Information Line 1800 240 667
KNOW YOUR DAILY FIRE DANGER RATING
The Fire Danger Rating predicts fire behaviour (should
a fire start) and how dangerous it would be to put out.
The higher the rating, the more dangerous the conditions.
Fire Danger Ratings feature in weather forecasts during
the fire season.
CODE RED To check your district’s daily Fire Danger Rating,
visit cfa.vic.gov.au or call 1800 240 667.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHAT SHOULD I DO?
CODE RED >> These are the worst conditions
for a bush or grassfire.
>> Leaving high-risk bushfire areas the night before
or early in the day is your safest option – do not
wait and see.
>> Homes are not designed or
constructed to withstand fires >> Avoid forested areas, thick bush or long, dry grass.
in these conditions.
>> Know your trigger – make a decision about:
>> The safest place to be is away – when you will leave
from high-risk bushfire areas.
– where you will go
– how you will get there
– when you will return
– what you will do if you cannot leave.
EXTREME >> Expect extremely hot, dry
and windy conditions.
>> Consider staying with your property only if you are
prepared to the highest level. This means your home
needs to be situated and constructed or modified
>> If a fire starts and takes hold, it will be
to withstand a bushfire, you are well prepared and
uncontrollable, unpredictable and fast
you can actively defend your home if a fire starts.
moving. Spot fires will start, move quickly
and come from many directions. >> If you are not prepared to the highest level, leaving high-
risk bushfire areas early in the day is your safest option.
>> Homes that are situated and
constructed or modified to withstand >> Be aware of local conditions. Seek information
a bushfire, that are well prepared and by listening to ABC local radio, commercial and
actively defended, may provide safety. designated community radio stations, or watch
Sky News TV, visit cfa.vic.gov.au, call the Victorian
>> You must be physically and mentally
Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667 or via
prepared to defend in these conditions.
National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
SEVERE >> Expect hot, dry and possibly windy
conditions.
>> Well-prepared homes that are actively defended can
provide safety – check your Bushfire Survival Plan.
>> If a fire starts and takes hold, it may >> If you are not prepared, leaving bushfire-prone
be uncontrollable. areas early in the day is your safest option.
>> Well-prepared homes that are actively >> Be aware of local conditions. Seek information
defended can provide safety. by listening to ABC local radio, commercial and
designated community radio stations, or watch
>> You must be physically and mentally
Sky News TV, visit cfa.vic.gov.au, call the Victorian
prepared to defend in these conditions.
Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667 or via
National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
VERY HIGH >> If a fire starts, it can most likely
be controlled in these conditions.
>> Check your Bushfire Survival Plan.
>> Monitor conditions.
>> Be aware of how fires can start
HIGH and minimise the risk.
>> Action may be needed.
>> Leave if necessary.
>> Controlled burning off may occur
in these conditions if it is safe –
LOW-MODERATE check to see if permits apply.
Foreword Bushfires and grassfires pose a significant threat to all those living, working or travelling in Victoria. Preparation and planning can save you and your family from being killed by fire. CFA – as always – will do everything we can to protect lives and property. But there is only so much we can do. There will never be enough firefighters, fire trucks and firefighting aircraft to have these resources at everyone’s back door during a large bushfire. The responsibility for surviving the fire season is shared between emergency services and the community. We all – including you – share the responsibility for our community’s safety. That’s why we have developed and updated this Fire Ready Kit. It is an important resource. It will help you plan for survival, beginning with the basics of preparing before the fire season, through to planning what to do if fire is in your area and you cannot leave. There is a new section on ‘What you need to do to stay informed’, including where to find warnings and updates, and the actions you need to take when fire is in your area. Above all, this Kit provides a step-by-step guide to leaving early – from writing down your leave early plan before the fire season, to acting on it on a high-risk day. The decision about when to leave may be the most important decision you make during the fire season – quite literally, your life and the safety of your family may depend on your decision. You are not alone in your preparations. Advice and support are available with details provided throughout this Kit. Draw on these resources to make this fire season a safe one. Euan Ferguson AFSM Chief Officer CFA makes this information available on the understanding that you take reasonable care when using it. If you have any uncertainty about the application of the information to your particular circumstances, you should obtain further professional advice: CFA does not accept responsibility for how you apply, or rely on the information in this publication. FRK 10/2013 2013 Update 3
Introduction Am I at Risk? p5
Section One 1 Your Bushfire Plan:
the Basics p11
Section Two 2 On Fire Risk Days:
Leaving Early p17
Section Three 3 During a Fire:
If You Cannot Leave p21
Section Four 4 Staying
Informed p29
Section Five 5 Preparing
Your Property p37
Section Six 6 Defending
Your Property
Planning Templates
p57
Leaving Early
Defending
Tear outs Your Property
4 Fire Ready Kit 2013
Introduction
Introduction: Am I at Risk?
Am I at Risk?
The information in this booklet is for people living in high-risk bushfire
or grassfire areas of Victoria. It is designed to help you understand
your risk, know the basics of how fire behaves and think about
what you might do on fire risk days. Having this know-how
is an important first step to being well prepared.
B
A
D
C
If you live in one of A Close to or among grass or paddocks
these environments, B Close to or among dense or open bush
you need to plan
and prepare before C Near coastal scrub
the fire season. D Where suburbs meet the bush or grasslands
2013 Update 5
Close to or among
grass or paddocks
A
Grassfires can be
extremely dangerous –
people can die in
grassfires.
What can you expect?
ry and brown grass that easily
D Large amounts of radiant heat.
catches fire.
Fires that can start early in the day.
rass more than 10 centimetres tall will
G
Fires that can surge up to
have a higher flame height and intensity.
25 kilometres per hour at times.
aster burning fires than through
F
forests as grass is a finer fuel.
6 Fire Ready Kit 2013
Introduction: Am I at Risk?
B lose to or among
C
dense or open bush
Risk is most extreme if
you live surrounded by or
near forest that is difficult
to see through. However,
all dense or open bush
presents a fire risk.
What can you expect?
Very hot fires and many embers. Fine fuels (the thickness of a pencil
or less) that burn very quickly.
mbers such as twigs, bark and debris
E
from far away. Heavy fuels that will burn
very hot for a long time.
angerous levels of radiant heat
D
and fire intensity. A reduction in visibility due
to very thick smoke.
Trees falling in high winds.
mbers landing a long time
E
after the fire has passed.
2013 Update 7
Near coastal scrub
C
Burning scrub, heath or other coastal vegetation can
create hot, dangerous bushfires. If you live by, work
by or travel to the coast you are at risk. Beaches,
foreshores and shallow waters may not be safe or
protect you from radiant heat. A fire may be
burning between you and the beach.
What can you expect?
Very hot and fast-moving fires. A lot of embers.
usty ocean winds causing
G Fire reaching houses quickly.
fire to behave erratically.
Congested coastal roads.
8 Fire Ready Kit 2013Introduction: Am I at Risk?
D Where suburbs meet
the bush or grasslands
You do not have to live
in the bush to be at risk
of bushfire. Suburban
homes can burn in
bushfire too.
What can you expect?
Scrub, forest and grass catching fire. A high risk of ember attack if the
house is near dense bushland.
fire in a park or reserve quickly
A
spreading to timber fences and gardens. Embers falling close to or on your
house which can start a new fire.
Fire spreading from house to house.
Strong winds that bring embers
from far away.
2013 Update 9Notes: 10 Fire Ready Kit 2013
Section One 1
Your Bushfire Plan:
the Basics
2013 Update 11Section One
Your Bushfire Plan: the Basics
Do I need a plan?
You don’t have to live in the country to be at risk of fire. Fires
can occur where the suburbs meet the bush or in urban areas
where houses have grass, bushland or parkland around them.
If you live near areas that have significant amounts Not everyone thinks clearly in an emergency.
of bush, forest, long grass, or coastal scrub, then A written, and preferably well-practised plan,
you need to plan ahead for the fire season. will help you remember what needs to be
done during a crisis.
Victoria is one of the most fire-prone areas in the
world and it is inevitable that fires will occur every
year in parts of the state. Fire – by its very nature –
is unpredictable and difficult to control especially
on hot, dry, windy days. On these days, a fire may
start near you.
What leaving early means
‘Leaving early’ means being away from high-risk
areas before there are any signs of fire.
In other words, leaving early is a precaution
you take just in case there is a fire – because
in some conditions, any fire that starts is likely
to be uncontrollable.
Leaving early does not mean waiting for a
warning or a siren. It does not mean waiting
to see or smell smoke. And it certainly does
not mean waiting for a knock on the door.
12 Fire Ready Kit 2013Why you should leave early
1 Your Bushfire Plan: the Basics
Because fires can start and spread very quickly in some conditions, leaving
early is by far the safest option for anyone in a high-risk bushfire area.
Many people have died trying to leave their homes at the last minute.
Even a fire that is kilometres away could be When you should leave
at your door in minutes. In certain conditions,
embers can travel many kilometres in front of The decision about when to
a fire and a grassfire can travel faster than you
can run. Wind changes are unpredictable and leave is the most important
can rapidly change the direction or size of a fire. decision you will make.
Driving in a bushfire is extremely dangerous,
You will need to carefully read the information
and potentially life threatening. A drive that
about Fire Danger Ratings earlier in this booklet
would normally take five minutes could take
and consider your household’s level of risk.
two hours. Road closures, traffic jams,
The Fire Danger Rating should be your trigger
collisions, smoke, fallen trees and embers
to enact your plan.
are all real possibilities.
It is also important to recognise that fires can start
In a bushfire, people may be confused,
and spread on any day during summer, but also
disoriented and physically or psychologically
during spring and autumn. It’s up to you to monitor
stressed. In these conditions, making good
warnings and stay aware of your surroundings –
decisions becomes very difficult.
for instance, emergency services sirens or the smell
The Defending Your Property section of this of smoke in the air – right through the fire season.
booklet can help you decide whether or not you
are capable of defending your property – and tells
you about the risks and preparations involved. IMPORTANT NOTE Do not expect a fire
truck at your property during a bushfire.
Do not rely on a warning. It is your
DEFENDING YOUR PROPERTY
responsibility to know when to leave.
Planning to stay and defend is a big
decision. Defending a home requires at least
two fit and determined adults, at least 10,000
litres of water and appropriate firefighting
hoses and pumps.
For some, defending a property is a back-up
option (if they are trapped by fire). Others will
plan to leave early on some days and stay
and defend on others, linking their decisions
to the Fire Danger Ratings. For many others,
staying to defend is not an option under any
circumstances.
Most homes in high-risk bushfire areas
are not defendable on Code Red days.
2013 Update 13How to plan
Just as every family or household is unique,
every fire plan will be different. There are many
ways you can go about your planning – but
Leaving Early
Bushfire Survival Planning Template
the information and templates in this booklet
are designed to put you on the right track.
cfa.vic.gov.au
4713_CFA_Pullout_LEAVING_FA.indd 1 21/10/13 2:19 PM
At an absolute minimum, talk through the ten decisions below with your household.
Review these points before each fire season and don’t put it off until later.
Before the fire season REMEMBER...
Key decisions to make with your family to decide who will do
what as part of your plan.
1 Which Fire Danger Rating is your trigger to leave?
2)2 Will you leave early that morning or the night before?
3)3 Where will you go?
4)4 What route will you take – and what is your alternative in the event that a fire is already in the area?
5)5 What will you take with you?
6)6 What do you need to organise for your pets or livestock?
7)7 Who do you need to keep informed of your movements?
8)8 Is there anyone outside your household who you need to help or check up on?
9)9 How will you stay informed about warnings and updates?
10 What will you do if there is a fire in the area and you cannot leave?
10)
14 Fire Ready Kit 20131 Your Bushfire Plan: the Basics
Your destination and journey Practical checklist –
It’s up to you to decide on a suitable place to ensure you’re ready
go when you leave early on a fire risk day. If you ake care of simple, practical actions before
T
do not have friends or relatives in low-risk areas the fire season so you are ready to leave or
who you can visit, consider community facilities seek shelter quickly, calmly and safely.
such as libraries, shopping centres, swimming
pools or cinemas.
Pack an Emergency Kit with essential
If you don’t have a car you will need to plan 1 items and keep it in a handy place.
carefully to organise transport.
Scan important documents and photos
2 onto a memory stick.
Why write down your plan?
Purchase a battery-operated radio,
Would you remember a plan that’s just in your head 3 powerful torch and extra batteries.
if you’re surrounded by smoke, heat and flames?
A written plan will take the pressure off you, Save important contact numbers in your
4 mobile phone. Include family, friends and
and avoid arguments and delays.
the Victorian Bushfire Information Line.
In Victoria the bushfire season is long, and a Have a spare mobile phone that you
written plan will help reduce uncertainty and anxiety.
keep fully charged for emergencies.
Having a written plan will reduce the stress and
disruption to your family routine on every occasion Set aside protective clothing (long-sleeved,
you need to leave early – even if there is no fire. 5 made from natural material like cotton) for
Use the tear-out template included in this each member of the family. Put woollen
booklet to help you write down your plan. blankets in your car.
Practise packing your car so you know
6 how long it will take.
REMEMBER: Any bushfire plan – written
or not – is better than no plan. Mark your primary routes, alternative routes
7 and petrol stations on hard copy maps.
Make firm arrangements with anyone
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED 8 you plan to visit when you leave early.
Bushfires can start at any time and your plan Talk to neighbours or nearby friends
needs to take into account the unexpected. 9 about how you might help each other.
For instance, what if you have teenage
children home alone, children at a friend’s Don’t forget pets and horses – include pet
place or you don’t have access to the family 10 transport containers in your Emergency Kit.
car? Can you incorporate these different
Know where you can move your horses to if
situations into your plan?
they won’t be safe on your property.
Talk to neighbours, family and friends about
different scenarios and how you could help
each other – simple things like exchanging
contact numbers can make all the difference.
2013 Update 15Your Emergency Kit
Adequate amount
Overnight bag with of water
change of clothes,
toiletries and
sanitary supplies
Important items
Woollen
› passport
blankets
› photos
› will
› jewellery
› insurance papers
Medicines and
First Aid Kit
Mobile phone Contact information
and charger › doctor
› council
› power company
Battery-powered radio,
torch and spare batteries SHARE YOUR BUSHFIRE PLAN
Once you have prepared your plan, it is a
good idea to share the details of your plan
with family, friends and neighbours. Doing
so will save them a lot of distress when there
is a bushfire, as they will know that you are
prepared and where to find you.
PETS
Remember to prepare for your pets as
well. Make sure your pet is wearing an
identification tag and add the following
items to your Emergency Kit:
›› suitable transport carriers or leash
›› any medications
›› dietary supplements
›› food and drinking water
›› a familiar item (toy, bed, treats)
to help reduce stress.
16 Fire Ready Kit 2013Section Two 2
On Fire Risk Days:
Leaving Early
2013 Update 17Section Two
On Fire Risk Days: Leaving Early
Check the Fire Danger Rating (FDR) for your location every day. When
the FDR reaches your trigger point, you need to activate your plan.
Follow the advice on when to go for each FDR Getting ready to go
and start preparing to leave based on the steps
in your plan. ›› Stay updated on fire information so you
will know if a fire has started near you.
epending on the conditions, you will need to
D
move quickly and efficiently if a fire starts near you. ›› Move livestock to a safe area and put your
Make sure you include the ‘Getting ready to go’ pets in a safe place ready for loading in the car.
steps in your plan. Make a point of practicing ›› Pack personal items such as a change of
them so you know how long each step will take. clothing for each person and toys for children
Doing all of these things could take hours. and pets and put them in the car.
›› If your car is behind an electric garage door,
take it out of the garage and position it in the
DON’T WAIT AND SEE driveway facing out or on the side of the road.
You should never wait and see what ›› Remove any materials that could burn easily
happens during a bush fire. Leaving from around your house, on decks, verandahs
late means you will be on the road when and pergola areas. This includes mats,
conditions are at their most dangerous outdoor furniture and wood piles.
or you may not be able to get out at all.
The longer you wait to leave, the greater
the risk to your life.
18 Fire Ready Kit 2013Moving your pets
In the event of a fire, emergency accommodation
at animal shelters and boarding facilities may not
be available. Pets that are normally well behaved
2
may also become fearful and nervous during
an emergency. Part of your plan should involve
On Fire Risk Days: Leaving Early
prearranging with friends, relatives or others in a low
fire danger area to care for your pets on fire risk days.
If you have to go to work on days of fire danger,
consider taking your animals to a safer place
before leaving home. Keep in mind that in the
event of an emergency you may not be allowed
home for some time.
Before you leave
HORSES
1 Add final items to your Emergency Kit such
If you do not have a suitable paddock or clear
as medications, prescriptions, mobile phone
area in which to put your horses, consider
chargers, pet food and water for everyone.
taking them to the local showgrounds, sale
yards, racetrack or pony club.
2 Pack the car, remembering your most
important items such as wallet, cards, keys, If leaving horses on your property, do not
banking, medical and insurance documents lock your horses in a stable or small area, or
(these should be easily accessible on let them out onto the road. Instead, put your
a USB stick or in an expanding file). horses or livestock in a large, well-grazed
paddock, or series of smaller paddocks with
3 Turn off the gas supply. the internal gates left open. Remove rugs,
halters and fly veils.
4 Block the downpipes and partially fill
the gutters with water, if time permits.
5 Make sure everyone is wearing protective
People die during fires trying to save their
clothing – long pants, long-sleeved shirts animals. Decide in advance what you’ll do
and sturdy shoes such as leather boots. with your pets and livestock. Animals should
Clothes should be loose fitting and made never be left unattended in vehicles.
from natural fibres like pure wool, heavy
cotton drill or denim. Do not wear synthetics.
6 Tell people you are leaving.
7 Close all doors and windows and lock doors.
8 Leave the front or access gate open.
2013 Update 19Notes: 20 Fire Ready Kit 2013
Section Three
During a Fire:
3
If You Cannot Leave
2013 Update 21Section Three
During a Fire: If You Cannot Leave
As part of your plan, you need to decide what you will do if there is a fire in
your area and you cannot leave. Remember that bushfires and grassfires
can travel extremely fast and strike without warning. Many people have been
caught out thinking they had more time to act before the bushfire impacted.
A bushfire can be a terrifying situation. Strong The main cause of death in bushfires is radiant
gusty winds and intense heat will make you tired heat, so it is important to take shelter as the
quickly. Thick, heavy smoke will sting your eyes. temperature associated with the fire rises.
It will be difficult to see and breathe. The roaring
sound of the wind and the fire approaching will
make it hard to hear. Embers will rain down causing
spot fires all around you. Power and water may be DO NOT shelter in a dam, swimming pool,
cut off. You may be isolated. It will be dark, noisy or a water tank except as an absolute
and extremely physically and mentally exhausting. last resort. Dams, swimming pools and
water tanks leave your face, head and lungs
Understanding what to expect and planning exposed to radiant heat and smoke.
for what you will do can help you to cope.
If sheltering within a house or a building,
DO NOT get caught in an area with only
one way out – for instance, a bathroom
or a toilet. Rooms with only one exit can
make escape impossible if that exit is
blocked by flames and heat.
22 Fire Ready Kit 2013Know your shelter options
The options below do not guarantee your safety but may offer
enough protection from radiant heat to ensure your survival.
WHAT IS A WELL-PREPARED HOME? The Well-Prepared Property
Even if you plan to leave early, you can
reduce the impact of bushfire on your Mature trees can help
shield against radiant heat
and embers. They must
be strategically located
home by preparing your property.
and well managed.
Read the Preparing Your Property section
Keep grass cut to Keep woodpiles
less than 10cm. away from house.
of this booklet for more information
3
Store flammable
Remove flammable items liquids away from
from decks and verandahs, house.
such as boxes, furniture
and doormats. Get rid of dry
about preparing your home before
grass, leaves,
twigs and
loose bark.
During a Fire: If You Cannot Leave
the fire season. Prune lower branches of
shrubs to separate from
surface fuels underneath.
Keep gutters clear
Use pebbles or rocks of leaf litter.
in your garden Prune shrubs well
(not flammable mulch). away from tree
branches.
Cut back overhanging
branches – no branches
in 10m space.
Do not have large
shrubs next to or
under windows.
40 Fire Ready Kit 2013 Update 41
A well-prepared home – Last resort – when no other
the preferred option if you preferred options are available
cannot leave ›› A Neighbourhood Safer Place –
›› A well-prepared home (yours or a neighbour) Place of Last Resort
that you can actively defend ›› A stationary car in a cleared area
›› A private bunker (that meets current regulations) ›› A ploughed paddock or reserve
›› A designated community shelter or fire refuge. ›› A body of water (such as a beach,
swimming pool, dam or river).
Neighbourhood Safer Places do not offer any
food, drink, supplies or facilities and are not
relief centres. Many are simply open reserves
or sports fields. To find out if there is one in
your town, visit saferplaces.cfa.vic.gov.au
2013 Update 23Understand radiant heat
Radiant heat is the intense heat that radiates from a bushfire.
It is like the heat you feel from a campfire, but can be up to
50,000 times stronger. In the right conditions, radiant heat
can ignite exposed surfaces and crack or break windows.
Radiant heat is the biggest killer in a fire. If you are caught outside in a fire,
The human body cannot absorb large amounts seek to protect yourself by:
of radiant heat without its cooling system failing,
leading to heat exhaustion and heart failure. ›› covering up exposed skin.
›› being as far away as you can –
Radiant heat can be blocked by a solid
by doubling your distance from the fire
object or barrier such as a concrete wall
you reduce the radiant heat load by four.
or building. This heat travels in straight lines,
radiating out from a bushfire ahead of the ›› getting behind a solid object or barrier.
flames and will bounce off solid objects,
›› staying away from windows as radiant
although it will travel through glass.
heat can pass through glass.
The only sure way to survive a bushfire
and avoid radiant heat is to leave early
and be away from the threat.
24 Fire Ready Kit 2013A
B
C
Cover up
Covering all exposed skin with clothing can
offer some protection from radiant heat. D
Have a set of clothing ready for each member
of the family:
Your kit
A A wide-brimmed hat to protect your head.
B Eye protection such as smoke goggles
to shield your eyes.
C A ‘P2’ type mask or cotton scarf/
3
handkerchief for face protection and to
During a Fire: If You Cannot Leave
filter smoke.
D A long-sleeved, collared shirt and
long pants made from cotton or
some other natural fibre.
E Tough leather garden gloves –
not rubber or synthetic. E
F Sturdy boots and wool or
cotton socks.
Put these on as soon as you are
aware of a fire.
Wearing a t-shirt, shorts and thongs
will expose you to dangerous radiant
heat in a fire.
F
2013 Update 25Sheltering from fire
If you are caught in a building If you are caught in a car
If sheltering in a building during a bushfire, make Take the following actions if you encounter
sure you have more than one point of exit in every smoke or flames and are not able to turn
room used as a shelter. Most bathrooms are around and drive to safety.
unsuitable to shelter in. They typically have only
one door which can make escape impossible if 1) P
osition the car to minimise exposure
that exit is blocked by flames and heat. Any place to radiant heat:
of shelter within a house or building should have ›› Park away from dense bush –
two points of exit. try to find a clearing.
Most bathrooms also have frosted windows ›› If possible, park behind a barrier
that do not let you see outside – during a such as a wall or rocky outcrop.
bushfire it is critical to look outside and know
what is happening. ›› The car should ideally face towards
the oncoming fire front.
If your house catches fire while you are inside,
›› Park off the roadway and turn hazard
you will need to respond quickly:
lights on. Car crashes are common
›› Close the door to the room that is on fire. in bushfires due to poor visibility.
›› Move to the other end of the house,
closing all the doors behind you. 2) To increase your chances of survival:
›› Do not get trapped in a room without ›› Stay in the car and tightly close windows
an alternative exit. and doors.
›› Move outside to burnt ground as ›› Cover up with woollen blankets and get down
soon as you can. below window level – you need to protect yourself
from radiant heat which will pass through glass.
›› Wherever possible, try to put a solid object
between you and the radiant heat from the fire. ›› Drink water to prevent dehydration.
›› Drink water to prevent dehydration.
3) A
s soon as you become aware that
the fire front is close by:
EXPECT DISRUPTIONS TO SERVICES
›› Shut all vents and turn the air conditioning
Disruptions to telephone service, internet off to limit the circulation of toxic fumes
and mains power and water are common caused by burning plastic.
during a fire or on a fire risk day. Be prepared:
›› Turn off the engine.
›› Don’t rely on mains power and water.
– Power failure will impact you and
your use of:
› cordless phones.
› remote control garage doors,
electric gates or similar devices.
› computer and the internet.
› air conditioners and coolers.
› electric pumps.
›› Don’t rely on one source of information
for warnings. Use multiple sources.
26 Fire Ready Kit 2013Bushfire survival options
Leave Early
›› When the Fire Danger Rating
is Code Red, leaving early is
always the safest option.
›› Leave early destinations could
include homes of family and
friends who live outside the risk
area, a nearby town or other
built-up area.
Always the safest option
3 During a Fire: If You Cannot Leave
Community Well Prepared
fire refuge
If leaving the high-risk area is no longer an
option, there may be options close to where
you are that could protect you. These include:
Well-prepared
neighbour’s home
›› a well-prepared home (yours or your
neighbour's) that you can actively defend
on Severe and Extreme Fire Danger
Rating days only
Well-prepared
Private home
bunker ›› private bushfire shelter (bunker)
that meets current regulations
›› designated community fire refuge.
Your safety is not guaranteed
Last Resort
Neighbourhood
Safer Place
River
In situations where no other options are
(Place of last resort) available, taking shelter in one of the below
may protect you from radiant heat:
›› Neighbourhood Safer Place
Ploughed paddock (Place of Last Resort)
and reserve
›› stationary car in a clear area
Dam
›› ploughed paddock or reserve
Stationary
cars
›› body of water (i.e. beach,
swimming pool, dam, river etc).
Swimming
pool
High risk of trauma, injury or death.
2013 Update 27Notes: 28 Fire Ready Kit 2013
Section Four
Staying Informed
4
2013 Update 29Section Four
Staying Informed
During the fire season, it’s up to you to stay informed.
Make it your habit to:
›› check your district’s Fire Danger Rating (FDR) every day during the fire season
›› know if it is a Total Fire Ban day
›› check for warnings, especially on hot, dry windy days.
For updates on FDRs, restrictions and warnings,
visit CFA’s website or Twitter account, or call the WHERE ARE YOU TODAY IN VICTORIA?
Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.
Fire Danger Ratings and Total Fire Bans are
The meaning of and difference between Fire declared by district. There are nine districts in
Weather Districts, Fire Danger Ratings and Victoria and you need to know which district
Total Fire Bans is explained in the illustration you are in or travelling to. Check the fire
at the start of this Kit. weather district whenever you are travelling
away from home.
KNOW YOUR FIRE WEATHER DISTRICT
Mallee
Northern
Wimmera Country North East
North
Central
East
Gippsland
Central
South West
West & South
Gippsland
30 Fire Ready Kit 2013Fire Danger Ratings Total Fire Bans
Fire Danger Ratings tell you how Certain activities are banned on
dangerous a fire would be if one Total Fire Ban days. If you break
started – the higher the rating, the these restrictions you can face
more dangerous the conditions. large fines and imprisonment.
Fire Danger Ratings are not a weather forecast. Total Fire Bans are declared by CFA on days
Ratings are issued using Bureau of Meteorology when fires are likely to spread rapidly and be
data for up to four days in advance, based on difficult to control.
weather and other environmental conditions
such as fuel load. As Total Fire Bans provide a set of legal restrictions
on what activities can or cannot occur in a particular
The rating should be your trigger to act. district for that day, they are usually not declared
For more information about what each rating until the afternoon before to ensure they are
means and what you should do, see the based on the most accurate weather forecast.
Fire Danger Ratings table earlier in this Kit.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? Check the FireReady App for up-to-date
Fire Danger Rating and Total Fire Ban
Fire Danger Ratings tell you how information, as well as information,
dangerous a fire would be if one started. warnings and locations about current fires.
4
Download the App
Staying Informed
free for Apple and
Total Fire Bans tell you what you can Android devices.
or can’t do on days where fire will spread
rapidly and be out of control.
Warnings tell you that a fire
has already started.
2013 Update 31Warnings and updates
Warnings are issued when a fire has started and you need to take action.
It’s your responsibility to understand the different types of warnings and how
to access them. You should never wait to receive an official warning before
you leave. Bushfires can start, spread and become uncontrollable quickly.
How are warnings different
ADVICE
from Fire Danger Ratings?
There is a fire in your local area. You need
Fire Danger Ratings indicate how dangerous to get information and monitor conditions.
a fire would be if one started. Warnings are
information about fires that have already started.
WATCH AND ACT
Levels of warnings Fire is heading toward you. Conditions are
changing and you need to start taking action
There are three different levels of warnings – now to protect yourself.
Advice, Watch and Act and Emergency Warning.
Don’t expect warnings to be issued in any
particular order. The first warning issued EMERGENCY WARNING
could even be an Emergency Warning.
You are in immediate danger and need
to act now. You will be impacted by fire.
32 Fire Ready Kit 2013Where to find warnings and information
Do not rely on one source of information for fire information.
Listen to ABC Local Radio, 1800 240 667
commercial and designated
The Victorian Bushfire Information
community radio stations and
Line (VBIL) is a freecall.
watch Sky News TV.
ocial Media outlets:
S
1800 555 677
Twitter @CFA_Updates and Callers who are deaf, hard of
facebook.com/cfavic hearing, or have a speech/
communication impairment
can contact VBIL via the National
Relay Service on this number.
FA website: cfa.vic.gov.au
C 131 450
DEPI website: depi.vic.gov.au If you do not speak English, call
MFB website: mfb.vic.gov.au the Translating and Interpreting
Service for translated information
from VBIL. If you know someone
who cannot speak English,
provide them with this number.
IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES
You may receive an You may receive a call
SMS to your mobile. to your landline phone.
4 Staying Informed
Emergency Alert is a system used by CAUTION
emergency services to send voice messages
Do not rely on an official warning to leave.
to landlines and text messages to mobile
Bushfires can start quickly and threaten
phones about emergencies. For more
homes and lives within minutes.
information, go to emergencyalert.gov.au
If you receive a warning, you must take it
seriously. Failure to take action may result in
Keep a map of your local area in an easy-to-find death or injury to you or your family members.
place. Use the map to locate where fires may be Look and listen for information for surrounding
in your surrounding area. towns as your suburb or town may not be
mentioned.
If you are travelling through Victoria, you need
to monitor conditions. Reconsider visiting
high-risk bushfire areas on fire risk days.
2013 Update 33Other information
you might receive
RECOMMENDATION TO EVACUATE
A recommendation to Evacuate is issued in some situations.
You should not rely on receiving one.
Evacuation is not a substitute for planning ahead or choosing to leave a high-risk
bushfire area early before fire threatens.
In high-risk bushfire areas on Code Red days, it is always safer to leave the night
before or early in the morning.
Recommendation to Evacuate
Sometimes it is not possible for the emergency
Evacuation is the planned relocation of people services to issue a Recommendation to
from a dangerous area to a safer place. Evacuate. You should not rely on receiving one.
In some fires the emergency services may decide While CFA will do its best to provide official
to issue a Recommendation to Evacuate for: warnings, fires can threaten lives and homes
in minutes.
›› individuals
The safest option is to leave early.
›› a house
›› a street
›› a large institution (such as a school or hospital)
›› a suburb
Standard Emergency Warning
›› a town Signal (SEWS)
›› a large area of the state. This is a distinctive siren sound that is transmitted
over the radio, TV or phone prior to the alert
A Recommendation to Evacuate depends message being broadcast. Designed to attract
on a number of factors, such as: your attention, the sound tells you that important
emergency information will follow.
›› safety considerations
›› the location and type of fire All Clear
›› access routes and the local environment.
Emergency activity in the area has subsided
and is no longer a danger to you.
A Recommendation to Evacuate may identify:
›› the location you need to travel to
›› travel information
›› the length of time during which it is safe to travel.
For further information, go to police.vic.gov.au
34 Fire Ready Kit 2013Community alert sirens Know your local
A number of towns across Victoria are trialling emergency broadcaster
the use of sirens to alert communities that there These include:
is an emergency in the area. For more information
about this policy and the location of sirens, go to ›› ABC local radio
firecommissioner.vic.gov.au/policies
›› SKY NEWS TV
How and why will a siren sound? ›› UGFM – Radio Murrindindi
›› Stereo 974
Short (up to 90 seconds) – indicates a CFA brigade
has responded to an emergency incident nearby. ›› Plenty Valley FM
Extended (up to 5 minutes) – indicates that a ›› Various commercial stations across Victoria
current emergency has been identified nearby You can find a complete list at
and you must seek further information immediately firecommissioner.vic.gov.au
from CFA’s website, VBIL, or local emergency
broadcasters.
When to look for warnings
If you see flames or a column of smoke,
There are different situations when you might need always call Triple Zero 000 immediately.
to monitor and check for fire warnings and updates.
4 Staying Informed
WHEN WHY
It’s a hot, dry, windy day Fires can start suddenly at any time. During summer,
check regularly for updates.
It’s a fire risk day. You have left Ensure the route you have planned is safe. Stay up to date
early, or are preparing to do so. about fires in your area. Know when it is safe to return.
I can see or smell smoke in Check to see if there are signs of a fire in your area.
the air and I want to check
what is going on.
I’m staying to defend It is critical that you know at the earliest possible stage
on a fire risk day. if a fire is in your area so that you can implement your plan.
Once you are aware of a fire, continue to monitor updates.
2013 Update 35Notes: 36 Fire Ready Kit 2013
Section Five
Preparing
5
Your Property
2013 Update 37Section Five
Preparing Your Property
This section outlines what you must do as a minimum
to reduce the effects of bushfire on your property.
This involves:
›› Understanding how fire behaves in your environment
›› K
nowing the steps to take to prepare your
home and property before the fire season
›› P
reparing your property for the best chance
of survival during a bushfire.
38 Fire Ready Kit 2013Fire behaviour
Victoria has a great diversity of vegetation,
topography and weather.
Environments that are high risk for fire are: Knowing how a fire behaves in your environment
will help you to better prepare your property.
›› where suburbs meet the bush
Bushfires are influenced by:
›› close to forest and woodlands
›› close to grass or paddocks ›› vegetation (fuel)
›› near coastal scrub. ›› topography
›› weather conditions.
Vegetation (fuel)
There are two fuel types – fine and heavy. By removing fine fuels from
your property you can reduce the amount of heavy fuels that burn.
A. Fine fuels
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
PP These are fuels that are the thickness
of a pencil or less. Vegetation includes all the plants, foliage
and mulch around your home. By managing
PP They ignite quickly and burn easily. This means the vegetation around your property you can
they can be carried by the wind as embers long create space around your home. This will
distances ahead of the main fire. reduce bushfire intensity.
PP Branches, twigs and leaves and other fine fuels This helps protect your house from direct
found on the ground can burn easily.
5
flame contact and reduces the radiant heat
Preparing Your Property
PP Some types of scrub and trees drop leaves and to which your house will be exposed.
twigs on the ground around them. These give While ember attack will still occur, vegetation
off far more heat when they burn. management around your house is important.
PP Fibrous and dry tree bark can act like a ladder, You can reduce the likelihood of embers
spreading fire to treetops. starting new fires near your house.
B. Heavy fuels
PP These are greater than the width of a pencil.
PP They take longer to ignite but will burn for longer.
PP Branches, trees and logs are examples
of heavy fuels.
PP They create an extremely hot fire.
2013 Update 39Topography Weather conditions
Bushfires can vary greatly according to
Fires burning uphill
weather conditions. They often start on
A fire will burn faster uphill. This is because hot, dry and windy days.
the flames can reach more unburnt fuel in
front of the fire. Temperature
Radiant heat pre-heats the fuel in front of the A string of hot days will dry out vegetation,
fire, making the fuel even more flammable. making it easier to burn. This can be made
even worse by underlying dry conditions.
As a general rule, for every 10˚ slope, the The drier the vegetation the easier it will burn.
fire will double its speed as it travels uphill. A fire spreads as a result of wind, burning
For example, if a fire is travelling at five kilometres embers, radiant heat and direct flame contact.
an hour along flat ground and it hits a 10˚ slope
it will double in speed to 10 kilometres an hour
up that hill.
By increasing in speed the fire also increases in
intensity, flames becoming even larger and hotter.
Fires burning downhill
As fires travel downhill they tend to move
more slowly as the flames and radiant heat
reach less fuel.
40 Fire Ready Kit 2013Wind Wind change
Wind has a significant influence on the: A change in wind direction is one of the
most dangerous influences on fire behaviour.
PP speed at which a fire spreads Many people who die in bushfires get caught
PP direction in which a fire travels and during or after the wind change.
the size of the fire front
In Victoria, hot, dry winds typically come from
PP intensity of a fire, by providing more oxygen the north and north-west and are often followed
by a south-west wind change. In this situation
PP likelihood of spotting. Burning pieces of
the side of the fire can quickly become a much
leaves, twigs and bark (embers) are carried
larger fire front.
ahead of the fire by winds, causing new fires
to ignite. These are known as spot fires. A change in wind direction can change
the size of the fire front. This makes wind
a very dangerous ingredient in a bushfire.
Point of origin Point of origin New fire front
C
A
B 5 Preparing Your Property
Front
A Fire being blown by a northerly wind B South-westerly wind change
C The eastern flank becomes
a much larger fire front
2013 Update 41What is an ember attack?
Ember attack:
mbers are burning twigs, leaves
E Ember attack is the most common way
and pieces of debris. houses catch fire during bushfires.
mber attack occurs when twigs
E Ember attack can happen before,
and leaves are carried by the wind during and after the bushfire.
and land on or around a building.
mbers can land on top of debris
E
in your gutters and set fire to your house.
42 Fire Ready Kit 2013What is radiant heat?
Radiant heat:
5 Preparing Your Property
adiant heat is the heat that
R A solid object, such as a brick wall,
you feel from a fire. and suitable clothing can offer some
protection from radiant heat. But they
adiant heat is the biggest killer
R
may not save your life.
of people and animals in a fire.
he best protection from radiant
T
heat is distance.
2013 Update 43Can your property really
withstand a bushfire?
Everyone in Victoria who lives near dense or open bush, grassland or
the coast needs to prepare their property for bushfire. Even if your plan
is to leave early on fire-risk days, you need to prepare your property.
A well-prepared house where the vegetation
is well managed has a greater chance of not ven with enough managed
E
catching alight in a bushfire. Regardless of vegetation, the safest option is
property preparation, most homes will not be to leave high-risk bushfire areas
able to withstand fires in Code Red conditions. early on Severe, Extreme and
Code Red days.
You need to consider the materials from which
your house is made and its design. By making
modifications you can improve the likelihood
that your house will survive bushfire.
Information on construction and renovation
can be found in A Guide to Retrofit Your Home
for Better Protection from a Bushfire. This
publication is available at cfa.vic.gov.au
44 Fire Ready Kit 2013Preparing
your property
You can reduce the impact of bushfire
on your home by preparing your property.
These preparations must begin well before
the bushfire season. FIRE TRUCK ACCESS
You should prepare your property even if your You should never rely on a fire truck coming
plan is to leave early on days of fire risk. to protect your property.
This will reduce the impact of bushfire on your home. However, if a fire truck does reach your
property, you will need to ensure that:
You will have to consider:
›› gates are wide enough for entry and exit
A how you will manage vegetation.
›› there are no overhanging branches or
B whether your home is constructed or modified objects that would prevent access
to withstand a bushfire. Note: most houses are ›› all water sources are clearly marked
not designed to withstand Code Red conditions. and easy to find
C whether it is possible to improve the ›› your tank fittings are compatible with CFA
safety of your house with modifications fire trucks. The Defending Your Property
and maintenance. Section of this Kit provides a comprehensive
list of CFA-compatible tank fittings.
The illustration shows an example of a
well-prepared property with managed vegetation.
5 Preparing Your Property
2013 Update 45The Well-Prepared Property
Mature trees can help
shield against radiant heat
and embers. They must
be strategically located
and well managed.
Keep grass cut to
less than 10cm.
Remove flammable items
from decks and verandahs,
such as boxes, furniture
and doormats.
Keep gutters clear
Use pebbles or rocks of leaf litter.
in your garden
(not flammable mulch).
Do not have large
shrubs next to or
under windows.
46 Fire Ready Kit 2013Keep woodpiles
away from house.
Store flammable
liquids away from
house.
Get rid of dry
grass, leaves,
twigs and
loose bark.
Prune lower branches of
shrubs to separate from
surface fuels underneath.
Prune shrubs well
away from tree
branches.
Cut back overhanging
branches – no branches
within 10m of buildings.
2013 Update 47A Managing vegetation
Managing the vegetation on your property will reduce a bushfire’s
intensity. By having managed vegetation, you will reduce the
amount of direct flame contact and radiant heat on your house.
As a general rule you may need to undertake Managing the vegetation around your home
more vegetation management if there is dense has four main purposes:
bush all around you.
1. To give your house the best possible chance
For example: of surviving the passage of the fire front.
›› Keep grass short – no more than 2. To reduce the chance of direct flame contact
10 centimetres high and radiant heat igniting your home.
›› Make space between plants and trees 3. To help you protect your home from
›› Keep fallen leaves no more than ember attack.
two centimetres deep.
4. To provide some level of shelter as a last
Keep in mind that mature trees can sometimes resort if you and your family get caught.
help shield against radiant heat and embers and
can play a useful role in the protection of your Whatever the type of vegetation that surrounds
home against bushfires. your home, you need to consider how it will burn
during a bushfire. In general:
›› homes located in a dense forest are more
likely to experience high-intensity fires
›› homes located in more open country
may experience lower intensity, but fast
moving, grassfires.
If you live in a rural environment, also consider
other property assets such as sheds or fences
that you want to protect.
48 Fire Ready Kit 2013Use the layout of your property Trees and bushfire
Fire always follows a path where fuel is located. A fire will only burn trees where there is sufficient
It does not spread easily over low-fuel areas. surface and elevated fuel to carry the fire into the
tree canopy.
Manage vegetation around your home and
on your property and use the following to help The fire front is often carried by undergrowth,
reduce fire intensity: such as shrubs and tall grasses, but loose, flaky
or ribbon bark can contribute to ember attack.
›› driveways
›› pools What is growing under your trees? Consider
how easily fire might be able to spread from
›› tennis courts
the ground into the tree tops.
›› cultivated soil or gravelled areas
Fine fuels that are continuous from ground to
›› mown lawns
treetop (known as ladder fuels) can assist the
›› grazed paddocks spread of fire from the ground up into the treetops.
›› dams and natural water features.
You can reduce fuel ladders by:
PP removing lower branches of trees
PP pruning shrubs so that their tops are well
away from the lower branches of trees
PP pruning the lower branches of shrubs to separate
5
the foliage from the surface fuels underneath
Preparing Your Property
PP reducing accumulated debris such as loose
flaky bark, dead twigs, leaves or needles from
within the branches of plants.
2013 Update 49Remove weeds
›› Weeds are commonly found in residential
bushland areas and contribute significantly
to bushfire risk.
›› Give priority to removing and controlling
them. This will help reduce potential fire
fuel on your property.
›› Your council can help you identify weeds
in your local area and provide ideas on
how to remove them.
Lawns and grass Mulching
›› Grass needs to be kept less than 10 centimetres Mulch, such as wood chips or pea straw, is a
high. Higher than that and fire can use the grass fine fuel and can ignite during ember attack. It is
as a ladder to other vegetation. extremely dangerous if used within a 10-metre
›› You do not need to cut green lawns any radius of your home especially under windows.
shorter than five centimetres otherwise
Instead:
you risk causing the grass to dry out.
›› Lawns between 5-10 centimetres shade ›› Use non-flammable mulch alternatives,
the root zone and retain moisture. such as pebbles, sand or rocks.
›› Use weed matting cut to fit around plants and
secured with rocks, pebbles or soil. It can be
used to help retain soil moisture in garden beds.
›› If you must use flammable (plant-based) mulch,
apply it immediately after the fire season.
This will allow it to break down over winter.
Decomposed mulch still provides good
moisture retention during summer. It is less
likely to ignite than more recently laid mulch.
›› If plant-based mulch is still dry at the beginning
of the fire season, keep it wetted down or cover
it with soil or sand during the fire season.
50 Fire Ready Kit 2013You can also read
