Your bushfire protection plan

It’s that time of year again! Despite another cool and damp start to summer, this is bushfire season. Please be prepared.

This link takes you to new bushfire protection plans prepared by the Tas Fire Service. To date there are plans for Ridgeway and Tolmans Hill in this vicinity.

Note also, from last year, the new fire severity rating system – for full details please visit the Tas Fire Service website.

Continue reading below for a summary of preparations. Also see Ruth’s ‘How to make a bushfire plan’ placed last summer.

The ratings below should be used to guide your response.

Low – Moderate Fire Danger Rating (FDR 0-11)
Fires breaking out in these conditions can be controlled and there is little risk of fires spreading rapidly.

High Fire Danger Rating (FDR 12-24)
Fires can usually be controlled. Well-prepared and well-defended houses can offer safety.

Very High Fire Danger Rating (FDR 25-49)
Fires may spread rapidly and be difficult to control. People may be injured and homes may be destroyed.

Severe Fire Danger Rating (FDR 50-74)
Fires will spread rapidly and be uncontrollable. People may be injured or killed and homes are likely to be destroyed.

Extreme Fire Danger Rating (FDR 75-99)
Fires will spread rapidly and be uncontrollable. People are at risk and homes are likely to be destroyed. Do not stay and defend unless your home has been designed to withstand fire and has been assessed as defendable.

Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating (FDR 100+)
Fires will spread rapidly and be uncontrollable. People and homes are at risk, even if well prepared. TFS recommends that people do not stay to try and defend in these conditions.

There is also a new Alert message system. Alerts will be given through local radio, the TFS website, or may be sent to your mobile phone or landline.

There are three Alert levels:

1. Advice – a fire has started, there is no immediate danger and general information will be provided to keep you up-to-date.

2. Watch and Act – a fire is approaching and conditions are changing, you need to start taking actions now to protect your life, your family and your home.

3. Emergency Warning – you are in danger and need to take action immediately. You will be affected by fire. This message will usually be preceded by an emergency warning signal broadcast over the radio.

Remember – a warning might not specify your suburb. Listen for warnings about areas near you.

Remember to prepare a fire plan (if you developed a fire plan last year, get it back out and go through it again. Does anything need to be changed? After the events in Victoria in 2009, you might feel that your safest fire plan in any event is to leave.

Please check that you have considered all these questions:

1. At what stage will you leave? Where will you go?
2. What will you take with you? When will you pack these things?
On days of Very High/Severe/Extreme or Catastrophic fire danger it would be well worth having a bag ready prepared, so that you are not frantically trying to pack precious documents when the Fire Service warns it is time to leave.
3. Have you thought what will happen to your animals?
4. Have you told your neighbours that you plan to leave – and when?
5. How will you monitor the situation once you have left, and when will you return home?

There are some things you can do to help defend your home when you are not there.

Close all doors and windows
Move doormats and outdoor furniture well away from the house (or bring them inside, if you have space)
Block the downpipes and fill gutters with water
Turn off gas supplies
Leave front gates open (to allow access by the TFS)

It is also worth identifying safer houses or areas in the street that you can go to if you are caught by a bushfire. Safe houses need to be extremely well prepared and have at least two adults actively defending them.

It is a very good idea to share the details of your Bushfire Plan with your immediate neighbours. Talk to them – go through plans together. If there is a fire, people will know that you are prepared, and where to find you.

If you leave, call family and neighbours to let them know where you are. Make a list of neighbours’ phone numbers (and keep it with you!)

Ruth @187 Waterworks