Entries Tagged 'bushfires' ↓

It’s that time of year again! The bushfire season is back with us. Please be prepared.

Use this time to prepare your property! Make sure you are confident about what you will do in the event of a fire coming through the valley. Know when you might leave, and where you would go, and what you would take. Give your home and yourself the best chance of survival:

• Clean out the gutters
• Cut long grass
• Trim low trees and bushes around the house
• Be aware of water sources
• Move winter wood supplies away from the house
• Check through your fire plan
• Identify a safe place to shelter if you are caught in a fire (this could be a neighbour’s house)
• Talk to your neighbours about their plans.

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The Tasmania Fire Service has produced a one-page bushfire preparation checklist. It’s good idea for all Waterworks residents to print it out and stick a copy on their fridges until March.

Also note: Stephen Bresnehan is Hobart Council’s Bushland Fire Officer. Stephen can provide (free) fire risk management advice to Hobart residents (ph 6238 2886). He can also help if you have concerns, such as neighbouring land which may be getting overgrown, given our wonderful recent growing weather! Stephen’s advice is always practical and helpful.

For more on bushfire protection see our earlier post.

This information was kindly provided last summer by Ruth at 187 Waterworks. Timely advice as we go into Summer again.

The best thing about having a plan is that it requires you to think about what you will do, discuss it with your household, and write it down – so everyone knows exactly what to do.

Question: When do I implement my plan?

Answer: This is a personal decision, and should be based on how prepared you are to face the predicted fire conditions…

There are two separate sections to a Bushfire Plan – preparation before the fire season, and actions during the fire season.

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Has your household prepared a bushfire plan?

A safe property + many safe properties
= a safer area for fire fighters to defend
= more chance of homes (and people) surviving.

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Living sustainably with fire

ABC’s By Design program this week looked at some key points to consider when you are designing a house in a fire-prone area through the eyes or two architects specialising in these design concerns. Dr Ian Weir is putting forward the idea that we now need to live sustainaably with fire.

It starts by understanding how fire works, and all houses can be at risk from a structural fire. One of the key problems is stopping the embers and the fire that can trigger a structural fire inside the house.

You can click on the ABC site and listen to the program.