What You Can Do

The following tips will help you reduce the risk of harm to you and your home from bushfires:

• Keep your grass short.
• Rake up leaves and grass cuttings and put them in the vegetation or compost bin.
• Don’t store boxes, cartons or wood next to or under your house.
• Recycle paper regularly.
• Regularly clear leaves and debris from your gutters and downpipes.
• Make a list of emergency numbers and keep it near the phone.
• Make a fire plan and keep it current. At the beginning of the fire season, decide whether you will stay or go in the case of a fire, not when a bushfire occurs.
• Don’t store highly flammable liquids in the house.
• Store pool chemicals away from other flammable liquids.
• Install metal (not plastic) screens or shutters and enclose underfloor areas if you can.
• Vent LPG gas tanks away from the house.
• Buy a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket and learn how to use them.
• Join a community fire unit.
• Keep garden hoses connected to outside taps and make sure the hose can reach all parts of the house and garden.
• Join the Static Water Supply Marking System. This tells firefighters where they can find water sources to fight fires, such as swimming pools.
• If you have a pool or water tank, think about getting a portable pump so you can use the water to fight a fire.
• Make sure firefighters can easily access your backyard.
• Keep a battery operated radio and torches handy.
• Make sure that you are fully insured.

Please remember that for your own safety you should not clear vegetation for firebreaks in Council reserves. It is illegal for anyone other than qualified personnel to carry out work on Council land.

What to do if there is a fire

In the event of a fire:

• If you see smoke or a fire in your area, report the fire by phoning 000.
• Only consider staying to defend your home if you are well-prepared (this means long-sleeved clothing of natural fibres, sturdy shoes, goggles, gloves, hat and face masks, with firefighting equipment and a plan), fit, healthy and able to remain calm.
• If you are unwell, elderly, caring for children or unsure about staying, please evacuate early. This means many hours prior to the fire reaching your property. A late decision to go could be deadly. Have a prepared bag of documents, valuables and medications, and take your pets.

The NSW Rural Fire Service website has more information about what to do in the event of a fire and how you can plan ahead and be prepared.