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WHATS NEWS ARTICLE  -  DECEMBER 2024

WHATS NEWS ARTICLE  -  FEBRUARY 2025

We are part way through the fire season without major incidents occurring in our local area. This may mean that people may start to drop their guard when it comes to fires and being prepared. Now is the time to review your fire plan or if you don’t have one, it’s time to create one.

You should consider the following when making or reviewing your fire plan.

Should I leave early?

Leaving early is the safest option to protect yourself and your family.  This means leaving the area before there are any signs of a fire – you may consider leaving on certain fire danger rating days

By leaving early you are avoiding panic, being trapped, making the wrong choices and risking serious injury or death.

Defending Your Property

Planning to stay and defend is a big decision.

By staying and defending your property to are putting yourself and your family at serious risk of death or injury from uncontrollable fires on Extreme and Catastrophic fire danger days.

Most homes in bushfire risk areas are not designed for Catastrophic conditions and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to get a fire truck to you.

For more information about defending your property please visit the CFA website cfa.vic.gov.au – the information provided on this page can help decide whether you are capable of defending your property or not, you can also find information about the risks and preparations involved to defend your property.

How to plan

All family members should be involved in making your fire plan, as each member may have different needs that need to be considered.

Information and templates can be found at cfa.vic.gov.au in the Fire Ready Kit.

1. Which Fire Danger Rating is your trigger to leave?

2. Will you leave early that morning or the night before?

3. Where will you go?

4. What route will you take – and what is your alternative in the event that a fire is already in the area?

5. What will you take with you?

6. What do you need to organise for your pets or livestock?

7. Who do you need to keep informed of your movements?

8. Is there anyone outside your household who you need to help or check up on?

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?

Remember to decide who will do what as part of your plan.

Your destination and journey

Where will you go when you leave? It’s up to you to decide on a suitable place to go when you leave early on a fire risk day. Things to consider include going to areas that are low risk such as, visiting a friend/family’s house or community facilities such as libraries, shopping centres, swimming pools or cinemas.

Communicate with family and friends about how you’ll know when to leave and where to go to stay safe.

If you rely on others for care and support, your only safe option on serious fire risk days is to leave early – never wait to receive a warning.

Why write down your plan?

Writing down you plan and having it accessible to all family members is important as you may not be able to think clearly if you’re surrounded by smoke, heat and flames.

If you do not already have a plan in place the CFA have a template that can be used bushfire planning template – Leaving early (PDF 2.6MB) – this can be found on the CFA website.

Share your bushfire plan

Bushfires can cause a lot of stress to neighbours and loved ones   especially if they do not know where you are, or what your plans  are in an emergency.

It is best to share your plan with family, friends and neighbours.

Summer is not over yet nor is our fire danger period which means that we must remain prepared. 

Remember, any bushfire plan – written or not – is better than no plan.