Fire: Plan and Prepare
Victoria is one of the most fire-prone areas in the world. Understanding your level of risk is the first step in knowing what to do before and during a fire.
What are you going to do?
You can handle any emergency better if you are prepared! Emergencies can be hard to predict and emergency services may be unable to reach you in a disaster. Gather and store items ready to support you and your family for 72 hours.
Preparing your property means you can reduce the chance of property loss during a fire, even if you plan to leave early. There are lots of things you can do to prepare your property before and during the warmer months:
- Mature trees can help shield against radiant heat and embers.
- Keep grass cut to less than 10cm.
- Keep woodpiles away from the house.
- Store flammable liquids away from the house.
- Get rid of dry grass, leaves, twigs and loose bark.
- Prune shrubs well away from tree branches and prune lower branches of shrubs to separate from surface fuels underneath.
- Cut back overhanging branches.
- Remove flammable items from decks and verandas, such as boxes, furniture and doormats.
- Do not have large shrubs next to or under windows.
- Keep gutters clear of leaf litter.
- Use pebbles or rocks in your garden (not flammable mulch).
Residents should ensure they register their burn off before lighting up at firepermits.vic.gov.au or by calling 1800 668 511.
Country Fire Authority (CFA)
CFA has a wealth of resources to help you understand your fire risk and know what to do before and during a fire.
This website discusses the importance of leaving early, and how a well thought out bushfire survival plan can help you if you live or holiday in high-risk bushfire areas of Victoria.
CFA also provides a Fire Ready Kit to help you prepare.
The Australian Red Cross
The Australian Red Cross website offers a range of valuable resources designed to help people to better prepare, respond to and recover from emergencies. Resources are available for households, seniors, people with disabilities, parents of young children, and psychosocial preparedness.
VicEmergency App
The VicEmergency app is the official Victorian Government app for access to community information and warnings for all types of emergencies in Victoria.
Fires in the Home
On average, there are 3,000 house fires in Victoria. Most could be prevented by taking simple precautions. The CFA website provides valuable information on preventing fires in your home.
Agriculture and Animals
- CFA - Pets and bushfire information - When preparing your bushfire survival plan, you also need to plan and prepare for the safety of your pets. What will you do with your pets on days of high fire danger?
- Agriculture Victoria provides a range of bushfire and recovery advice and support on animal health and welfare, pasture management, pest plants and animal control, erosion protection, livestock feed planning, crop and horticulture management and reforestation.