If you live in a bushfire-prone area you can reduce the risk of bush fire damage by cleaning dead leaves, high grass and undergrowth around your property and maintaining a firebreak.
Don't dump garden waste into bushland or the firebreak - this creates a potential fire hazard. Randwick City Council provides a green waste collection service that completely eliminates the need to dump waste anywhere.
We have summarised the precautionary measures suggested by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service- visit their website for full details.
- Arson
- Preparing your property
- Fire fighting equipment
- Evacuation
- What to do when fire approaches
- Total fire bans
Putting a stop to arson
You can help put a stop to Arson by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Preparing your property
- Clear away ground fuels around the house (long dry grass, dead leaves and branches, thick undergrowth)
- Reduce Fire Fuels - Take a trip to the tip
- Plant fire resistant plants on your property
- Clear gutters
- Ember-proof your house and sheds: install screens or shutters and enclose underfloor areas if possible; screen vents into the roof space with fine wire mesh
- Join the Static Water Supply Marking System (this involves marking properties where tanks and swimming pools are available for fire fighting)
- Ensure roofing is firmly fixed
- Prepare firebreaks (a well watered lawn can act as a firebreak)
- Remove flammable items from around the house (door mats, woodpile and obvious flammable materials such as paper, boxes, crates, hanging baskets and wooden garden furniture)
- Vent LPG tanks away from the house
- Compile an emergency phone list and leave it near the telephone
- Have battery operated radios and torches in case of electricity failure
Organising water supplies and fire fighting equipment
Check water, taps and hoses. Ensure that hoses with metal fittings are long enough to reach all sides of house when attached to taps
- Use heavy-duty hoses with wide-spray nozzles if possible
- Reserve water supplies from tanks or swimming pools, if possible, since mains water will be in high demand. Try to store water during winter months
- Install a sprinkler system in your garden and on roofing if affordable
- Gather buckets (preferably metal), mops, spray backpack units, ladders, rakes and shovels in one place for ready access during a fire
Evacuation
- Plan for your personal protection before a fire
- Decide who will make the decisions, who goes and who stays
- Plan for the safety of all family members. Special plans should be made for young children, elderly persons, persons and those unable to handle the trauma of bush fire
Planning to evacuate (relocate)
If you intend to evacuate (relocate) any members of the family, plan well ahead of time where to stay, how to make the decision to leave, and how to travel (remember, leave well before the fire front arrives).
Planning to stay
For those who remain, ensure each person has suitable clothing, including sturdy leather footwear, long pants and a long sleeved shirt or jumper (pure wool or cotton offers the best protection from sparks and embers), a broad brimmed hat, goggles for eye protection, handkerchiefs to tie over nose and mouth, wet towels to drape over neck and bottles for drinking water.
What to do when fire approaches
- Listen to the radio for news of the fire's progress rather than calling emergency services for information
- Organise and pre-pack
- Dress in protective clothing and drink water frequently
- Wet-down roof, house and garden, especially on the side of the approaching fire. Turn on sprinkler system if you have one
- Stop downpipes and fill gutters with water
- Fill baths, sinks and buckets with water for extinguishing small fires and for drinking water
- Bring in hoses so they don't get burnt
- As the fire approaches, go inside and remain inside until the fire has passed
- Place wet towels and blankets against gaps under doors and windows
- Close heavy curtains and shutters if you have them
- After the fire has passed, and for several hours after the fire front has passed, patrol your property and put out spot fires started by flying embers
- Check roof cavity frequently for spot fires
Total fire bans
When is a total fire ban declared?
On days of extreme fire danger, caused by a combination of certain weather conditions and dry vegetation, the Commissioner and the New South Wales Rural Fire Service may declare a total fire ban.
How will you know when a total fire ban is on?
If a total fire ban is declared, a media release will be issued listing the weather forecast districts involved. Total fire bans will also be announced through newspapers, radio and television. lf you are in doubt, contact New South Wales Rural Fire Service, the Police or New South Wales Fire Brigade.
What are the Rules During a total fire ban?
Any use of wood, heat beads, charcoal or briquettes in, for instance, campfires, solid fuel barbecues, ovens and kettles is prohibited.
Gas or electric barbecues may be used provided they are:
- on a residential property
- within 20 metres of the house or dwelling
- in an area with council approval
- under the direct control of an adult
- upon ground which is cleared, to a radius of three metres, of all materials which could burn
- in an area where a continuous supply of water is available.
Electric or gas-fired barbecues in public places may only be used with the approval of the local fire authority or the land management authority.
Failure to comply with the fire regulations can be punished by up to twelve months in jail and/or a $5,500 fine.