Preparing Now is vital

The vast majority of homes are destroyed without ever experiencing direct contact with the main fire front. Research from the CSIRO shows that at least 85% of houses are lost due to ember attacks and low-level surface fires that ignite nearby materials well before or after the fire front passes. Taking proactive steps establishes a "defensible space" that starves the fire of fuel and blocks embers from invading your home. Proper bushfire preparation safeguards your property across three critical lines of defence. 

1. Eliminating Vulnerabilities and Ember Traps: Hot flying embers can travel several kilometres ahead of a main fire, landing in small gaps and igniting the structure from the inside out. 

• Clear roof gutters: Remove all dry leaves, twigs, and bark regularly.
• Install metal guards: Fit fine metal mesh screens over gutters, windows, doors, and weep holes.
• Seal structural gaps: Repair broken roof tiles and seal gaps in external cladding to prevent ember entry.
• Enclose subfloors: Seal the open areas underneath decks and floors where embers easily trap and ignite.

2. Creating a Defensible Vegetation Zone Managing the surrounding landscape dictates how intensely a fire behaves when it reaches your boundaries. 

• Mow lawns regularly: Keep grass short and well-watered around the immediate perimeter.
• Prune lower branches: Trim tree limbs up to two metres from the ground to prevent ground fires from climbing into the canopy.
• Clear overhanging trees: Cut back branches that touch or hang over your roofline.
• Rake up fuel: Clear fallen leaves, dead undergrowth, and organic mulch within 30 metres of the home.
• Relocate woodpiles: Move firewood, rubbish bins, and outdoor furniture at least 10 metres away from the main building.

3. Securing Emergency Infrastructure If emergency services arrive or if you choose to stay and defend the property, your home must have independent resources ready. 

• Ensure property access: Keep driveways clear and gates unlocked so fire trucks can enter seamlessly.
• Establish water supplies: Maintain hoses that easily stretch to all corners of the house.
• Mark alternative water: Place a Static Water Supply (SWS) sign at your entrance if you have a pool, tank, or dam.
• Prepare independent pumps: Ensure firefighting pumps and generators are tested, fuelled, and independent of mains electricity.
• A portable or fixed ember protection sprinkler system: Ensure your system is set up and in working order, utilise your water resources efficiently can be the difference between a great outcome and disaster.