Red Alert: 10 Ways to Get Bushfire-Ready
Whether building, renovating or maintaining your house, being bushfire aware is essential as the weather warms up
Just over one year ago, me, my friends and our children, left our homes when two massive fires threatened either side of the Blue Mountains, leaving our partners at home to look after our properties. More than 200 homes burned in the Blue Mountains that October, and more properties burned across the state. Four years earlier, 173 lives were lost in the devastating Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria and 2100 homes burned. Each year homes, and often lives, are threatened all over Australia and the fire season seems to be starting earlier than ever this year.
There is no such thing as a fireproof house, but there are things we can do to make homes safer. Thankfully, we are now reassessing the way we build houses in areas previously affected by bushfires rather than simply rebuilding the same houses in the same places. There are also measures that can be taken to modify existing homes.
While even the best preparation and planning can’t always prevent the worst from happening, property planning and maintenance can play a big part in bushfire survival. This isn’t meant to be a complete guide to keeping you safe (you’ll need to contact your local fire department or council, or consult architects and builders for more information) but from my own experience of living and building in the heart of a bushfire-prone region, here are various ways to help you prepare for the bushfire season.
There is no such thing as a fireproof house, but there are things we can do to make homes safer. Thankfully, we are now reassessing the way we build houses in areas previously affected by bushfires rather than simply rebuilding the same houses in the same places. There are also measures that can be taken to modify existing homes.
While even the best preparation and planning can’t always prevent the worst from happening, property planning and maintenance can play a big part in bushfire survival. This isn’t meant to be a complete guide to keeping you safe (you’ll need to contact your local fire department or council, or consult architects and builders for more information) but from my own experience of living and building in the heart of a bushfire-prone region, here are various ways to help you prepare for the bushfire season.
2. Tidy up
If you do have a cleared space around the house, including a lawn, keeping the lawn well mown and the area around your property free of any rubbish or fuel will help to keep your property safe.
BONUS TIP: Don’t store any potential fuel, such as firewood or mulch, next to the house or under decks.
If you do have a cleared space around the house, including a lawn, keeping the lawn well mown and the area around your property free of any rubbish or fuel will help to keep your property safe.
BONUS TIP: Don’t store any potential fuel, such as firewood or mulch, next to the house or under decks.
3. Clean the gutters
At the start of spring make sure the gutters are clear of leaves and twigs. During a bushfire, burning embers can ignite this material so it’s important to keep checking regularly throughout the season to ensure your gutters remain clear.
At the start of spring make sure the gutters are clear of leaves and twigs. During a bushfire, burning embers can ignite this material so it’s important to keep checking regularly throughout the season to ensure your gutters remain clear.
4. Choose building materials wisely
When building new or renovating, consider your building materials. With new legislation and building codes, you will need to do this anyway according to the fire rating of the property.
This relatively new system of Bushfire Attack Level (or BAL) comprises six levels – from BAL Low to BAL Flame Zone – and is used to work out what level of fire risk your property is deemed to have. This then determines what external materials you can use in any new build or renovation. It’s best to work with your architect or builder to choose the least combustible materials within these regulations.
When building new or renovating, consider your building materials. With new legislation and building codes, you will need to do this anyway according to the fire rating of the property.
This relatively new system of Bushfire Attack Level (or BAL) comprises six levels – from BAL Low to BAL Flame Zone – and is used to work out what level of fire risk your property is deemed to have. This then determines what external materials you can use in any new build or renovation. It’s best to work with your architect or builder to choose the least combustible materials within these regulations.
Your choice of materials for cladding, roofs, decks, doors, glass and window frames will be affected by your BAL level. For example, steel roofs, such as Colorbond, will offer better protection than roof tiles, as embers can get under the tiles. You may also be required to have aluminium window frames or a hard timber, such as spotted gum.
Decks can be an issue, too, with lighter woods considered combustible. You may need to use hard timbers, or you may not be able to use timber at all. But this doesn’t mean your home has to look like a fortress, or unattractive. In this photograph, the pergola is constructed of steel instead of timber, but it still looks very appealing.
Decks can be an issue, too, with lighter woods considered combustible. You may need to use hard timbers, or you may not be able to use timber at all. But this doesn’t mean your home has to look like a fortress, or unattractive. In this photograph, the pergola is constructed of steel instead of timber, but it still looks very appealing.
Many materials that are considered low-combustible still look great. Apart from Colorbond and hardwood, think corrugated iron, cement renders, brick, mud brick and Corten. Research the best choices and find a balance between your tastes and the best protection. It’s worth noting that you may need to factor in extra costs to cater for your fire regulations, especially if your building is in the Flame Zone.
5. Design for fire
The design of the house and any extensions should be taken into account, too. Simple structures and roof lines are considered safer than more complicated structures as this means less area for an ember attack.
Ask your architect, draftsperson or builder to factor bushfire safety into the design and also consider bushfire additions such as steel mesh covers for windows, shutters on windows and skylights, and rooftop sprinkler systems.
Your new or existing house will also need to be well sealed, with minimal gaps for maximum protection from radiant heat, embers and smoke.
The design of the house and any extensions should be taken into account, too. Simple structures and roof lines are considered safer than more complicated structures as this means less area for an ember attack.
Ask your architect, draftsperson or builder to factor bushfire safety into the design and also consider bushfire additions such as steel mesh covers for windows, shutters on windows and skylights, and rooftop sprinkler systems.
Your new or existing house will also need to be well sealed, with minimal gaps for maximum protection from radiant heat, embers and smoke.
6. Be waterwise
Always ensure you have plenty of water at hand – hoses and pumps are in working order and have the capacity to reach all over the property, especially if you are on a large rural block. A test-run of any water systems is a good idea at the start of the season.
Always ensure you have plenty of water at hand – hoses and pumps are in working order and have the capacity to reach all over the property, especially if you are on a large rural block. A test-run of any water systems is a good idea at the start of the season.
7. Landscape for fire
Design your landscape with a bushfire in mind. Think about slopes when siting a property and carefully consider where and what vegetation will surround your home. There are some plants that are less likely to catch fire than others. It’s also possible to create breaks between plantings, rather than having continuous plantings which could assist the movement of fire.
Design your landscape with a bushfire in mind. Think about slopes when siting a property and carefully consider where and what vegetation will surround your home. There are some plants that are less likely to catch fire than others. It’s also possible to create breaks between plantings, rather than having continuous plantings which could assist the movement of fire.
8. Check your policy
No matter how prepared you are, sometimes the force of nature is just too powerful to resist and the worst happens.
Be prepared by regularly checking that your insurance policy is up to date. Even if it is, check you have the right policy for your home and area, and that your building is valued at what it would cost to rebuild – this may have increased with new building regulations for fire-prone properties.
Many people also underestimate what it would cost to replace their belongings and only find they are underinsured when it’s too late. Calculate everything from valuables and artworks to bed linen and crockery.
More: Why It’s So Important to Create a House Inventory
No matter how prepared you are, sometimes the force of nature is just too powerful to resist and the worst happens.
Be prepared by regularly checking that your insurance policy is up to date. Even if it is, check you have the right policy for your home and area, and that your building is valued at what it would cost to rebuild – this may have increased with new building regulations for fire-prone properties.
Many people also underestimate what it would cost to replace their belongings and only find they are underinsured when it’s too late. Calculate everything from valuables and artworks to bed linen and crockery.
More: Why It’s So Important to Create a House Inventory
9. Keep in contact
During a bushfire, there is sometimes a blackout, and if you don’t have a battery-operated radio you can find yourself isolated. I’ve made this mistake myself many times, and there’s nothing worse than having no power, with a fire nearby and you don’t know what’s going on because the television and radio aren’t working, you’ve lost internet connection – and you can’t see anything because of the surrounding smoke. Always have a battery-operated radio on hand with plenty of spare batteries. Also have some torches where you can find them, too – head torches are particularly useful because you can use them while keeping your hands free.
During a bushfire, there is sometimes a blackout, and if you don’t have a battery-operated radio you can find yourself isolated. I’ve made this mistake myself many times, and there’s nothing worse than having no power, with a fire nearby and you don’t know what’s going on because the television and radio aren’t working, you’ve lost internet connection – and you can’t see anything because of the surrounding smoke. Always have a battery-operated radio on hand with plenty of spare batteries. Also have some torches where you can find them, too – head torches are particularly useful because you can use them while keeping your hands free.
10. Make a plan
Should I go or should I stay? It’s the big question when a bushfire hits, and there’s no right answer. I wanted to stay during the last bushfire but, because I have small children, I didn’t think it was fair to them, just in case. On the other hand, my partner wanted to stay at home to keep the place clear and remove any embers moving through the air if the fire got close.
Of course, life is always more important than property, but staying or going is a personal decision. The most important thing is to have a plan and know in advance whether you are going to go or stay.
Keep a bag packed with the most important things in it – essentials to get you through the next few days plus all your special documents.
It’s a good idea to have this plan ready throughout the season. Last year’s fires in the Mountains came so suddenly that many of the residents were not even aware of them until they saw flames approaching in their gardens.
TELL US
Do you have any other tips to help people prepare for the bushfire season? Or can you add to the ones already here? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
MORE
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Should I go or should I stay? It’s the big question when a bushfire hits, and there’s no right answer. I wanted to stay during the last bushfire but, because I have small children, I didn’t think it was fair to them, just in case. On the other hand, my partner wanted to stay at home to keep the place clear and remove any embers moving through the air if the fire got close.
Of course, life is always more important than property, but staying or going is a personal decision. The most important thing is to have a plan and know in advance whether you are going to go or stay.
Keep a bag packed with the most important things in it – essentials to get you through the next few days plus all your special documents.
It’s a good idea to have this plan ready throughout the season. Last year’s fires in the Mountains came so suddenly that many of the residents were not even aware of them until they saw flames approaching in their gardens.
TELL US
Do you have any other tips to help people prepare for the bushfire season? Or can you add to the ones already here? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
MORE
6 Australian Bush Houses Redefine Rustic Charm
Let it Rain: 20 Questions to Ask Before Installing a Water Tank
Roots of Style: How Did Your Rural Australian Home Get Its Look?
It’s important to minimise the fuel available to any fire that may visit your home. This means constant vigilance during the bushfire season and maintaining a clear area in the immediate vicinity of your house. Consider also removing tree limbs that overhang buildings and removing lower limbs of trees to create a break between the ground and the tree canopy.
Some states have introduced new legislation that allows homeowners in certain areas greater flexibility for vegetation removal. This includes the 10/50 rule in NSW, so-called because it allows trees to be cleared within 10 metres of the house and undergrowth to be cleared within 50 metres of bushfire-prone properties without prior approval.
However, there has been some warranted concern that the law is being used for wholesale clearance of native vegetation for reasons other than bushfire, so find a balance between protection and maintaining the local flora and fauna (the reason many of us live in bush areas). If in any doubt, contact your local council.