Bushfires pose a serious threat to many rural and even urban properties, especially in increasingly hot, dry conditions. Take preventative steps now to prepare against the threat of bushfire, to give you, your home and your family the best possible protection.
Here are our top tips for getting your backyard bushfire ready:
- All tree branches located close to your house that are low-hanging will need to be trimmed as they can spread fire to the house and can also become a hazard if they fall. To avoid damage to yourself, your home and property, have a professional Arborist carry this out where
- Maintain shrubs by regularly trimming, especially if they are located near to your house. Consider removing or relocating very dense shrubs that are very close to your home as they can easily catch alight and spread fire quickly, and cause windows to crack, allowing embers to get into the
- Keep the area immediately surrounding your house clear and tidy, and free of all flammable objects. Timber garden furniture, planter boxes, paper and hanging baskets can all act as fuel and burn very
- Keep your grass short and well-maintained, as fire can travel very quickly through long grass. Regularly mow, rake and weed to remove debris that could spread
- Keep any wood piles as far away from your house as possible and don’t have tree debris, grass clippings or other green waste material lying around which could fuel a fire.
- Regularly clear out your gutters, drains and downpipes of all leaves and debris. Dry, dead twigs and leaves can very easily catch fire and are an extremely common way for a fire to spread. Fitting quality metal leaf guards is
- Store all of your flammable liquids as far away as possible from your home, preferably in fire-proof storage
- Use rocks and stones to mulch gardens close to your house as they won’t act as fuel in the event of a
- If you live in an area that is at high risk, such as near to bushland, grassland or parks, try and plant trees and shrubs that have a lower oil content, making them less likely to ignite in a fire. You may also consider installing a fence made from non- combustible
- Make sure your garden hoses are long enough to reach the perimeter boundary of your entire
- If you live on acreage or near to bushland, check your fire break is clear and of ample size. Ask your local fire station for advice if you’re unsure if your fire break is adequate.
- Be mindful of fire ban warnings and obey all instructions at all times. Being informed of any threat is vitally
- Prepare an emergency plan. In the event of a fire, it’s critical that all members of the family know what to do and where to
Give your home the best chance of survival this bushfire season by carrying out these simple steps.