Here is a simple task that will save you precious time in a bushfire. Make a list of trouble spots around your home These are the places that could trap combustible debris – every home has them. You will need to check them before, during and after a fire to ensure burning embers can’t get […]
Bush fires and other emergencies are testing times for everyone, but with a bit of planning and preparation you’ll have greater peace of mind now and in the event of an emergency. There are some amazing services and free resources for people with disability, the aged and their carers. Below is a quick run down and some links. First lets […]
The 2019-2020 Black Summer Bushfires burnt an unprecedented area of land in the Blue Mountains. Four major fires impacted at different times: Gospers Mountain Fire, Ruined Castle Fire, Green Wattle Fire and Erskine Ridge Fire. Despite this, large areas of unburnt bush remain, painting a green corridor from west to east, right across the Great Western Highway […]
Pets needs are often forgotten and left to the last minute because they don’t know how to remind you to plan for them too. Understand that not all emergency shelters can safely accommodate animals so it’s best to plan ahead where you could take them. Ideally, getting them to a friend or relatives’ place well […]
Emergencies come in all shapes and sizes, from the common blackout to a multi-day evacuation. Your box is your go to place for all of these. But what is an Emergency Kit? You’ve probably guessed it right – it’s a stash of things you’ll wish you had when an emergency has happened. We’ve prepared a list […]
Each member of your family should have their own personal grab bag. This bag contains your stuff. Stuff can be helpful to ease the stress of evacuation, especially for the kids. At the end of this article we’ve included a fun activity for kids and grown-ups of all ages to take part in. Involving the kids in […]
What conditions should you expect if you stay and defend your home? People who have stayed to defend their home during a bushfire describe the experience as “terrifying, hot and noisy”, “Sounds like a freight train” – It’s hard to imagine even with a video clip, just how you will feel in the moment. Recent fires […]
‘Get out and get out early’ During the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009, most people died where they thought they would be safest. Of the 173 people killed, two-thirds died in their own homes. Of those, a quarter died sheltering in the bath. The subsequent royal commission into the Black Saturday fires applied much critical […]
The usual Friday night dilemma, ‘What should I wear?’ So let’s start with dressing for safety and comfort so you will be ready to meet some of the toughest challenges you could ever be faced with. We want to give you a sense of what it might be like to defend your home. Let’s look at […]
Grab a hat, pop on the walking boots, time to check out your patch. TASK: Hazard Spotting Wearing your honorary firefighter helmet, take a walk around your local area and look upon it as a bush firefighter does. Take a pen and paper and note down what you find. We’ll refer back to it later in the […]