2024 Six Week “Get Ready” Challenge – Blue Mountains

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Email Address First Name Postcode Choose which emails you would like to receive Six Week Challenge Katoomba Leura RFS Updates Register

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It’s time to get ready for the Fire Season!

The 2024 Six Week Challenge has ended. It’s not too late to catch up! See the list of links below, and be sure to sign up for 2025.

The Six Week Challenge is getting an upgrade and will be available at any time of the year. Register now to be the first to find out about the changes.

The Six Week Challenge is a series of 6 emails over 6 weeks and is completely FREE. By spending just an hour or two each weekend you can get ready for the fire season. We’ll guide you through the things you need to do to get ready.

Catch up on the 2024 emails

Week 1 ‘Discover Your Area’ – Sent Friday 16 August

Week 2 ‘Will I stay, or will I go? Plan for both’ – Sent Friday 23 August

Week 3 ‘Emergency Kit’ – Sent Friday 30 August

Week 4 ‘Yard Blitz’ – Sent Friday 6 September

Week 5 ‘Home Evaluation’ – Sent Friday 13 September

Week 6 ‘What’s your Plan B?’ – Sent Friday 20 September

The next email will be out on Friday, so register now to get on the mailing list.

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What is the state of the Blue Mountains bush right now?

The bush has enjoyed four wet years which has resulted in above average growth in the understory, which adds more fuel for a bush fire. In the Blue Mountains the 2019-2020 bush fires left a wide green unburnt corridor across most of the Blue Mountains villages, so that fuel load remains and has been added to with the vigorous growth. See a map.

Encourage your neighbours, friends and family to participate in the Challenge, even if they are not in the Blue Mountains. Just share a link to this page where they can register and find out more. The more households who participate the safer our community will be.

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What is the Six Week Challenge and what will I be doing?

It’s the original inbox challenge. Each week for six weeks we’ll send you an email that includes fun but important tasks to help you prepare for the bush fire season. We’ll cover topics such as what to do on the day of a bush fire, how to prepare your property, what should be in your Emergency Box, tips for renters, and how to make a Plan B. The Challenge complements the NSW RFS Bushfire Survival Plan.

But is it too challenging?! Not really. We won’t ask you to open your home to show off your preparations, or raise any money, or run 50km like some other challenges do, but if you want to do any of those we’re happy to help!

Is it free? Yes!

But I’m not from the Blue Mountains. Not a problem!. The Challenge is relevant no matter where you live. If you have any questions during the Challenge about where you live get in touch with your local Rural Fire Service District or Brigade, the whole of the RFS is ready to answer your questions.

How do I participate?

1. Register using the form on this page. Be sure to check your email after to confirm your registration.
2. Tell your neighbours! A safer street means a safer you. Use the sharing buttons at the top of this page.
3. Check your email every Friday afternoon for the next email. You can always catch up on previous weeks at the top of this page.
4. Now you have all weekend, or even the whole week, to complete the easy weekly tasks. By the end you’ll be a pro and you might find yourself leaning over your fence pointing out faults in your neighbours preparations. If that happens just blame us!

During the challenge you can ask us questions via our Facebook page or our contact form.

How it started

The Six Week Challenge first ran during July and August 2015. Take a look back at the 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 Challenges.

86%

of 2015 participants
said they would
do it again!