Wait until the fire is on top of you and you may die
In case of big fires there will not be enough trucks and Fire Fighters to protect everyone so you need to learn how to look after yourself for a period of time until help arrives.
Look at your local town… How many properties? What is the population? How many ACTIVE Fire fighters – mid week, maybe 4 or 5 if you’re lucky? How many trucks – maybe 1 or 2?
What are the chances of a Big Red Fire Truck turning up at your place when the big one hits…Very slim!
Remember that all Fire Fighters in the RFS are Volunteers and may be out of town at work during the week when the big one hits so the odds drop dramatically of help arriving quickly if everyone is under threat so please prepare yourself and your property. It is your responsibility to prepare your property by removing as much fuel as possible. Fuel is anything that will burn e.g. piles leaves, branches etc.
Here are a few things you need to start now.
PREPARE : You must make important decisions before the fire season starts.
You are at risk from bush fires if you live or work near bushland, grassland, scrub, or farmland. A fire can be terrifying, with strong winds, intense heat and flames, and thick smoke. Don’t make rushed and dangerous decisions.
Prepare your Bush Fire Survival Plan.
– Relocate aged, young and sick family members early from areas likely to be impacted by fires.
– Leaving early is the safest option. Where will you go?
– Your well-prepared home will increase the safety of fire fighters and is more likely to survive even if you leave early.
– Make sure you have an Asset Protection Zone which is a cleared area around your structures, to give the Fire Fighters a safer place to fight the fire from.
– Get rid of leaves and branches, move wood piles away from the house or any other structure, prepare your emergency kits and tools you will need to fight a fire.
– In case of fire will you leave or will you stay and defend, if staying, who will stay, where will you go if you are leaving early, lots of decisions to make to keep your family safe.
Your Bush Fire Survival Plan, Fire Danger Ratings, Bush Fire Alerts and Neighbourhood Safer Places can be found at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
PREPARE, ACT, SURVIVE.
Stay safe until next time, Di Bennett OAM
Lower Hunter Zone Community Engagement Team
www.rfs.nsw.gov.au for more information
