Summer brings with it the threat of bushfires. The better and earlier you can prepare a property for bushfires, the higher the chance it stands of resisting and surviving. To improve your odds, here are seven precautionary measures you can take: 1 Keep your garden tidy Mow the grass regularly and don’t forget to remove the cuttings. Clean up fallen leaves and branches, and trim overhanging trees and shrubs. Clear the area around your home and remove any material that can burn, such as mulch, a woodpile or rubbish. 2 Clear your gutters of leaves and branches Leaves and twigs are highly flammable. If your gutters are clean, then the risk of ignition during a bushfire will be considerably diminished. Check and remove all debris from your gutters regularly. If you can, install fire-resistant gutter guards. 3 Seal your house against embers Most homes ignite when sparks or burning embers blow under tiles and start fires in roofing timbers or accumulated litter. Look for and fix or replace any missing or faulty tiles. Seal all gaps, cracks and holes in your roof and walls. Compressed mineral wool insulation is cheap and effective for this. 4 Check and update your smoke alarms The legislation on smoke alarms varies from one state to another, so check what applies to you. No matter the rules, play it safe and equip your home with plenty of smoke alarms as they could save the lives of you and your family. Check them once a month and replace the batteries every year. 7 THINGS TO PREP YOUR HOME FOR BUSHFIRE SEASON 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 5 Prepare yourself with a bushfire plan Before it comes to the worst and panic sets in, make sure that you know how to act in case of an emergency. A survival bushfire plan details every step to take. Try to think about all the choices you would need to make in the event of a bushfire, and decide what the plan is for each situation you would face. 6 Understand bushfire danger ratings and stay alert It is essential that you know and understand bushfire danger ratings. Monitor the conditions in your area, stay alert and be ready to leave if required. You can download apps such as “Fires Near Me” and set up watch zones, listen to the radio, or simply watch the news. 7 Check your home and contents insurance Even if it’s not mandatory, take out a policy that will protect you in case of bushfires. If worst comes to worst, you might need to provide supporting documents when submitting a claim. Take photos of your house and belongings, and scan all your house-related invoices or paperwork. Save everything in the cloud and keep the originals in a safe place, easy to access in case of fire.
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