Keeping Your Property Bushfire Safe This Summer

As we enter another scorching summer, it's important to keep your property clear and safe from bushfire hazards. The NSW RFS is part of every rural community and work together with farmers to help make their communities safer. The NSW RFS has a strong partnership with the NSW Farmers Association to help mitigate and respond to the threat of fires.

The majority of fire-damaged properties never fully recover. With the potential for millions of dollars in loss and damage, you simply cannot afford to be without a plan. The NSW RFS collaborated with farmers to develop the Farm Fire Plan, which will assist you in managing fire risks on your property.

Getting ready for a bush fire is easier than you think. Just 5 minutes discussing what you'll do in a fire could save you, your family and your livelihood.

Four simple steps

There are four simple steps to help prepare for a potential bushfire. The RFS website has resources to help you plan each stage.

1. Prepare: Prepare your property and take action.
2. Discuss: What will you do in the event of a fire?
3. Know: Know the conditions.
4. Keep: Keep the bushfire information numbers, websites and smartphone app.

Ahead of the worst fire conditions, make sure you and your equipment are ready. Follow these simple steps to help keep each other safe:

Prepare

• Know your local brigade and how to contact them.
• Have your PPE readily available during fire risk days.
• Ensure your farm fire unit is working, safe and legal.
• Check your pumps, hoses and firefighting equipment.
• Brigades should get to know their local landholders and their firefighting capacity.

Communicate

• If a fire starts, call Emergency Triple Zero (000)
• If safe to do so, assist and keep small fires small.
• Speak to the first arriving fire crew.
• Move to a local UHF channel as agreed, keep contact.

Integrate

• Talk to Brigade Officers and share local knowledge. Collaborate on the plan.
• Inform firefighters about what's important on your property.
• Follow the plan and direction of firefighers to keep each other safe.
• Don't forget to tell someone if you leave the fireground, go home or go to get water.
• Brigades should keep FFU operators informed on operational and safety issues.
• Brigades and incident Management Teams should seek input from landholders in the fire management process.

Rural Liaison Officers

Rural Liaison Officers work on the ground with locals during major fires to communicate with local farmers and incident controllers to understand what is important to locals and achieve better outcomes for everyone. Rural Liaison Officers are usually both senior members of the NSW RFS and farmers.

For More Information

The RFS website has many more resources on how to keep you, your family and your property safe ahead of one of the worst predicted fire seasons in recorded history.

RFS Farm Safety Resources

Bushfire Survival Plan

RFS Fire Information