Be ready for bush fires:
Prepare, Act, Survive

The NSW Rural Fire Service has heaps of information available online at rfs.nsw.gov.au to help you prepare your house and family for the possibility of a bush fire. The service describes the three steps necessary as Prepare, Act, Survive.

To Prepare, RFS offers a Bush Fire Survival Plan [PDF] as one of the best ways to help improve the safety of you and your family before the impact of, or during a bush fire.
Preparation is not just about cleaning up around the house and having a plan. It is also about making sure you consider your physical, mental and emotional preparedness.

Regardless of your decision to Leave Early or Stay and Defend, you still need to prepare your property against the threat of a bush fire.

In order to Act, the RFS says part of knowing what to do is knowing the Bush Fire Danger Ratings, which are usually displayed on signs at the edge of towns. The Fire Danger Ratings should be your first trigger for activating your Bush Fire Survival Plan.

During periods of increased fire danger and when there is a bush fire in your area, it’s important that you stay up to date. Information is available on the RFS info line at 1800 679 737.

To Survive, residents are asked to heed the alert levels Advice, Watch And Act and Emergency Warning. During a fire, you need to follow your Bush Fire Survival Plan. That means you should have already decided if you are going to Leave Early or Stay and Defend your home.
According to the RFS, the safest option for you and your family during a bush fire is to leave early.

During a bush fire, it’s important you have ready access to items which may save your life. Find out what you should put in your Emergency Survival Kit. The heat from a bush fire can kill you. That’s why it’s important to wear clothing that will not only protect you from the heat but also from smoke and embers.