General News
28 January, 2025
Reminder to make your home bush fire ready
The RFS recommends its top five steps that every home owner in a bush fire risk area should undertake.
As we approach the middle of summer, the NSW RFS has issued a reminder that it is never too late or too soon to reduce the risk of bush fire damage to your property.
The RFS recommends its top five steps that every home owner in a bush fire risk area should undertake:
1. Clear and remove all the debris and leaves from the gutters surrounding your home (burning embers can set your residence on fire).
2. Mow grass and remove the cuttings. Having a cleared area around your home will give firefighters a safe area to work.
3. Remove material that can burn from around your home. This includes items such as door mats, wood piles, mulch, leaves and outdoor furniture.
4. Trim overhanging trees and shrubs. This can stop a fire spreading to your home.
5. Prepare sturdy hoses that can reach all around your home. Make sure you have a reliable source of water (pool, tank, dam) and a diesel/petrol pump.
RFS North West zone inspector Boyd Townsend said that with the summer months bringing an increase in grassland curing, heightening the likelihood of bush and grass fire ignition, landowners should also be giving attention to fire breaks. “Being a proactive landowner in-creases your chances of protecting your property from fire,” he said. “Maintaining fire breaks around buildings, crops, pasture, storage areas, and along fence lines, can help to prevent fire escaping from, or entering, your property.”
