From Guest Blogger Jayde Ferguson: With Climate Change Comes Bushfires–Five Practical Steps for Preparing Your Home
Fire season is a serious time – especially for those living in Australia. The 2015-2016 bushfire season was one of the most destructive Aussies have experienced; and without adequate planning and attention to detail, it’s all too easy to become a victim of the heat. 2017 has already shaped up to be a tough year for firefighters and the hot dry days are far from being over. And with fire seasons only getting longer thanks to the drastic climate change, we need to do everything we can to prepare our homes, families and loved ones.
Keeping your finger on the pulse when it comes to fire danger ratings is the first step to getting prepared. Each state issues its own warnings and bushfire planning advice based on the national policy to “prepare, act and survive”. In addition to this, here’s a few practical steps you can start doing today to prepare your home for the bushfire season.
1. Establish an Appropriate Firebreak
Creating a firebreak around your home is imperative to establishing a defensible space. Properties should have at least a 20 metre ‘circle of safety’ around that’s clear of debris, long grass, rubbish and other flammable or combustible materials. To create a firebreak, start by trimming trees and clearing vegetation around the home. Well maintained gardens don’t just look good, but they act as one of the best defences for possible bushfires. Branches lower than 2 meters off the ground should also be trimmed back to prevent spreading of ground fires.
Remove any wood piles close to the house, keep grass short and rake up leaves. Avoid storing any recycling like newspapers and cardboard by the property and keep flammable liquids and paints in an external shed away from the house. If you have a pool, keep it filled during the bushfire season as this can be an essential water source to defend your home. Ensure there’s a long enough garden hose by the property too.
2. Utilise Water Pumps or Portable Generators
Rural locations across Australia in particular should always have access to the right equipment to actively defend if the house is threatened by a fire. Water pumps and portable diesel generators can be a man’s best friend when it comes to bushfire season. You can purchase a portable pump to use water from your swimming pool or water tank to help defend and cool your home. This should be an essential consideration for fire-prone locations. A sufficient and independent water supply and a petrol or diesel generator can make a massive impact in protecting your property.
Bushfires are notorious for cutting of water and power supplies too, so having access to a reliable water pump and portable generator can keep the essentials running. If this happens, a generator will need to be used to power a water pump and other critical appliances. A good quality torch, portable battery operated radio and a fire-fighting water pump are also ideal for high-risk homes.
3. Replace Damaged Roofing
If your roof looks like it’s seen better days, then it’s time to get it sorted before it becomes a hazard with bushfires. Maintain your roof and your walls by replacing any damaged tiles and double checking everything is in good condition. Gaps in your external walls should be sealed a
nd all gutters and downpipes free of leaves and other debris. Creating a firebreak will help to protect your home from a distance, but it’s not uncommon for sparks from a fire in the distance to blow into the roof’s debris and catch alight.
4. Check Insurance Details are up to Date
One of the easiest steps you can take to protect your home is to make sure it’s insured. You should review your house and contents insurance on a yearly basis to ensure you’re being covered for the right things. Check what’s included in your policy, what assets are covered and whether there’s any exclusions in the event of a bushfire as this may have changed since last time.
5. Prep the Inside of Your Home
Bushfire prevention isn’t just outside the property; you want to ensure you’ve protected the inside of your home too. Invest in a smoke alarm for inside the home – these don’t have to cost a fortune and can make all the difference between protecting your house and loved ones. It may be worth having a small fire hydrant at home if you’re worried about the bushfire season. If you do have one, make sure it’s easily accessible with no obstructions blocking its access.
If your property is fitted with deadlocks, ensure everyone in the house has access to the keys. Ideally you want the key to remain on locked doors inside the home so you’re not fumbling around in the event of an emergency. Many bushfire fatalities have occurred by homeowners deadlocking themselves in the home and being unable to get out.
Aussies know the bushfire season all too well. But despite it being something we need to tackle every year, it’s surprising how many homeowners are still unprepared. Don’t let your home become another statistic. Start planning now to protect your home and family.
Author Bio
This article is written by Jayde Ferguson, who writes for Able Sales – Australia wide supplier of quality new and used diesel generators in Perth and Brisbane suitable for defending your home against bushfires and staying connected to the essentials in the event of an emergency. You can catch her on Google+.
