Preparing for bushfires in Australia

Bushfires are a natural part of our beautiful Australian environment and occur regularly. As we move into an El Niño summer, it’s important to understand the risk in your area. Historically, El Niño impacts northern and eastern Australia and carries higher risk of bushfire due to high temperatures and less rainfall.

At Allianz, we’ve been helping Australians prepare for and get back on their feet after adverse events for over 100 years. We offer cover for a range of insured events such as bushfires, storms, and cyclones.¹

Stay connected and alert

When extreme weather hits, your family’s safety comes first. Contact 000 or your local state emergency service in an emergency.

Follow key guidance from authorities

Listen to and follow advice from the State Emergency Services (SES) and local authorities. You can also download the Emergency+ app for updates.

Check the forecast

Look out for weather warnings from Bureau of Meteorology by visiting BoM online or download the app on your phone.

Listen to updates

If extreme weather is approaching, follow updates on ABC radio online or download the app on your phone. You can also tune into local radio stations for updates. ABC Frequency Finder can help you find the right station.

Download your local emergency app

Before an emergency is issued, make sure you have your local state or territory-based app downloaded on your phone.

"Regardless of the seasonal outlook, severe weather can occur at any time. Severe storms, bushfires and other weather events can emerge quickly and with little warning, so preparedness remains important for all Australians."

- Craig McIntosh, Meteorologist, Allianz

Preparing for a bushfire

What to do around your home

Clear leaves from gutters, roofs, and downpipes regularly, and fit quality metal leaf guards
Fit steel wire mesh screens to windows, doors, vents, and weep holes
Seal gaps in external cladding on the roof and walls
Close off open areas under decks and floors
Face the pressure relief valves of LPG cylinders installed in your home outwards
Consider keeping valuables items and documents in a fire-resistant safe or metal cabinet
Reduce clutter around the house. Minimal clutter can help a fire brigade defend your home
To assist with potential future claims, take photos of your assets
Review your home insurance sum insured and make sure you’re sufficiently covered for any bushfire-related damage

Mow your grass regularly, in both the front and back yards
Trim low-lying branches two metres from the ground surrounding your home
Tidy your back yard and move flammable material such as piles of wood, paper, boxes, crates, and garden furniture away from your home
Make sure garden hoses are long enough to reach the perimeter of your property
If you plant trees and shrubs around your home, choose those that have a lower oil content – they’re less likely to catch fire
If you have a swimming pool or water tank,
- consider using a portable pump that can be used by emergency services
- have a Static Water Supply sign placed on your front fence. Contact your local fire station for more information
Don’t deposit tree loppings, grass clippings and other materials that could aid a fire on your property, or on council reserves or bushland

What to include in your emergency action plan

What conditions or warnings are your cue to leave
What role each family member should take in an emergency
Where you and your family will go if you have to evacuate
A list of emergency contact numbers and key contacts like 000, the SES, local hospital, gas, and electricity
How you’ll contact one another if separated
What arrangements you’ll make for your pets to make sure they’re safe with food and water
How and where:
- you turn off power, gas, and water supplies
- valuables and important documents are stored
- your household emergency kit is stored
What you’ll do to reduce damage to your home or contents
- You may want to digitise and store your photos on a cloud service just in case

Emergency kit checklist

A battery-operated radio with spare batteries to stay updated on power restoration and evacuation alerts
A torch with spare batteries, candles, and waterproof matches
Three days of non-perishable foods and a can opener
10 litres of bottled water per person
A first aid kit and manual with any essential medicines
A change of warm clothes for each person and closed-in shoes
Blankets or sleeping bags
Toilet paper and essential toiletries, including sunscreen, insect repellent, and prescription medication
Special needs for infants, the aged and people with disabilities

Money
Important documents (birth and marriage certificates, driver’s licence, passports, insurance policies and photos)
Sealable waterproof bags
A mobile phone, charging cord, and a charged power bank
Extra car and house keys
A copy of your household floorplan
Pet supplies
A portable cooker (if using gas, remember to have spare canisters or bottles)
Cooking and eating utensils

Responding to a bushfire

1. What to do when a bushfire warning is issued

Follow all alerts and prepare for evacuation
Patrol the outside of your property, putting out any embers and spot fires that may start
Make sure you have ladders, shovels, and metal buckets to allow you to extinguish embers and spot fires
Bring your garden hose inside so fire won’t melt it and move any firefighting equipment to a place where it will not get burnt
Close windows, doors, and shutters
Block the downpipes on your house with a sock filled with sand or soil and fill the roof gutters with water
Block gaps beneath doors, using wet blankets or towels
Collect water in buckets or the bath
Moving your car away from fire if safe to do so
Check if elderly neighbours need assistance
Transport animals, including livestock, to a safe location

2. What to do during a bushfire

Stay calm
Report all fires by ringing 000
Avoid driving or going into the bush if there is smoke or fire in the vicinity
Use a battery-powered radio or use your phone to access the radio through downloadable apps to monitor for updates from emergency officials
Close all windows, shutters, and doors. Plug any gaps with wet towels
Wear protective clothing and drink plenty of water
Wet down timber decks and gardens close to the house if the fire is approaching
Don’t stand on your roof with your hose. In bushfires, often more people are injured by falling from roofs than suffering burns
Before you leave the premises, turn off gas and power
If you can, safely evacuate and move your car away from fire if safe to do so

3. What to do after a bushfire

Only enter your home if authorities say it is safe to do so
Stay away from fallen powerlines and debris
If you have been able to safely return to your home, ensure electricity and gas supplies are switched off before re-entering. Refer to providers for assistance if unsure
Wipe down white-goods to avoid any further smoke-damage to items.
Check for small spot fires on your premises and extinguish them if possible
If you need emergency makesafe work done, contact the SES

Need to make a claim?

Once it’s safe to do so, our expert team can assist you in making a claim online or over the phone.

Our in-house meteorologist provides our team with daily weather forecasting to help us make sure you have the support where and when you need it. From shorter call times to faster assessments, we’re on the ground with you.

Find out how the claims process works and what’s involved on your end.

Learn more

72-hour exclusion period may apply. We don’t provide cover for any loss of or damage to your property caused by cyclone, flood, flood combined with run-off and/or rainwater, grassfires and bushfires, during the first 72 hours after you first take out or increase the cover under the policy. For full details of conditions and exclusions, refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Free confidential counselling

The mental health impacts of extreme weather events can be significant. To help our affected customers and their families during these difficult times we’re offering three free, confidential counselling sessions to help you get back on your feet.

Bookings can be made 24/7 on 1800 955 599. The counselling sessions can be over the phone or face-to-face at over 400 locations across Australia. Simply confirm you are an Allianz customer, distribution partner, or family member to book a session.

Find out more

Let us help you

From managing your policy to vulnerability support services, find out how we can help you.

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*Conditions apply

72-hour exclusion period may apply
We may not provide cover for any loss of or damage to your property caused by cyclone, flood, flood water combined with run-off and/or rainwater, grassfires and bushfires during the first 72 hours after you first purchase a policy or increase your cover under an existing policy. Refer to PDS for when exclusion periods apply.

Allianz acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work across Australia. We pay our respect to First Nations Elders past and present.

Any advice here does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions apply. Before making a decision about this insurance, consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)/Policy Wording and Supplementary PDS (if applicable). Where applicable, the PDS/Policy Wording, Supplementary PDS and Target Market Determination (TMD) for this insurance are available on this website. We do not provide any form of advice if you call us to enquire about or purchase a product.

Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFS Licence No. 234708 is the insurer of any general insurance products offered, and Allianz Australia Life Insurance Limited ABN 27 076 033 782 AFS Licence No. 296559 is the insurer of any life insurance products offered. Each entity is responsible for any statements and representations made about its products, on this website.