Bushfires are a natural part of the Australian environment and occur regularly, but many Australians fail to prepare for them.
While there are elements of a bushfire that you can't control – like the weather – planning and preparing your home for a bushfire can dramatically increase the chances of your family and your home surviving.
If you live in a bushfire prone area, it is important to reduce the risk to your family and your home, and take action to survive a bushfire.
A well-prepared home is more likely to survive a bushfire. There are some simple steps that you can take to prepare your family and your home for a bushfire:
Download the NSW Rural Fire Service checklist (PDF, 596KB) and have aFire plan in place.
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.
A bushfire can be a terrifying situation. Strong gusty winds, along with intense heat and flames can tire you out quickly. Thick, heavy smoke will make it difficult to see and breathe. The sound of an intense fire approaching can be overwhelming. Power and water may be cut off. You may be isolated. It will be dark, noisy and physically and mentally demanding.
If you have any doubts about your ability to cope, you should plan to leave early. In the event of bushfire threatening your home, Fire and Rescue NSW recommends you take the following steps:
For more information, contact your local fire station or fire control centre, or visit the Fire and Rescue NSW website. In an emergency call 000.
To ensure that your most valuable asset is covered, get a Home Insurance quote today from Allianz. Please note that for Home and Contents Insurance policies, a 72-hour exclusion period may apply for cyclone, flood, bushfires and grassfires. For full details on what is and is not covered, check your Product Disclosure Statement, Policy Schedule, or Certificate of Insurance.
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