Both the NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW Fire and Rescue crews are encouraging everyone to prepare their homes now ahead of summer.
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"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," Eden Fire and Rescue Commander Zlatko Nemec said.
"The general advice is for people to start preparing
"Go onto the RFS or Fire and Rescue sites and there are suggestions for people to start preparing their homes just in case something does happen over this summer period.
"Unfortunately it's too late once something happens."
Crews are encouraging people to update their bushfire survival plan, but also to prepare an Emergency Survival Kit for bushfire season.
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Home owners can have any important papers packed and ready in case of a bushfire emergency, but there are also practical measures to help defend your home.
Even if your plan is to leave early, the more you prepare your home, the more likely it will survive a bush fire or ember attack.
Eden Fire and Rescue have compiled this list of safety precautions you can do now:
- Clean leaves from gutters, roofs and downpipes regularly, and fit quality metal leaf guards.
- Mow your grass regularly, both in the front and back yards.
- Install fine steel wire mesh screens on all windows, doors, vents and weepholes.
- Fit metal, not plastic fly screens on windows and doors.
- Enclose open areas under your decks and floors.
- Seal all gaps in external roof and wall cladding.
- When installing LPG cylinders around your home, make sure that pressure relief valves face outwards so that flame is not directed towards the house.
- Keep your backyard tidy, free from any build-up of flammable material.
- Relocate any flammable items away from your home including woodpiles, paper, boxes, crates, hanging baskets and garden furniture.
- Remove excess ground fuels and other combustible material.
- Do not deposit tree lopping, grass clippings and other materials that could aid a fire on your property.
- Ensure your garden hoses are long enough to reach the perimeter boundary of your property.
- Plant trees and shrubs that are less likely to ignite due to their lower oil content.
- Trim low-lying branches two metres from the ground surrounding your home.
- If you have a swimming pool, have a Static Water Supply sign placed on your front fence.
- Consider purchasing a portable pump to use from your swimming pool or water tank.
- On Total Fire Ban days obey regulations regarding barbecues and open fires.
- Ensure ALL members of the family know where the community evacuation area is.
- Make sure that if there is a fire hydrant outside your home it is easily located and not obstructed.
More information and tools to help make your bushfire survival plan are available at www.myfireplan.com.au.
