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Protecting your property from bushfires

Building Advice, Design

2 minutes read

Tips to protect your home

Bushfires are a serious risk in many parts of Western Australia, particularly in the warmer months. If you are living in or near bushland, it is important to protect your property from bushfires.

Here are some tips to protect your home this summer.

Prepare a bushfire survival plan

Developing a bushfire survival plan will help you take action and avoid making last minute decisions that could prove deadly during a bushfire.

A bushfire survival plan should apply to:

Any house in an area with a history of bushfires
Houses within a few block of bushland
Properties not at direct risk that are situated near wilderness
If you’d need to travel through bushland in order to escape

It is important to check and update your plan annually. Make sure all family members are familiar with the plan in the case that a fire approaches.

Maintain a fire protection zone

Here are some practical tips to reduce the risk of your home catching alight by simply maintaining your property to create a “protection zone” around you home:

Clear away all leaf litter, long and dry grasses, and any thick undergrowth near your home
Clear gutters of leaves and other flammable debris
Install screens and shutters and keep them closed, so embers can’t enter your home
Cover roof vents with wire mesh.
Be aware of where and how flammable liquids are stored
Find a place to move your BBQ and LPG cylinders in an emergency (never indoors)
Avoid using gas in hot, windy condition

Make modifications to your home

You should prepare your home to survive a bushfire, even if your plan is to leave. A well-prepared and constructed house is more likely to survive a bushfire than an unprepared one.

Here are some tips on how to prepare your property:

Protect underfloor spaces with non-combustible sheeting or metal flywire. This will prevent embers from lading under the house and starting small spot fires
Cover all external vents with metal flywire
Protect evaporative air conditioners with metal flywire screens
Ensure any external timber cladding is regularly maintained and all gaps are sealed
Install fencing made form non-combustible materials such as metal or brick
Windows should have metal fly wire screens or shutters, and well maintained timber window frames

Click here to view a checklist to prepare your property for bushfires.