Prepare Yourself and Family

Are You Ready? 

Prepare Yourself and Your Family

Have a plan: Make sure everyone in your household knows what the plan is and each person's responsibilities. Stay alert forhigh risk days.

All residents living in semi rural zones, or who feel their property might be at risk from a bushfire, should prepare a bush fire plan. The CFA's Web site - www.cfa.vic.gov.au - has all the information required to assist you.

Prepare Your Property

  • Prepare your property even if you plan to leave early on days of dangerous fire conditions. 
  • Clearing up and planning ahead will help protect your home from fire. 
  • Keep grass under 10cm high and shrubs short, trim any over-hanging branches near your roof and keep gutters clear of leaves.
  • The CFA has a Household Bushfire Self-Assessment Tool to help you identify the amount of cleared space your property requires for better protection during a fire. It is available at cfa.vic.gov.au or call 1800 240 667 for a FireReady kit. 
  • 10/30 right - check with your local council whether the 10/30 right applies to your municipality. This allows you to clear vegetation from around your property without a permit, including trees within 10m of your house and ground fuel within 30m of your house.

For more information on protecting your property please visit the CFA Web site Preparing Your Propertyor contact the Council's Fire Prevention Officer on 1300 322 322.

Bushfire Survival Plan

  • Being prepared and having a Bushfire Survival Plan will improve your chances of survival during a fire 
  • You need a Bushfire Survival Plan if you live, visit or holiday in high-risk bushfire areas
  • Consider relocating children, the elderly, people with illness or disability, pets and livestock before fire threatens your area 
  • Fires are erratic and can occur at unexpected times so it's important to plan for different scenarios, such as on a work day, during school holidays or at a social function 
  • Plan with your neighbours and family, talk to your local brigade, attend a CFA FireReady meeting or join a Community Fireguard group for more information 
  • Find out your community's Township Protection Plan if you live in one of the 52 areas most at risk in Victoria. They contain important fire and emergency information and help residents identify and reduce their risks 
  • Visit the FireReady Kit  page to help you prepare a Bushfire Survival Plan

Back-Up Plan

  • Identify well-prepared houses or buildings in your area to shelter from radiant heat if you are unable to leave the area safely. This can be an extremely dangerous situation 
  • Neighbourhood Safer Places could be community buildings or sporting grounds that may provide some shelter as a last resort. Safety and survival can't be guaranteed and support or services may not be provided
  • They may provide some protection from direct flame and radiant heat but could be vulnerable to ember attack

Smoke Alarms

As of February 1999, self contained smoke alarms that comply with Australian Standard 3786-1993 are required to be installed in all dwellings or sole occupancy units (flats, townhouses, units) in an appropriate location on or near the ceiling of every storey.

Statistics show that the installation of smoke alarms save lives.
For more detailed smoke alarm information please read the CSIRO fact sheet

For more information about fire safety, contact the Fire Safety Officer on 1300 322 322 or e-mail damien.taylor@frankston.vic.gov.au or see more information below.

  • In an emergency and to report a new fire Dial '000'
  • Bushfire Information Line: Call 1800 240 667 (TTY 1800 122 969)
  • For Fire Updates: Listen to ABC Local Radio 774 AM (The emergency services broadcaster) or visit the Fire Updates Web site
  • For Fire Information: Vist Getting Fireready Web site
  • Current Fire Incidents Information CFA Fires: Fires on private land in the Frankston municipality and rural/regional Victoria visit the Incident Summary page of the CFA Web site
  • DSE Fires: Fires on public managed land such as National/State Parks and some natural reserves visit the The Department of Sustainability and Environment Web site
  • Today's Fire Restrictions Information vist the Fire Ban page of the CFA Web site
  • Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund Donate to the Red Cross: Visit the Red Cross Web site

Some of the information is also available to be mailed out on request.

Reducing fuel loads

Fine fuels (those less than a finger's width) contribute most to the heat and speed of a fire and include dry grass, leaves, twigs and loose bark but does not include larger logs or branches.

Minimising fine fuels reduces the heat of a fire and its ability to spread across the ground and up into the tree-tops. Reducing fine fuels can also create a space in which to defend your home from embers.

Weeds often contribute to high fuel loads. Give priority to removing these.

Fine fuels may be reduced around the house by mowing, raking or slashing. Reduce accumulated debris such as loose flaky bark, dead branches, leaves or pine needles from within the branches of shrubs around your house. Be mindful not to damage the tree under the bark.

Keeping plants moist reduces the chance of them burning. Plants can be kept moist using mulch, pebbles or rocks. If using mulch, keep it wetted down or covered with soil or sand during the fire season. Contain your mulch to small areas, concentrating on individual plants and their roots.

Vacant and Bush Blocks

Vacant and bush blocks must also be maintained:

  • Cut grass (no higher than 75mm)
  • Remove any rubbish
  • Remove noxious weeds
  • Ensure there is a clear fence line
Page updated Wednesday, 11 January 2012   Was this information useful?