How to be prepared this bushfire season

Tasmania Fire Service Acting Chief Officer, Jeremy Smith, is calling on Tasmanians to have a plan and know their options as bushfire season approaches.

“Our bushfire awareness campaign encourages people to ‘protect what they value’ by taking action now and making a plan,” he says. “Tasmania is one of the most bushfire-prone places in the world, and we want to make sure people are informed, prepared and ready for bushfire.

All Tasmanians, regardless of where they live, are urged to visit the TFS website and complete a bushfire plan.

“Your plan will help you know what you need to do right now to prepare, and what actions you will take when bushfire risk increases; what to do, and when to leave early,” he says. “For most people, our loved ones, pets and properties are what we value most.

“For our agricultural sector, machinery, equipment, crops and livestock are also critically important, and having a bushfire plan is an important step to keeping these things safe.”

Preparation matters

No matter where you live, now is the time for everyone to prepare their properties by cleaning out gutters and clearing away potential bushfire fuels, such as long grass and leaves, from around your home.

“People within the agricultural and primary production sectors are urged to plan for the protection of themselves and their assets by creating fire breaks, undertaking fuel reduction and having farm firefighting units on site,” says Smith.

“Having an emergency kit ready with things like a torch, first aid kit, batteries, radio and phone charger is also helpful if you need to leave quickly,” he continues. “Don’t wait until it is too late. Stay informed and know the bushfire warning and alert levels – and the fire danger rating for your area.”