Bushfire Protection - Be Prepared

bushfire protection

Hills Shire residents are encouraged to prepare for bushfire season and to take all necessary precautions in the event of a natural disaster.

 

How to Protect Your Home

Please consider your fire plan to keep you and your family safe. Know your risk this bushfire season and prepare well ahead.

Here are some basic maintenance tips to prepare your property (as listed on the NSW Rural Fire Service website)

  • Clean your gutters of leaves and twigs
  • Install metal gutter guards
  • Repair damaged or missing tiles on the roof
  • Install fine metal mesh screens on windows and doors
  • Fit seals around doors and windows to eliminate gaps
  • Enclose the areas under the house
  • Repair or cover gaps in external walls
  • Attach a fire sprinkler system to gutters
  • Keep lawns short and gardens well maintained
  • Cut back trees and shrubs overhanging buildings (see Council’s ‘Trees’ webpage for more information on tree management and vegetation clearing)
  • Clean up fallen leaves, twigs and debris around the property
  • Have hoses long enough to reach around your house
  • If you have a pool, tank or dam, put a Static Water Supply (SWS) sign on your property entrance, so firefighters know where they can get water
  • Check and maintain adequate levels of home and contents insurance. Ensure it is up to date.

 

The Get Ready NSW campaign is designed to help thousands of households across NSW take the guesswork out of planning for natural disasters including bushfires, storms, and floods.

Residents can also download the Get Prepared app to create a personalised emergency plan allowing you to:

  • Establish a quick and easy network of support with your three key contacts
  • Review the risks relevant to where you live
  • Create checklists of actions to make an emergency plan - save the emergency plan as a PDF to be printed and shared with others
  • Ensure your mobile phone and portable battery packs are charged and ready
  • Create a digital back up of valuable information on a USB or on the Cloud
  • Be prepared with alternative communications (such as a radio) and power options.

Download the 'Get Prepared app here.

 

For more information how to prepare your property for bushfire and grass fires and how to complete a Bushfire Survival Plan visit the NSW Rural Fire Service website.

For more information on protection during a Bushfire Emergency, please see Neighbourhood Safer Places.

 

How to Protect Your Business

Bushfire season can affect your business even if you are not in a fire zone, for example with road closures and electricity outages.

The Small Business Commissioner has prepared four Get Ready for Disaster Guides to help prepare your business.

If you can’t answer these questions, then check out the Disaster Guides for help

  • Do your staff know what to do in an emergency?
  • Would you know who to contact and where to get help and information?
  • What would happen to your data in an emergency?
  • Do you have a plan for how you would move stock and equipment?

 

Access the Get Ready for Disaster Guides Here

 

For bush fire preparedness

There is practical information and help at the NSW Rural Fire Service website. While this is targeted to residential homeowners, the planning and preparedness techniques apply to business as well in rural areas.  Details to be found here: Bush fire survival plan - NSW Rural Fire Service

 

For knowledge of local emergencies

The NSW Government has launched a new app where you can view emergency warnings and advice for fires, floods and tsunamis in NSW.  The details on this can be found here: Hazards Near Me app | NSW Government

 

Your Local RFS

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) is a highly trained group of men and women who provide assistance during many emergency situations, including bushfires.

The primary responsibility for the safety of property and lives lies with you. Visit the RFS website for more information.

 

Support from The Hills Shire Council 

Council’s Local Emergency Management Committee is responsible for the preparation of plans in relation to the prevention of, preparation for, response to, and recovery from emergencies in The Hills Shire Local Government Area.

During periods of disaster Council provides guidance and information to our community on our website, via our Emergency Management Page and social media. During the subsequent recovery Council provides support to recovery centres, coordinates social services and links residents to recovery funding grant information.

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