Hi, my name is Amber, and I have worked alongside of contractors for years. I ran the sales department of a contracting firm, I bought my own house and hired multiple contractors to help with projects, and I am an amateur researcher of all things related to contracting. If you are thinking about a home or commercial repair or refurbishment, this blog is for you. It has designs, inspiration and advice that I have picked up from my close relationships with contractors over the year. I hope these posts illuminate your next project and help you decide which direction to take your home or business.
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Bushfires can be everyone's problem. It's not like a robber who can steal everything of value from a home and leave the neighbour's house untouched. If your neighbour has to deal with a bushfire, it's your problem too. Despite the fact that bushfires are a threat to many parts of Australia, many people simply aren't aware of what they need to do in the event of a bushfire. So what are some bushfire safety tips that you need to be aware of in order to keep you, your family, and your home safe?
Leave Early
Leaving the area early is about the most critical thing you can do when a bushfire is threatening your community. Your safety and that of your family is infinitely more important than your home and possessions. These things can be replaced, and you should make sure you have comprehensive home and contents insurance to replace things should the worst happen. Evacuate sooner rather than later, and if you have a four-legged member of the family, remember that some evacuation centres will not admit pets. Perhaps you should plan to evacuate to a friend or family member who lives close, but who is not affected by the fire. This will ensure that all members of your family can find safety.
Collect and Protect
Visit your local hardware shop and buy a fireproof box. This should be used to store important documents such as your mortgage, insurance details, birth certificates, passports - essentially anything that is difficult to replace. You could also keep family photos in here. It's easy to have them all collected in a protected space so you know that they will be safe if a fire strikes.
Preparing the Inside of Your Home
Before leaving your home, take down your curtains and blinds if possible. This will make it harder for fire to enter your home if the windows should break. Turn off the gas and electricity, which will make the site much safer should the fire strike. Make sure that all doors and windows are closed, and should there be a significant gap under a door, plug it with a wet towel. Whether you're going to stay with a friend or to an evacuation centre, make sure you report your new location to fire authorities.
Preparing the Outside of Your Home
While hopefully you will have already left the area before the fire strikes, you need to prepare your the outside of your home as well before you leave. Giving the fire excess fuel to burn is essentially inviting trouble. Make sure that your gutters are kept clean, as dry leaves that have collected here can be the fuel that a fire craves. It's wise to do this on a regular basis, since you don't want to be hurriedly cleaning gutters as the fire approaches. Try not to keep any piles of wood in your backyard, but if you need a supply for your own fireplace, make sure it's covered with a tarpaulin and is as far away from your home as possible. Keep your lawn short as well.
Returning Home
It's exceptionally dangerous to stay in your home and try to fight the blaze. Having said that, there might be some outdoor spot fires you'll need to extinguish at a later stage, depending on how soon you return to your home. Fire safety equipment is vital, since your local water supply might not be available. A fire extinguisher (or two) should be kept at home or in the car, and these can be used to put out any small fires that might still be burning around the outside of your home. Exercise extreme caution, and do not try to put out any large fires yourself—call the fire department and notify them.
Bushfire safety is something that concerns everyone, and it's important to make sure that you're prepared now…not before it's too late. For more information, contact Northern Fire Equipment Service.
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