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Fire authorities have urged residents of NSW to prepare for a bad bushfire season, particularly as the onset of an El Ni\u00f1o promises higher heat and drier conditions during spring and summer that could exacerbate dangerous fire weather.<\/p>\n
The NSW Rural Fire Service recommends these steps to help protect lives and homes this fire season.<\/p>\n
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The 2019-20 bushfires killed 26 people, destroyed 2476 homes and burnt 5.5 million hectares of the state.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Nick Moir<\/cite><\/p>\n People living in homes surrounded by bushland or adjacent to grassland and paddocks are at risk of bushfire, even if you live a few streets back from scrub or grassland.<\/p>\n There\u2019s an increased risk of grass fires this summer after growth spurred by three years of La Ni\u00f1a rain begins to dry out. Grassland covers 80 per cent of the state, according to the RFS.<\/p>\n Grass fires are unpredictable and move triple the speed of bushfires. They generate deadly heat and can catch people off guard due to their speed.<\/p>\n Grassfires are fast, hot and unpredictable.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AP<\/cite><\/p>\n People living on the coast are also at risk from coastal heath and scrub, which can burn quickly.<\/p>\n You can check if you\u2019re in a bushfire prone area by entering your address in this RFS tool, or find a Bush Fire Prone Land Map on your local council\u2019s website.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need to live close to vegetation to be affected by bushfire. Wind can pick up burning leaves, fine bark and twigs and propel embers up to 30 kilometres ahead of a fire front.<\/p>\n The vast majority of houses destroyed during bushfires ignite from these ember attacks.<\/p>\n If you live in an area close to bush or grassland, you should prepare a bushfire survival plan.<\/p>\n You should discuss with your household whether you\u2019ll leave early or decide to stay when a bushfire approaches your home.<\/p>\n If you decide you\u2019ll leave early, which the RFS says is the safest option, know when you\u2019ll decide to leave, where you\u2019ll go, how you\u2019ll get there, what you\u2019ll take and who you\u2019ll notify that you\u2019re leaving and have arrived safely.<\/p>\n The ‘Elvis’ water-bombing helicopter dumps water on fires near Braemar during the 2019-20 bushfire season.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Nick Moir<\/cite><\/p>\n It\u2019s not safe to stay if the fire danger is catastrophic. If the fire rating is extreme, it\u2019s not safe to stay unless your house is designed to withstand bushfires.<\/p>\n If you decide to stay, consider whether anyone in the house will be at risk under hot and smoky conditions, ensure your house is prepared, and you have all the equipment necessary to stay safe.<\/p>\n The RFS recommends:<\/p>\n Ahead of bushfire season you should clear your gutters, keep lawns short and clear up fallen leaves, twigs and debris around the property. Check the full list of what you should do to prepare your property and use the bushfire household assessment tool on the RFS website for more information.<\/p>\n If there\u2019s a risk of a bushfire approaching your home, before the fire arrives you should:<\/p>\n If the fire is upon you or the heat becomes unbearable, the RFS says to shelter inside until the fire front has passed, which usually takes between 5 and 10 minutes. Shelter in a room farthest from the fire front and ensure there\u2019s an exit.<\/p>\n Patrol the inside of the house to douse spot fires and embers.<\/p>\n After the fire front passes, check your home and surrounds for spot fires, including the roof cavity, under the house, decks, stairs and windowsills. Continue patrolling for several hours. When safe to do so, check on neighbours and let relatives or friends know you\u2019re safe.<\/p>\n The RFS\u2019s full guide to creating a Bushfire Survival Plan is available here.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. <\/i><\/b><\/p>\nKnow your risk<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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How to prepare for a bushfire<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Four steps to prepare a Bushfire Survival Plan<\/h3>\n
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Top five actions to make your home safer ahead of time<\/h3>\n
What to do during a bushfire<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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