Fire Season Ready - Seven Things Every Aussie Home Needs This Summer

We can't control nature, but there are steps we can take to help protect ourselves and our homes, so the hotter months are definitely a “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst” type situation. This generally falls into two categories: being prepared to go, or being prepared to defend. With that in mind, we've put together this brief guide to getting fire season ready, which covers seven things every Aussie home needs this Summer.

The Must Haves For Getting Out Quickly

First up we have a quick overview of what you'll need if your fire plan is to escape. We've deliberately kept this section light, as we are not the experts on this. Please speak with your local fire authority for specific instructions on how to prepare for a fire in your area.

An Evacuation Plan

First and most vital - an evacuation plan is something everyone should have. You'll hopefully never need it, but it's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Make sure that everyone in your home knows the plan, with a particular emphasis on their role in it, and practice regularly to ensure everything will go smoothly.

Don't forget to also plan for how you'll take your pets with you and figure out how you'll give any stock that may be on the property the best possible chance.

A Go Bag

A situation may arise where you need to leave in a hurry and packing may not be viable. For this reason, it's a good idea to keep a go bag well stocked with all your important documents and belongings, essentials for survival and first aid supplies.

A Full Tank Of Fuel

You never know how far you may need to go to escape a fire, and stopping to get fuel may not be a possibility. Keeping your tank full, or close to it, helps ensure you can get to safety quickly.

Key Elements Of A Fire Ready Plan For Those Who Intend To Stay And Defend

Defending your home comes with risks that can never be fully eliminated – following the advice of authorities and leaving early is always the best plan you can have. Being properly prepared can reduce the risk if you’re not able to leave in time and greatly enhances your chances of being able to save your home.

Firefighting Equipment

Your local Irrigear Independent Experts stock a range of firefighting pumps and equipment that will help you ensure you're prepared to defend your home if a fire does come through. Firefighting solutions you may wish to consider include sprinklers, drip lines and hoses and the required specifications will depend on the size of your house (and the area you're wanting to protect) so it's vital that your system is properly designed. The team in store have extensive local knowledge and will be able to advise which firefighting pumps and solutions are best for your needs, so make sure you engage their expertise when choosing your setup.

Backup Generator

Mains power can disappear in an instant in an emergency situation, and you don't want to be left defenceless if this happens. For this reason, a backup generator is a vital piece of firefighting equipment for those who want to stay and defend their home. We suggest getting one large enough to power both your firefighting setup and your home, as access to resources may be restricted after a fire comes through due to road closures, stock issues and more. By keeping the power on for your fridge and freezer, you'll at least have the ability to maintain the resources you already possess.

Water Tanks

While you may be able to rely on your dams for general water storage, that's a gamble that you don't want to take when the situation you're faced with could literally be life or death. Water tanks help eliminate uncertainty in these instances as you can monitor their water levels, truck in water to top them up if needed, and generally trust them to hold the same water level over time as long as nothing is wrong with your unit. If their sole purpose is fire protection, water tanks should be positioned strategically to enable you to access fluid quickly and easily wherever needed. This is obviously a little tougher to ensure if you also rely on your tanks for general water use, so be sure to check whether you'll need any additional water storage to help your firefighting setup perform when needed.

A Well Practised Plan

Having all the gear in the world isn't going to help if you don't know how to use it properly and do not have a well practised plan for how to defend your home in the event a fire does come through. For this reason, we suggest completing as many practice runs as you feel necessary to ensure you're comfortable with, and efficient at, what needs doing. You should also be checking your firefighting pumps and equipment regularly to ensure they're still in good condition and functioning correctly.

Your local Irrigear Independent Experts are water management specialists who will be able to provide advice regarding which products will be best to help you be fire season ready. This article is designed as general information only, and all fire preparedness plans should be designed in accordance with recommendations from the relevant fire authorities in your area.