Fire Saftey

Image sourced from https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/

Bushfire Safety – Keeping Family and Friends Safe

Fires can start quickly, threatening homes and lives within minutes. Don’t wait for a warning to follow your bushfire survival plan. Your safest option is always to leave early.

If it’s too late to leave, you may need to seek shelter as the fire front approaches. Trying to leave once it’s too late can be deadly. Fire agencies say the main priority is sheltering from radiant heat.

  • Seek shelter in a well-prepared home that can be actively defended, a private bunker built to regulation or at a community shelter or refuge.
  • Make sure you have protective clothing on and have your survival kit with you.
  • Shelter in a room on the side of the house opposite to the approaching fire. Make sure you can see what’s happening outside.
  • Make sure you have a clear exit which allows you to escape the building if it catches fire.
  • Never shelter from a bushfire in a bathroom.
  • If your house is on fire, move outside to burnt ground, where the fire has already passed.
  • Be aware of how conditions can change quickly.
  • Try to put a solid object, like a concrete wall or building, between you and the radiant heat from the fire.
  • Only shelter in a vehicle or fire bunkers as a last resort.

Leaving once a bushfire is near your home is extremely dangerous, but if you have no other option you can go to your local place of last resort — a ploughed paddock or the beach, dam or river — but DON’T shelter in water tanks.

You should plan to leave early to avoid this situation.

*Information sourced from – https://www.abc.net.au/emergency/what-to-do-if-there-is-a-bushfire-in-your-area/102236834

Below is key information, links and contact numbers for you.

Importantly, after a fire, DO NOT touch any wiring or cables. Do not go near any surfaced water as it may be electrified.  If in doubt, stay away and call a licenced electrician or your local SES to further assistance or help.

What to do after a bushfire

  • Contact a qualified electrician to check for damage prior to restoring the electricity
  • Ensure any appliances are clear of any electrical faults to avoid any further loss or damage. A damaged appliance can give an electric shock or spark a fire so make sure all electrical appliances are declared 100 percent safe before they are plugged back in. These kinds of checks should be routine during recovery
  • A Master Electrician will be able to accurately assess any electrical risks in your home, including testing household appliances for electrical faults or water damage
  • Take care for fallen or damaged power lines. Fallen power lines are very dangerous and can be especially hard to see at night and when hidden in trees or other debris
  • Always assume fallen power lines are ‘live’, keep away and warn others to do the same. Report fallen power lines and trees or branches in contact with power lines to your electricity provider.

Consumer guides

New South Wales – Consumer advice and electrical safety for fire affected properties

Victoria – Consumer advice and electrical safety for fire affected properties

Victorian Residents

If you are located in Victoria, Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) has important information about reporting power outages and faults and the the safe use of electrical and gas appliances following bushfires.

The full guidance is available here and provides information and directions for:

  • Safely turning your power back on
  • Solar panel installations – safety and testing
  • Generator usage and connection
  • Safety around LPG – before evacuation and post-return
  • Natural gas supply.

Recent bushfire conditions have resulted in very poor air quality across Australia. The following is a list of recommendations for affected communities across the country.

Protecting your health

  • The community is advised to remain indoors and close all windows and doors and operate air-conditioners if available.
  • All air conditioners should be switched to ‘recycle’ or ‘recirculate’ mode.
  • If you do not have an air conditioner, take steps to reduce heat stress, especially for the very young, people who are unwell, or the elderly.
  • People with pre-existing lung or heart conditions should rest as much as possible and keep away from the smoke.
  • People with asthma should follow their personal asthma plan.
  • Anyone with a heart or lung condition should follow the treatment plan advised by their doctor and keep at least five days’ supply of medication on hand.
  • Avoid physical activity outdoors this includes outdoor workplace activities (exertion allows more fine particles to be breathed deeper into the lungs).
  • Schools and childcare centres should cease outdoor activities and children should stay indoors in areas with air-conditioning and/or ceiling fans.
  • It is recommended that organisers of outdoor events should consider postponing the event until air quality improves.
  • Assist your vulnerable family members, neighbours and friends. It is important to identify locations that have cleaner, filtered air-conditioned spaces (e.g. shopping centres, community centres, libraries etc).
  • If there is a break in smoky conditions, take the opportunity to air out your home to improve indoor air quality.
  • When indoors, minimise other sources of air pollution, such as cigarette smoke, burning candles, using unflued gas appliances including gas stoves, or stirring up fine dust from sweeping or vacuuming.
  • It is important to also stay hydrated by drinking water.
  • Stay up to date with local news reports.

Source: Queensland Health

More information

Contact your doctor, hospital or health clinic
All States: Call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
Visit healthdirect for a list of additional resources.

000
Dial Triple Zero (000) for Police, Fire and Ambulance in an emergency.

State Emergency Service
Dial 132 500 for help with a damaged roof, rising flood water, trees fallen on buildings, or storm damage.

Non-urgent medical help
Dial 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)

Weather warnings
Bureau of Meteorology

DisasterAssist
Provides information on Australian Government assistance packages following a disaster. Includes up to date public information messages, relevant free call numbers and links to other related websites and information.
DisasterAssist

Radio and social media
Tune in to your local ABC radio station to stay informed during severe weather events and natural disasters.

Contact Master Electricians Australia for more information
Call 1300 889 198 or to book a Master Electrician to assist you, visit our Master Electricians Online Booking Service

Coping without electricity

Interruptions to your electricity supply can seriously hamper your lifestyle. You will need to think of some alternative ways to look after yourself safely during electricity supply disruption in your area. The following are suggestions you may find useful, alternatively you may consider going to stay with family or friends until the power has been restored.

Preparing food

  • Never use a barbeque inside a home, tent or caravan
  • Observe fire ban rules implemented by your local fire service and avoid cooking outside
  • Use foods that don’t require cooking, such as vegetables, tinned meats, bread and breakfast cereals.

Washing safely

  • Take special care when heating water in an unfamiliar way. Add some cool water to prevent burns
  • If you need to carry containers of hot or boiling water, don’t overfill them and make sure you insulate the handles to prevent scalds from steam. Keep children away when carrying boiling water
  • Before bathing, check the temperature of the water. Don’t attempt to top up with hot or boiling water when someone is already sitting in the bath.

Lighting

  • Torches are much safer sources of light than candles. Make sure you have a good stock of batteries

Helping your neighbours

Check on your neighbours to see if they need assistance, particularly if they are:

  • Older people living at home by themselves
  • People with physical or sensory disabilities
  • People with a chronic illness
  • Single parents with young children.

General suggestions

  • Switch off all electrical appliances, especially those that have heating elements
  • Unplug ‘surge-sensitive’ equipment, such as computers
  • Keep one light switch turned on so you know when the power returns
  • Turn on a battery operated radio and listen to a local radio station for information.

Contacting an electrician

Master Electricians are all experienced electrical contractors who complete a stringent, annual safety and quality audit, adhere to a code of practice, and offer customers a 12‐month guarantee on their work.

Book your local Master Electrician online or call 1300 889 198.

Source: SES NSW

Dial Triple Zero (000) for Police, Fire and Ambulance in an emergency. Keep the contact information of your local electrician handy in case you need to contact them urgently. If you need to report faulty or unsafe electrical work, contact the number listed below in your state.

ACT
Planning and Land Authority
02 6207 1923

NSW
Office of Fair Trading
13 32 20

NT
Department of Justice: Consumer Affairs
1800 019 319

QLD
Electrical Safety Office
1300 650 662

SA
Office of Consumer and Business Affairs Product Safety/Trade Standards
08 8152 0732

TAS
Department of Justice: Workplace Standards
03 6233 7657

VIC
Energy Safe Victoria
03 9203 9700

WA
Department of Employee and Consumer Protection
1300 30 40 54

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Published On: January 2, 2025-Categories: Uncategorized-0 Comments on Bushfire Safety – What To Do?-