Summer Fire Safety
Are You Prepared?
Your guide to preparing your property for the summer fire season
Introduction
The Metropolitan Fire & Emergency Services Board (MFESB) has the responsibility of protecting the community, buildings and the environment from fires and other emergencies in the Metropolitan Fire District. The MFD covers 1,096 square kilometres from Deer Park to Croydon and Somerton to Mentone.
Each summer Victorians are confronted with the dangers of bushfires. Fire is a normal part of Australia’s natural environment, and is a common occurrence during drier periods of the year. Bushfires can cause death and injury to people and animals, and damage to property, the natural environment and other community assets. This year the predictions are that Victoria is going to experience another extreme fire season.
As such MFB is forewarning Melburnians to start preparing their property to prevent or minimise the impact from fire this summer.
Fire service resources
In an emergency
Stay and Defend or Go Early
How to prepare your property
Type and Read, Type and Listen, Speak and Read
Personal protection
Maintaining external areas of Commercial Buildings
Total Fire Ban Days
Further Information
Fire service resources
In the MFD the response time to all areas by the MFB is around 7.7 minutes or less in 90% of emergencies. However, on days of extreme fire danger even these resources can be delayed for a variety of reasons. You should be aware of this and plan to prepare and defend your property and must be prepared to be self sufficient.
The information in this package has been prepared by MFB to specifically assist householders and commercial property owners and occupiers who have properties that are next to bush or grassland; as these properties are more at risk of fire from radiant heat or ember attack.
Living next to bush or grassland
In an emergency
Call 000 immediately and give all relevant details as requested.
The Bushfire / grass fire experience
Most people in the urban environment have never experienced a bushfire.
Most bush / grass fires that threaten homes / properties burn on hot dry days with strong gusty winds.
Hot dry days with strong gusty winds
If a bush/grass fire is burning towards you on a day like this, it will become increasingly windy, smoky and difficult to see, your vision and breathing will be temporarily affected by the smoke. As the fire gets closer it may become darker due to heavy smoke blocking out the sun. Burning embers from the fire will begin to land around or on your property, these can be easily extinguished.
As the fire nears your property the radiant heat from the flames will become unbearable, at this point you should take shelter inside your home/workplace, till the fire front passes. After it has passed this is the critical point at which you should extinguish any small fires around your home/workplace that have started from the embers or the radiant heat.
Continue to monitor your home/ workplace for fire several hours after the fire has passed; ensure you look inside the roof space, in roof gutters, around eaves and at ground level, near timber decking and any exposed timber. The fire front can take from 5 to 15 minutes to pass.
Be aware the electrical supply to your property may be cut off due to power lines being brought down by the fire or falling trees. Water supplies may also be limited or interrupted due to fire fighting operations in your area.
Stay and Defend or Go Early
Residents should decide well in advance (several hours) of a bush/grass fire whether they will stay and defend their homes or work places or leave them.
Key factors to consider include:
1. Whether the property is suitably constructed, maintained and prepared to withstand the expected intensity of the fire
2. If the property catches fire and cannot be readily extinguished
3. and the physical, mental and emotional fitness of the residents.
It is critical that if the residents have planned to leave, they must leave the property well in advance of the fire front. You should not leave at the last minute this will place you in grave danger. Smoke, noise, heat, flames, fire fighting vehicles and panic all make fleeing in a vehicle or on foot dangerous for you your family or staff.
Leave well in advance of the fire front
The bush/grass fire experience;
Most people in the urban environment have never experienced a bushfire. Most bush/grass fires that threaten homes/properties burn on hot dry days with strong gusty winds. If a bush/grass fire is burning towards you on a day like this, it will become increasingly windy, smoky and difficult to see, your eyes and breathing will be tempo
It is much safer for people to remain in buildings than flee in the face of an approaching fire.
Furthermore mass evacuations of suburbs or communities require significant lead time, which is often unavailable in the urban bush/grass fire environment.
How to prepare your property
If you live/work in or near the bush, you should make a plan to prepare your home/workplace and set out your actions prior to the onset of the fire season. This information booklet and advice from your local fire station will assist you in the preparation of your plan. You can seek assistance from your local MFB fire firefighters by phoning 96622311 and giving your address, which will be relayed to the local fire station.
If you fail to effectively prepare your home or workplace, there is a high probability that it will be damaged or lost in the fire.
Unprepared property may result in damage or total loss
Leave well in advance of the fire front
Appropriately prepared homes/workplaces provide a safe refuge that allows you to shelter from radiant heat and burning embers.
Firefighters may also concentrate their efforts on effectively prepared properties that can be protected with minimum resources and without putting fire-fighters lives more at risk.
The most important aspect of preparation is the creation and maintenance of a safe clear space between your home/workplace and surrounding vegetation and flammable materials to reduce the fire’s intensity.
Even if you choose to leave your property this space helps fire-fighters to protect your home/workplace in your absence.
Clear space between your home and surrounding vegetation
Here are some recommended helpful hints on how to prepare your property:
Remove any flammable materials around and under your home/workplace; wood piles, pallets, rubbish, doormats, furniture and papers.
Remove and store any fuel supplies and chemicals away from the building
Remove any leaves from the roof gutters, block downpipes with a sock full of sand/soil and fill gutters with water
Isolate the gas supply to your home/workplace, or relocate any portable gas cylinders to the side of the building that is furthest away from the likely direction of the fire, ensure the relief valve is facing away from the building.
Remove leaves from gutters then block and fill with water
- Place a ladder inside the home to access the roof space, have another ladder available outside to extinguish any spot fires on the roof after the fire has passed.
DO NOT stand on the roof fighting the fire. You are at risk from radiant heat and falling
Fill the bath, wheelie bins, buckets and other containers with water as a reserve if the water supply is damaged or diminished by firefighting operations.
If your workplace has hose reels installed these are ideal for extinguishing spot fires, these can be laid out ready for use.
Pay particular attention to roof mounted evaporative air- conditioning systems, the filters and plastic body are prone to catching fire from ember attack.
Callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/ communication impairment may call the VBIL through the National Relay Service by dialling the numbers below and then asking for 1800 240 667.
Type and Read, Type and Listen, Speak and Read
Ph 133 677 for local, interstate Ph 1800 555 677 for 1800 toll-free calls within Australia Speak and Listen Ph 1300 555 727 for local, interstate
Ph 1800 555 727 for 1800 toll-free calls within Australia
If reporting an emergency (Equivalent to calling 000) Ph 106
The Victorian Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) can be called to get information on a range of topics during the summer period 1800 240 667.
Remove any overhanging branches and overgrown vegetation near your home, garage or shed to limit fire spread
Relocate and reconnect garden hoses to taps in the laundry to protect them from the fire, these are ideally suited to extinguish spot fires after the fire has passed.
Keep timber and rubbish away from fences, particularly where the fence borders any bush or grassland.
Keep doors and windows shut to prevent embers entering your home and close shutters if you have them. Place tape across the inside of the windows so they remain intact if broken by radiant heat.
Place wet towels or blankets at bottom of closed doors to prevent ember attack. Clear timber, rubbish away from fence lines.
Personal protection
If you are staying to protect your property you must be dressed appropriately to give you protection from the radiant heat and flying embers. Listed below are some recommended handy hints to prepare you for the threat of fire:
Have your bushfire plan prepared and understood by all family/staff members
Ensure all family members and staff are safe
Long trousers and long sleeved shirt (Cotton or wool) for all who are staying
Sturdy leather boots and leather or cotton gloves for all who are staying
A helmet or broad brimmed hat with neck strap for all who are staying
Protect against radiant heat and burning embers
You must wear appropriate clothing to protect you from the embers and radiant heat whilst you are outside your home/workplace.
Equipment
MFB also recommends you have the following equipment on hand to assist you extinguish any spot fires around your home/workplace:
Hoses
Ladders
Knapsack, mops, buckets
Metal rakes and shovels
Wet towels and blankets
First aid kit
Adequate stored drinking water (as mains water may be depleted)
Ensure all family pets are safe by keeping them secured safely inside with adequate water
A face mask or moistened cloth to tie over nose and mouth for all who are staying
Goggles or glasses to protect your eyes from embers and ash
In recent years there have been a number of commercial properties that were also at risk during a grass/scrub fire. Commercial properties such as; offices, factories, warehouses and sporting club facilities were not suitably prepared against grass and scrub fires. Workplaces also need to ensure that the areas outside of the building are kept clear of; long grass, stock items, combustibles, pallets, fuels and chemicals. Talk to staff about your fire plan and use this information to prepare your property to lessen the risk of fire for the summer fire season.
Home and workplace
In general most homes/workplaces in the MFD are not at risk of fire damage by bushfires, the only exception is the home/workplace that is close to bushland and grassland. At risk properties in areas that have been identified by past fires and by overlaying maps which indicate large areas of bush and or grassland.
Homes adjoining bush and grassland
In the more remote or rural areas of Victoria, homes can be under threat from large bushfires due to their remoteness or the sheer size of the bushfire. Generally bush/grass fires in the rural sector and their characteristics (type, size, speed and direction of travel) are communicated in a timely and effective manner to local communities by a variety of media.
However, in the urban sector or built up areas of Melbourne, residents who live next to bush and grassland may not receive early warning or any notification of an impending bush/grass fire. Be alert for the signs of fire in your area, particularly on those hot, dry and gusty days as described previously.
This is why it is important to:
1. Effectively prepare your property
2. Consider remaining with your home/workplace to protect yourself from the fire
3. Defend your home/workplace and control small fires after the fire has passed.
Maintaining external areas of Commercial Buildings
To minimise the number of lives and homes lost in bush/grass fires, MFB encourages able-bodied residents to prepare their homes, then stay and defend them. Most buildings lost in bush/grass fires are ignited from small fires caused by sparks and embers.
The State’s Fire Services MFB & CFA encourage Victorians to take responsibility for their own preparedness and safety in bushfires. Appropriately prepared and constructed homes/workplaces offer protection to people during bushfires, reducing the likelihood of bushfire-related injury and fatality. Properly prepared and defended homes/workplaces provide a safe haven during bushfires.
For children, older people and people living with a disability who may feel threatened by a fire, MFB advocates that they should take shelter or relocate to a neighbours home which is less at risk till the fire front has passed.
Going on holiday?
Many Melburnians take the opportunity during the summer months to holiday in country areas. To ensure you and your family have a safe holiday you should:
On arrival at your destination check with the local council, fire service or park ranger about any restrictions for lighting fires in the open
Plan two alternate routes out of the area where you are staying should an emergency occur
Gain an understanding of emergency plans for the park/area where you are staying and use evacuation plans as specified
Adhere to normal home fire safety practices in your caravan/unit and ensure your smoke alarm is working.
Total Fire Ban Days
Fire restrictions or Total Fire Bans (TFB) can be applied across parts of or all of Victoria by CFA, when the fire danger is high. This is usually during November to April period. For further information on fire restrictions, days of TFB, current fires and prescribed burns by DSE , please phone the VBIL on 1800 240 667.
Report any suspicious activity
If you see any suspicious activity in grass or scrubland near your property, report it immediately on 000. The Victoria Police are actively working with the community to reduce the incidence of arson, malicious or unsafe fire practice. Do the right thing and report it immediately.
For further information or assistance contact:
Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Community Education Department
Phone: 96654464
Fax: 94203890
Email: commed@mfb.vic.gov.au
Website: www.mfb.vic.gov.au