4 things to consider before bushfire season this summer

Summer is approaching, and this season has been tipped to be one of the worst since black summer. In the face of Australia's unpredictable bushfire season, taking proactive measures for your home may better protect your family, property, and future.

Following a triple La Niña weather event, thick forest undergrowth and high grass loads have had optimal growing conditions. Coming into summer, any fires will have greater access to fuel loads than normal. 

The bushfire danger season generally begins on 1 October. The devastation that bushfires can bring cannot be understated, so it’s worthwhile preparing for the challenges ahead now. 

Here are four crucial factors to consider before the bushfire season hits. 

What to consider before bushfire season begins

Prepare your home

One of the best ways to minimise risk to your property is to take a proactive approach and begin safeguarding as soon as possible. According to the NSW Rural Fire Service, some basic maintenance tips to prepare your property include:

• “Clean your gutters of leaves and twigs
• Install metal gutter guards
• Repair damaged or missing tiles on the roof
• Install fine metal mesh screens on windows and doors
• Fit seals around doors and windows to eliminate gaps
• Enclose the areas under the house
• Repair or cover gaps in external walls
• Attach a fire sprinkler system to gutters
• Keep lawns short and gardens well maintained
• Cut back trees and shrubs overhanging buildings
• Clean up fallen leaves, twigs and debris around the property
• Have hoses long enough to reach around your house
• If you have a pool, tank or dam, put a Static Water Supply (SWS) sign on your property entrance, so firefighters know where they can get water
• Check and maintain adequate levels of home and contents insurance. Ensure it is up to date.”

Emergency evacuation strategy

If you are in a bushfire-prone area, it is essential that you have a thorough evacuation plan for yourself and your loved ones.

If you’re unsure of where to begin, Fire NSW recommend using their handy escape plan tools to assist you in creating your own. This may include creating a detailed map of your home, including all exit points, and ensuring there are no bulky items blocking doors or walkways.

While you are considering your evacuation strategy, it may be worthwhile also thinking about temporary housing. Many home insurance policies will offer coverage for temporary housing and relocation costs in the event of a fire. If your insurance policy does not come with this, it may be worth considering as an optional extra, or comparing options that do provide full coverage. 

Community engagement

Pooling resources and knowledge within your community is a powerful tool for preparedness. After all, if your home is vulnerable, so too are your neighbours. Your community could be the best stage of defence in the event of a bushfire. Engage with your community in the following ways:

1. Vegetation clearing - Ensuring that dead vegetation and debris are clear from around homes may help slow the spread of fire. Note that in many states and territories, strict regulations apply, and permits may be required to clear native or all vegetation.
2. Community resources - Collate any firefighting resources, such as the location of water tanks, pools, hoses and pumps. These may need to be accessed by firefighters, volunteers or your community in the event of a bushfire.
3. Warning systems -Implement community-wide communication systems to alert one another of bushfire risks, evacuation orders and other critical information. This could include automatic text messages or alarm systems.

Review your home insurance

It’s not just the before period of a bushfire that you need to consider, but what happens after the worst occurs. Take time to review your existing home insurance policy to understand the extent of coverage it offers for fire damage. Your home insurance policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) should tell you what kind of fire coverage your home has.

You may want to check the extent of your coverage for repairs and replacement for your home and/or contents in the event of fire damage. And also, as mentioned earlier, for temporary accommodation. You may also want to include your car insurance in this review, in the event your vehicle is damaged in a bushfire.

If you live in regional Australia, or anywhere designated with a significant Bushfire Attack Level (BAL), you may be more vulnerable to bushfire. Unfortunately due to this risk, many insurance providers might charge you a higher premium to incorporate extended bushfire coverage within your policy.

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