The Australian bush is brutal, fire can come from any direction and you need to be ready for it. EmberAttack is one part of a larger solution to protect your home in a program of maintenance and prevention creating a waterfall from your gutters.
Related bushfire planning questions
A bushfire plan should clearly define when you will leave, based on conditions such as Fire Danger Ratings, Total Fire Bans, nearby fire activity, smoke, wind changes, road closures, emergency warnings and advice from fire authorities.
Leaving early is consistently identified by fire agencies as the safest option, especially on Extreme or Catastrophic fire danger days.
Your plan should avoid vague intentions such as “wait and see”, as conditions can change rapidly and escape routes may become unsafe.
Factors that may trigger leaving early include:
A leave early plan should clearly explain:
The plan should also include arrangements for:
Leaving early is generally safer than attempting to evacuate when a fire is already nearby.
Staying to defend a property should only be considered if the property is properly prepared and occupants are physically and mentally capable of actively defending it during a bushfire.
A stay and defend plan should confirm:
Sheltering inside an unprepared home without active defence can be extremely dangerous.
Many fire authorities recommend leaving early as the safest option for most people.
Preparing a property for bushfire protection involves reducing fuel, preventing ember entry, improving access to water and equipment, and creating a defendable space around buildings.
Property preparation should begin well before bushfire season and be maintained regularly, not only when a fire is nearby.
Important bushfire preparation measures include:
NSW Rural Fire Service identifies property preparation as a core part of a bushfire survival plan.
A bushfire communications plan should explain how family members, neighbours and emergency contacts will stay informed and communicate before, during and after a bushfire.
The plan should assume that power, internet, mobile phone networks and mains water may fail during an emergency.
A communications plan should include:
Everyone involved should understand how warnings will be received and what actions will be taken if communication systems fail.
A bushfire plan should identify anyone who may need additional help before, during or after a bushfire emergency.
This may include:
The plan should clearly assign responsibilities so everyone knows:
Planning ahead helps reduce confusion and ensures vulnerable people are not left behind during rapidly changing conditions.
A bushfire plan should include clear arrangements for pets, horses and livestock well before a fire threatens the area.
The plan should cover:
Animals should be moved early, not when fire, smoke or traffic conditions have already become dangerous.
Owners should also ensure animals can be quickly identified and safely managed if evacuation becomes necessary.
A bushfire emergency kit should contain essential items needed to protect people, maintain communication and support evacuation during a bushfire emergency.
The kit should be prepared before bushfire season and stored in a location that is easy to access quickly.
Important emergency kit items may include:
Emergency kits should be checked regularly to ensure equipment, batteries, medicines and supplies remain usable and up to date.
A bushfire plan should identify safer places where people may shelter temporarily if evacuation routes become unsafe or inaccessible.
These locations should only be considered as last-resort options and not as the primary bushfire plan.
The plan should:
Fire authorities warn that late evacuation during a bushfire can be deadly, particularly when roads are affected by fire, smoke, falling trees or traffic congestion.
Leaving early is generally considered the safest option for most people.
A bushfire plan should include preparations for returning safely after the fire and managing potential hazards that may remain in the area.
People should wait for official advice before returning to affected properties, as conditions may still be dangerous even after the fire front has passed.
Risks that may remain after a bushfire include:
Australian Red Cross advises that returning home may be delayed until emergency authorities confirm the area is safe.
Bushfire recovery planning should also consider temporary accommodation, insurance, emotional wellbeing and ongoing safety checks.
It's not the fire that destroys most homes. It's the invisible ember attack that rains down kilometres ahead of the blaze. Up to 90% of homes lost in bushfires are destroyed by ember attack - not direct flames.
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