If you’re one of the estimated 25 million Americans who suffer from asthma, you know exactly how scary asthma can be. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in every thirteen people with approximately 7.7 percent of adults and 8.4 percent of children in the United States affected. Rates of asthma in the general population have been on the rise since the 1980s for all races, age groups, and genders, and the disease is the leading chronic disease in children. More than 11.4 million people had one or more asthma episodes or attacks in 2017, and many of them rely on inhalers to control their symptoms. Rescue inhalers are a lifeline for people with serious or life-threatening asthma, and while they are often used in an emergency, they can also be used preventatively prior to the onset of asthma. Ventolin and albuterol are two popular inhalers that are used to treat asthma in children as young as four. When it comes to Ventolin vs albuterol, what is the difference? For the most part, the two medications are very similar and are used in the same way, but they do have one major difference: cost.

Overview

Ventolin, also known as Ventolin HFA, is a short-acting bronchodilator nebulizer that quickly helps people suffering from wheezing or shortness of breath associated with several medical conditions. Ventolin is dispensed in an HFA (hydrofluoroalkane) inhaler, which is a new type of inhaler that was designed to improve upon chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) inhalers that were popular for many years before being banned in 2008. HFA inhalers like Ventolin deliver the “blast” of medication associated with inhalers more gently than CFC inhalers, so patients making the switch initially were concerned that they were not receiving as much medication. Albuterol is the generic version of Ventolin HFA and was released in 2019 by the manufacturer of Ventolin HFA, GlaxoSmithKline. Albuterol is a common active ingredient in many inhalers, including Proventil HFA, ProAir HFA, and Ventolin HFA, and it was previously included in CFC inhalers prior to the 2008 ban. The release of albuterol in an HFA inhaler was significant because HFA inhalers had been extremely expensive due to their active patents and the ban on CFC inhalers. Many patients struggled to afford their medications, as the average amount spent on prescription medications for asthma was $1,830 as recently as 2013.

Drug Class

Ventolin and albuterol both belong to a class of drugs called adrenergic bronchodilators. In general, adrenergic drugs work by stimulating the nerves in the sympathetic nervous system, which controls our physical response to stress or an emergency, also known as the “fight or flight” response. During stressful situations, the body releases chemicals like epinephrine and norepinephrine to provoke specific responses in the body, such as increased blood pressure, opening of the airways, and increased heart rate. Adrenergic medications provoke the fight or flight response therapeutically; for example, during an asthma attack, the airways close and the patient can’t breathe. An adrenergic medication helps to reopen the airways. Specifically, adrenergic bronchodilators are beta2-adrenoreceptor agonists, meaning they bind directly to beta2 receptors in the bronchial smooth muscle. When beta2-adrenoceptor agonists bind to the bronchial smooth muscle, the muscle relaxes, which helps to open the bronchial airways, allowing air to enter the lungs. Patients with respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD, emphysema, and bronchitis use adrenergic bronchodilators to help improve their breathing in emergency situations, such as during an asthma attack.

Conditions Treated

Ventolin and albuterol are both used to open the airways and improve breathing for people with medical conditions that cause the bronchial muscles to tighten. The two main conditions treated by both Ventolin and albuterol are asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While Ventolin and albuterol can both be used for either maintenance treatment of asthma and COPD or as rescue treatment for an acute attack, they are most frequently used as emergency “rescue” inhalers.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease that causes narrowing inflammation of air passageways and the production of excess mucus, making it difficult to breathe. The severity of a person’s asthma can range from a minor inconvenience or nuisance to a serious, life-threatening condition. Asthma is generally diagnosed by a physical exam, lung function tests, and a chest or sinus x-ray. Symptoms of asthma include coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness, and it can cause a medical emergency. Asthma is triggered by things like pollen, extreme weather changes, dust mites, exercise, chemicals, smoke, and stress, and each person’s triggers are different. People with asthma must learn to identify their triggers and avoid them where possible.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a chronic lung disease that is characterized by the presence of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and/or refractory asthma. Chronic bronchitis is characterized by lingering cough, shortness of breath, and excess mucus production that lasts at least three months per year for two years in a row. Emphysema occurs when the air sacs in your lungs, called alveoli, are damaged and cannot absorb as much oxygen, resulting in shortness of breath. Refractory asthma is irreversible asthma that doesn’t respond to normal asthma medications. There are four different stages of COPD depending on the severity of the symptoms, but many people do not experience noticeable symptoms until their COPD is advanced. Symptoms of COPD include a lingering cough, a productive cough, wheezing, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest tightness, blue lips or fingernails, frequent colds, and more.

Use and Dosage

Ventolin and albuterol inhalers are designed to treat or prevent the symptoms of asthma and bronchospasm. The recommended dose for patients ages four and older both inhalers is two sprays taken every four to six hours to treat the symptoms of an asthma attack. The medications begin working within minutes and provide relief of symptoms for four to six hours. Patients should not increase their dose or take extra doses of albuterol or Ventolin because taking too much of the medications has been associated with an increased risk of death. The inhalers feature a built-in dosage counter that shows the number of sprays remaining in the inhaler. Patients can purchase an inhaler with either 204 or 64 sprays, and the counter cannot be reset.

Cost

By far the biggest difference between Ventolin and albuterol is the cost of the two medications. With the ban on CFA inhalers in 2008, HFA inhalers had a monopoly on the market and were brand name medications that were under patent and therefore could not be produced in a generic form. This kept costs high for over a decade until GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Ventolin, released a generic albuterol HFA inhaler. The average cash price for a brand name Ventolin HFA inhaler is approximately 74 dollars, while the average price for generic albuterol inhalers is approximately 30 dollars. Ventolin was previously covered by the majority of insurance programs, but with the release of the generic version of the medication, many insurance companies list albuterol as the preferred drug. The manufacturer offers a savings program on their website for patients with commercial insurance who do not receive coverage for the medication and patients without insurance. Because there is a generic version of Ventolin available, Ventolin and albuterol are available at a lower cost compared to other drugs in the same class. Pharmacy discount card programs also offer savings on all FDA-approved brand name and generic medications, including Ventolin and albuterol, and patients can sign up for free.

Benefits

Ventolin and albuterol both offer similar benefits - namely, the effective treatment of asthma in case of an emergency, as well as the ability to prevent asthma attacks. Compared to Ventolin, albuterol is less expensive and more likely to be covered by insurance companies than the brand name medication. However, both medications are less expensive than other medications in their class due to the availability of the generic albuterol. Ventolin and albuterol help to relax the bronchial smooth muscles, allowing the airways to reopen during an asthma attack. Both medications are considered safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and they can be used by children as young as four. Ventolin and albuterol can also be used preventatively by people with exercise-induced asthma when used prior to exercise. In general, HFA inhalers like Ventolin and albuterol are considered safer to use and better for the environment than the CFA inhalers that were banned in 2008.

Risks and Warnings

Ventolin and albuterol can both be life-saving medications if taken properly, but there are also several warnings and risks associated with the medications. Risks and warnings associated with both albuterol and Ventolin include:

• Both medications should not be used in patients under the age of four.
• Patients should not use Ventolin HFA or albuterol inhalers without being shown how to use them properly.
• Patients should not increase their dose of Ventolin HFA or albuterol without their doctor’s approval, as people who use too much Ventolin HFA can die from abusing the medication.
• People who are allergic to albuterol sulfate should not use albuterol or Ventolin inhalers.

Side Effects

Because albuterol is the active ingredient in Ventolin, the side effects of the medications are virtually the same. However, patients may experience slightly different side effects when taking one drug or the other due to small differences in the chemical composition of the drugs’ inactive ingredients. Common side effects associated with Ventolin and albuterol include:

• Sore throat
• Cough
• Pounding or racing heartbeat or heart palpitations
• Fast heart rate
• Nervousness
• Upper respiratory tract infection, including viral infection
• Muscle pain
• Chest pain
• Shakiness
• Dizziness

Patients experiencing any of the common side effects listed above generally do not need to seek medical attention. However, if the side effects are persistent or begin to worsen, consult your healthcare provider. Ventolin and albuterol also have serious side effects that require medical attention. Serious side effects associated with Ventolin and albuterol include:

• Worsening trouble breathing, coughing, and wheezing (paradoxical bronchospasm), which most commonly occurs with the first use of a new inhaler
• Possible death in people who use too much Ventolin
• Changes in laboratory blood values, including blood sugar and potassium
• Heart problems, including faster heart rate and higher blood pressure
• Serious allergic reactions. Signs of an allergic reaction include:
  • Rash
  • Swelling of the face, mouth, or tongue
  • Hives
  • Breathing problems

Drug Interactions

Both Ventolin and albuterol can interact with other prescription medications, as well as over the counter drugs, vitamins, supplements, and herbs. It is important that patients provide their doctor with a complete medication list prior to taking Ventolin or albuterol. Ventolin and albuterol may interact with the following types of medications:

• Other inhaled medications or asthma medicines
• Beta-blockers
• Diuretics
• Digoxin
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Tricyclic antidepressants

Use in Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women

Scientists have found that pregnancy improves asthma symptoms in approximately one-third of women, worsens asthma symptoms in approximately one-third of women, and has no effect on the asthma symptoms of the final third. Therefore, it is impossible to predict how pregnancy will impact your asthma. However, in general, an asthma diagnosis is not a reason to avoid pregnancy. Both albuterol and Ventolin are classified as Category C medications for pregnant women by the FDA, which means that there has not been enough research done on either medication to determine if there is a risk to pregnant women. However, doctors generally recommend that women continue to use their inhalers during pregnancy because the benefits outweigh the risks. Uncontrolled asthma can cause blood oxygen levels to fall in pregnant women, which reduces the amount of oxygen the fetus receives. Doctors have also found that controlling your asthma lowers the risk of pregnancy complications like low birth weight, premature birth, and preeclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy. Both medications are also considered safe to use while breastfeeding, but patients should always check with their doctors regarding the safety of any medications they are taking.

==> For a comprehensive list of places you can DONATE/FUNDRAISE, please see HERE <==
This is a living document and is regularly updated (last update: 08/01/2020). Please msg u/OculoDoc with feedback/suggestions.
** For a printable spreadsheet with all this information and more, please see HERE **

OFFICIAL Bushfire Information Resources

Australia's fire authorities have officially endorsed the following resources:
NATIONAL:

1. How to provide FIRST-AID for BURNS (St John of God)
2. Report fires to the fire authorities (phone 000)
3. Fires near me: Australia-wide (Android app)
4. ABC Radio: Frequency Finder
5. ABC News' guidelines for what to do before, during and after a bushfire
6. Report Arsonists to CrimeStoppers (phone 1800 333 000)
7. List of emergency + disaster recovery resources (national and state)
8. Let people know you are safe
9. The Emergency+ app allows you to give your exact location to 000 operators

STATE:

State	Fire map	Evaculation centres (Last resort)	Fire authority page	Other resources	Donations & Fundraising
Victoria	Fire map (Vic)	Community fire refuges (Vic)	CFA homepage (Vic)	TrafficVic; VicEmergency app (Android, Apple). Emergency housing (AirBnB)	Donate (Vic). Fundraising: (guidelines, [email](mailto:cfapromotions@cfa.vic.gov.au), ph 1800 232 233)
Western Australia	Fire map (WA)	Search for "@dfeswa" on facebook. Info is occasionally posted there.	DFES homepage (WA)		Contact your local brigade
South Australia	Fire map (SA)	Map of evaculation centres (SA)	CFS homepage (SA)		Donate #1 (SA), Donate #2 (SA), Leave a bequest (SA)
NSW	Fire map (NSW)	List evacuation centres (NSW)	RFS homepage (NSW)	Report a cigarette tosser. Live traffic NSW:(Android, Apple). Emergency Housing (AirBnB)	Donate #1 (NSW), Donate #2 (NSW). Fundraising ([email](mailto:executive.support@rfs.nsw.gov.au))
Queensland	Fire map (Qld)	General info (Qld)	QFES homepage (Qld)		Donate #1 (Qld), Donate #2 (Qld),
Northern Territory	Fire map (NT)	List of all shelters (NT)	PFES homepage (NT)
Tasmania	Fire map (Tas)	Nearby safer places (Tas)	TFS homepage (Tas)		Donate #1 (Tas), Donate #2 (Tas), Info #1, Info #2
Australia Capital Territory	Fire map (ACT)		ESA homepage (ACT)

​

Basic FIRST-AID for BURNS

(source: 1,2,3)
a) Stop the burning process.

• Firstly, consider your own safety:
• If on fire: Stop-drop-roll

b) Cool the burn

• With running cold tap water for 20 minutes
• Useful for up to 3 hours after injury
• Do not cause hypothermia
• Do not use ice.

c) For all burns and scalds:

• Remove clothing not stuck to the burn site.
• Remove all jewellery and watches

d) Cover the burn

• Using a clean dressing or clingwrap (do not wrap circumferentially)

e) When to see a doctor

• If the burn involves the face, hands or fingers, genitals, or feet
• If the burn involves the face, hands or fingers, genitals, or feet
• If the burn is on or near a joint (knee, shoulder, hip)
• If the burn encircles a body part (arm, leg, foot, chest, finger)
• If the burn is large (greater than 3 inches or 7.5 cm) or deep (any partial-thickness or full thickness). If you have any doubt about whether the burn is large or deep, it is best to see a health care provider. (See 'Burn type' below.)
• If the victim is young (less than five years) or older than 70 years
• If there are signs of skin infection, such as increasing redness, pain, pus-like discharge, or temperature greater than 38ºC

​
​

Disclaimer

• The information in the next section entitled "UNOFFICIAL survival guide" is content written by members of general public
• This section aims to share sensible, thought-provoking tips from people who have been through a bushfire recently and genuinely want to help the community by sharing their knowledge. You'll need to consider, evaluate and adapt these suggestions to your own circumstances, if appropriate.
• The goal of this page is only to elaborate upon the formal advice provided by fire authorities. The official guidance and advice from fire authorities will always take precedence over anything written on this page.

UNOFFICIAL Bushfire Survival Guide

Unless you live in a concrete jungle, you should expect your home to be under threat from fire sometime within the next couple of months

• Prepare early.
• Leave before the fire forces you to leave. Do not wait for "permission" to leave, or for someone to knock on your door. If in doubt, get out. The earlier you leave, the better your chances of survival.
• If you're not being threatened by a bushfire, please get off the road.

​
Prepare your FAMILY:

• Relocate you children, elderly and pets NOW.
  • Make them safe, before there is an emergency. You will want your dependent loved-ones to be already safe and well out of harm's way, well before there is an imminent fire threat. You will want to be able to completely focus on defending your property.
  • Leave animals behind if you have to. People have died going back for pets and livestock. It sucks, but sometimes it has to be done.
• Only put other people in the car if you are ready to go NOW.
  • Never put people in a car, and then return to the house. In more than one instance in 2009, parents put children in the car, went back to the house, and then returned to find the car on fire. Never leave people in a car near a fire.
• Keep the authorities informed about your plans, and especially if there are any vulnerable people at risk
• Turn on "Location Sharing" within Google Maps, on your phone, to share with your friends/family
  • This is a very useful tool

​
Prepare your ESCAPE:

• Don't let yourself get trapped and surrounded.
• Always have at least 2 different escape plans.
• If under immediate threat from a fire, never travel up hill to escape. Fire travels much faster up hill than down hill. Travelling across the face of the fire (just as a surfer travels across the face of a wave) helps you get out of it's path. Travelling through burnt out areas is safer than travelling through green areas.

​
Prepare your CAR:

• Ensure you have petrol
• Put several containers of water in the car.
• Carry as much water as you can.
• Put a first-aid kit in the car
• Put 1 woolen blanket per person in the car
• Bring a car-charger for your phone
• Bring your wallet/credit card/drivers licence & passport (however, if your passport is burnt, you can get a free replacement)
• Never leave a car running on or near long grass, this will possibly cause a fire
• Only put people in the car if you are ready to go NOW. (refer to FAMILY section)

​
Prepare for NO MOBILE SIGNAL:

• Fires often disable power and phone networks
• Discuss rendezvous plan with family/neighbours, so you are all on the same page, even if you can't communicate with them
• Nearly all smart phones will simply stop working when they get too hot
• Download 'offline maps' in Google maps (simple). Alternatively, apps such as Maps.Me (Android, Apple) may offer more detail than Google Maps (ensure you zoom all the way in to download the map for your state, before you start driving)

​
Prepare for INJURY:

• Don't travel alone
• Don't be reckless

​
YOUR EMERGENCY REFUGE:

• GOOD REFUGES:
  • The ideal refuge is a sealed, insulated, non flammable building with a series of firebreak 'rings' surrounding it.
  • Plan early, leave early, and you get the chance to shelter in one of these.
• AVERAGE REFUGES:
  • A large farm dam, deep creek with flowing water, a river with flowing water, a lake, or the ocean are relatively safe. The movement of the water helps to cool the air, and cycle hot and cold air across the top of the water.
  • Still water is never a better option than sheltering inside a solid structure.
• BAD REFUGES:
  • Residential pools, water tanks, and bathrooms are not safe refuges.
    • In a pool, the air above the water superheats, and you die of internal burns.
    • In a water tank you will be basically steamed.
    • In a bathroom all the tiles, glass, and pipe works superheat.

​
Prepare your HOME:

• Clog your gutters (eg, wrap tennis balls in rags, to clog the outlets) and fill the gutters with water
• Put on the sprinklers (don't do this too early: conserve your limited water resources)
• Firefighters often have a lot of trouble finding enough water to put out fires.
  • If you have a dam, pool or water tank which is full of water, put a large and obvious sign, indicating the presence of a Static Water Supply, where your driveway meets the road. Make sure it can be seen by vehicles travelling in either direction.
  • If you have a Static Water Supply and you're expecting to defend your property: At Bunnings you can buy Ozito fire hoses, firefighting pumps, and supply hoses . Specifically, these supply hoses won't collapse under vacuum pressure when connected to a pump. These could easily be combined with a 500-900L tank on the back of a single cab ute for a private light duty vehicle.
• Even if you don't buy a pump, you can buy a firefighting rakehoe such as a McLeod tool from Bunnings. This is a great help in creating fire breaks around your home.

​
STAYING TO DEFEND YOUR HOME ??

• A REALITY CHECK
  • For even a moderate fire, the radiant heat is so extreme that you won't physically be able to get close enough to the fire to put water onto it. Radiant heat can kill people from 20 meters away.
  • If you haven't already taken significant steps to allow you to defend your house during a bushfire, then unfortunately it's probably too late to safely defend your property.
  • If you have a weatherboard property, your property is 'bushland', or you live on the side of a hill, you're a sitting duck.
  • If you fall into this category, you need to simply flee the area immediately and leave your house in the highly capable hands of the fire fighters. Don't become a liability for the firefighters.
  • Defending a property is only a viable option if the property is well prepared and if you are physically and psychologically up to the arduous task. If you are in doubt then you should leave early.
  • You should expect your water pressure to fall as your neighbours also open all their taps.
  • You should expect your hoses to melt, crack and fail.
• IF YOU ARE STAYING TO DEFEND YOUR HOME:
  • Fill bathtub, bins, buckets with water as early as possible
  • Get rid of any flammable materials from around your house/structure, such as doormats, shrubs, gas bottles, outdoor furniture. If you have windows near the ground then remove any organic material and take it back to bare earth around them.
  • Move all flammable materials inside the house away from windows (eg furniture, curtains etc.).
  • Put pets/kids in one room that has two exits, on the far side of the home from the fire front.
  • Dress in durable natural fibre clothing and leather gloves and boots leaving absolutely minimal skin exposed. Grab a thick tea-towel or similar to wrap around your face.
  • Set up a ladder to access the roof cavity.
  • As the fire front approaches patrol the exterior of your home extinguishing spot fires.
  • As the fire front passes over seek shelter inside your home.
  • As soon as safe to do so patrol the inside of your home (including roof cavity) extinguishing fires, then the outside. Continue until no embers fall - several to dozens of hours.

​
Prepare your GEAR:

• Overalls or jeans/thick cotton shirt
  • button up to the neck/chin, strap down around the wrists/ankles
  • close any gaps between your clothing - ie, white hot coals can enter your boots or gloves, or go up the leg of your pants, go up your arm, or down your shirt front/back, or down your backside.
  • remove any nylon/polyester clothing, it melts onto your skin like napalm
• Thick cotton/wool socks
  • consider wearing two pairs of socks.
• Leather boots
  • steel capped boots are recommended (My personal experience is that steel capped Blundstones become very hot around the toes while fighting fires, especially if you're wearing thin socks. Therefore, wear thick socks)
• Helmet
  • large tree branches can drop on you
• Goggles
  • must be sealed to face
  • smoke/embers will still go in the side/bottom of sunglasses. Sunglasses are completely useless.
• Leather gloves
  • absolutely essential
• Face mask
  • get one specifically designed to filter smoke (a "P2" filter), eg from Bunnings. Recommendation from Australian government.
  • buy a Ventolin over-the-counter from the pharmacy (~$7)
• Drinking water
  • you will drink much, much more than you think. You may need to give water to someone
  • carry minimum 10L of dedicated, clean, drinking water.
• Backpack Weed-Sprayer
  • one of the most useful firefighting tools I've discovered
  • allows you to carry 15L of water with minimal strain, and it allows you put out small spot fires quickly, using only a tiny amount of water per spot fire.
  • 15L of water goes a hell of a long way when you are using this backpack
• Shovel
  • consider the effect of heat on the handle. Will it burn? Will it become hot to hold, if you happen to not be wearing leather gloves?
• Chainsaw
  • fill it with fuel
• 'Go Bag'
  • Pack a go bag containing a change of clothes, shoes, chargers, battery powered radio and batteries, ready-to-eat food, medications, pet's medications and food, identity documents (even though DFAT offers free replacement passports), phone numbers of family and neighbours, cash, hygiene products, water and a first-aid kit (with additional sheets of cling wrap)

​
​
Lastly:
Things to do in the winter, BEFORE the fire season starts:

• Go around your house filming all your valuable possessions, then upload this video to the cloud. This can be used as proof of ownership in an insurance claim.
• Create several concentric fire-breaks, each as a ring minimum 5 meters wide, around all STRUCTURES.
• Install fire-sprinklers around the perimeter of structures.
• Buy a photo scanner with a sheet feeder. Digitise all your family photos in less than a couple of hours. Upload these photos to the cloud. Never worry about them again.
• Ensure everyone in your family has completed a First-Aid / CPR course. People have gone into cardiac arrest while fighting fires.
• Ensure everyone in your family has formally created their will
• Ensure you have taken out home and contents, life insurance and income protection insurance (if available)

​

Further resources:

Credit: u/iamjacksonmolloy (and others)
​
NATIONAL

• Resources
  • Call 000 in emergencies (alternatively, try 112)
  • Call State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500
  • National Warnings (Bureau of Meteorology)
  • Lifeline (24h counselling service): Call 13 1114
  • Kid’s Help Line (counselling for young people): Call 1800 55 1800
  • Resources to support family mental wellbeing (Australian Government)
  • Resources for parents (Red Cross)
  • Financial assistance options (Australian government): Call 180 22 66
  • Assistance options MAP (Australian government)
  • Financial support (ATO)
  • Get support (Salvation Army)
  • Get support (Red Cross)
  • Apply for a Grant (Red Cross)
  • Apply for a Grant (Commonwealth Bank)
  • Apply for a Grant (National Australia Bank)
  • Firefighters / SES only:
    • Apply for a discount on your gas or electricity bill (AGL)
    • Apply for $0 phone bill during the fire season (Telstra, Optus and Vodafone)
  • Podcast for after the emergency (Red Cross)
  • Digital Earth Australia - Hotspots (This is just 'possible' fires, detected by satellite. It's NOT an official fire map)
• Donate
  • Salvation army
  • The Australian Red Cross
  • On A Mission (Carbon-offset reforestation projects)

NSW

• Resources
  • Bushfire updates and alert levels
  • Prepare and get ready
  • Relief and recovery
  • Finding local resources
  • Disaster recovery funding arrangements
  • NSW Disaster Recovery Allowance and Payment (Australian Government Department of Human Services)
• Donate
  • The St Vincent de Paul Society
  • GoFundMe organised by The Lions Club
  • NSW Rural Fire Service
  • Australian Wildlife Rescue Organisation
  • WWF (Koala crisis)
  • Koala hospital, Port Macquarie, NSW

QUEENSLAND

• Resources
  • Bushfire updates and alert levels
  • Prepare and get ready
  • Relief and recovery
  • Small business recovery information and advice
  • Personal hardship financial assistance
  • Disaster recovery assistance
  • Disaster recovery funding arrangements
  • QLD Disaster Recovery Allowance and Payment (Australian Government Department of Human Services)
• Donate
  • Uniting Care
  • WWF (Koala crisis)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

• Resources
  • Bushfire updates and alert levels
  • Prepare and get ready
  • Safe places
  • Recovery after bush fires
  • Land, vegetation and livestock recovery
  • Returning home
  • Financial assistance
  • SA Disaster Recovery Allowance and Payment (Australian Government Department of Human Services)

VICTORIA

• Resources
  • Bushfire updates and alert levels
  • Prepare and get ready
  • Relief and recovery
  • Small business recovery information and advice
  • Personal hardship financial assistance
  • Disaster recovery assistance
  • Disaster recovery funding arrangements
  • VIC Disaster Recovery Allowance and Payment (Australian Government Department of Human Services)
  • Disaster Legal Help Victoria (call 1800 113 432)
• Donate
  • VIC Fire Service

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

• Resources
  • https://myfirewatch.landgate.wa.gov.au/

​
Thank you for reading.
Please be safe, and please look after each other.
Please share the link to this page with your family, friends and neighbours:
https://www.reddit.com/australia/comments/ee1xub/bushfires_official_information_resources/
Please message u/OculoDoc if you have any feedback or suggestions.

OFFICIAL information resources

Australia's fire authorities officially endorse the following resources:
NATIONAL:

1. Report fires to the fire authorities (phone 000)
2. Fires near me: Australia-wide (Android app)
3. ABC Radio: Frequency Finder
4. ABC News' guidelines for what to do before, during and after a bushfire
5. Report Arsonists to CrimeStoppers (phone 1800 333 000)
6. List of emergency + disaster recovery resources (national and state)
7. Let people know you are safe
8. The Emergency+ app allows you to give your exact location to 000 operators

STATE:

State	Fire map	Evacuation centers (where available)	Homepage of fire authority
Victoria	Fire map (Vic)	Community fire refuges (Vic)	CFA homepage (Vic)
Western Australia	Fire map (WA)	Search for "@dfeswa" on facebook. Info is occasionally posted there.	DFES homepage (WA)
South Australia	Fire map (SA)	Map of evaculation centres (SA)	MFS homepage (SA)
NSW	Fire map (NSW)	List evacuation centres (NSW)	RFS homepage (NSW)
Queensland	Fire map (Qld)	General info (Qld)	QFES homepage (Qld)
Northern Territory	Fire map (NT)	List of all shelters (NT)	PFES homepage (NT)
Tasmania	Fire map (Tas)	Nearby safer places (Tas)	TFS homepage (Tas)
Australia Capital Territory	Fire map (ACT)		ESA homepage (ACT)

​

Disclaimer

• The information in the next section entitled "UNOFFICIAL survival guide" is content written by members of general public
• This section aims to share sensible, thought-provoking tips from people who have been through a bushfire recently and genuinely want to help the community by sharing their knowledge. You'll need to consider, evaluate and adapt these suggestions to your own circumstances, if appropriate.
• The goal of this page is only to elaborate upon the formal advice provided by fire authorities. The official guidance and advice from fire authorities will always take precedence over anything written on this page.

UNOFFICIAL Bushfire Survival Guide

Unless you live in a concrete jungle, you should expect your home to be under threat from fire sometime within the next couple of months

• Prepare early.
• Leave before the fire forces you to leave. Do not wait for "permission" to leave, or for someone to knock on your door. If in doubt, get out. The earlier you leave, the better your chances of survival.
• If you're not being threatened by a bushfire, please get off the road.

​
Prepare your FAMILY:

• Relocate you children, elderly and pets NOW.
  • Make them safe, before there is an emergency. You will want your dependent loved-ones to be already safe and well out of harm's way, well before there is an imminent fire threat. You will want to be able to completely focus on defending your property.
  • Leave animals behind if you have to. People have died going back for pets and livestock. It sucks, but sometimes it has to be done.
• Only put other people in the car if you are ready to go NOW.
  • Never put people in a car, and then return to the house. In more than one instance in 2009, parents put children in the car, went back to the house, and then returned to find the car on fire. Never leave people in a car near a fire.
• Keep the authorities informed about your plans, and especially if there are any vulnerable people at risk
• Turn on "Location Sharing" within Google Maps, on your phone, to share with your friends/family
  • This is a very useful tool

​
Prepare your ESCAPE

• Don't let yourself get trapped and surrounded.
• Always have at least 2 different escape plans.
• If under immediate threat from a fire, never travel up hill to escape. Fire travels much faster up hill than down hill. Travelling across the face of the fire, or travelling through burnt out areas is safer.

​
Prepare your CAR:

• Ensure you have petrol
• Put several containers of water in the car.
• Carry as much water as you can.
• Bring a car-charger for your phone
• Bring your wallet/credit card
• Never leave a car running on or near long grass, this will possibly cause a fire

​
Prepare for NO MOBILE SIGNAL

• Fires often disable power and phone networks
• Discuss rendezvous plan with family/neighbours, so you are all on the same page, even if you can't communicate with them
• Nearly all smart phones will simply stop working when they get too hot

​
Prepare for INJURY

• Don't travel alone
• Don't be reckless

​
Prepare your EMERGENCY REFUGE:

• Move gas tanks and BBQs, petrol, vehicles, firewood and green waste away from the house.
• The ideal refuge is a sealed, insulated, non flammable building and a wide firebreak surrounding it. Plan early, leave early, and you get the chance to shelter in one of these.
• residential pools, water tanks, and bathrooms are not safe refuges. In a pool, the air above the water superheats, and you die of internal burns. In a water tank you will be basically steamed, and in a bathroom all the tiles, glass, and pipe works superheat.
• A large farm dam, deep creek with flowing water, a river with flowing water, a lake, or the ocean are relatively safe. The movement of the water helps to cool the air, and cycle hot and cold air across the top of the water. Still water is never a better option than sheltering inside a solid structure.

Clog your gutters (eg, start with tennis balls etc) and fill the gutters with water

• Put on the sprinklers (don't do this too early: conserve your limited water resources)

​
DEFENDING YOUR HOME: (A reality check)

• For even a moderate fire, the radiant heat is so extreme that you won't physically be able to get close enough to the fire to put water onto it. Radiant heat can kill people from 20 meters away.
• If you haven't already taken significant steps to allow you to defend your house during a bushfire, then unfortunately it's probably too late to safely defend your property.
• If you have a weatherboard property, your property is 'bushland', or you live on the side of a hill, you're a sitting duck.
• If you fall into this category, you need to simply flee the area immediately and leave your house in the highly capable hands of the fire fighters. Don't become a liability for the firefighters.

​
Prepare your GEAR:

• Overalls or jeans/thick cotton shirt
  • button up to the neck/chin, strap down around the wrists/ankles
  • close any gaps between your clothing - ie, white hot coals can enter your boots or gloves, or go up the leg of your pants, go up your arm, or down your shirt front/back, or down your backside.
  • remove any nylon/polyester clothing, it melts onto your skin like napalm
• Thick cotton/wool socks
  • consider wearing two pairs of socks.
• Leather boots
  • steel capped boots are recommended (My personal experience is that steel capped Blundstones become very hot around the toes while fighting fires, especially if you're wearing thin socks. Therefore, wear thick socks)
• Helmet
  • large tree branches can drop on you
• Goggles
  • must be sealed to face
  • smoke/embers will still go in the side/bottom of sunglasses. Sunglasses are completely useless.
• Leather gloves
  • absolutely essential
• Face mask
  • get one specifically designed to filter smoke (a "P2" filter), eg from Bunnings.
  • buy a Ventolin over-the-counter from the pharmacy (~$7)
• Drinking water
  • you will drink much, much more than you think. You may need to give water to someone
  • carry minimum 10L of dedicated, clean, drinking water.
• Backpack Weed-Sprayer
  • one of the most useful firefighting tools I've discovered
  • allows you to carry 15L of water with minimal strain, and it allows you put out small spot fires quickly, using only a tiny amount of water per spot fire.
  • 15L of water goes a hell of a long way when you are using this backpack
• Shovel
  • consider the effect of heat on the handle. Will it burn? Will it become hot to hold, if you happen to not be wearing leather gloves?
• Chainsaw
  • fill it with fuel

​
​
Lastly:
Things to do in the winter, BEFORE the fire season starts:

• Go around your house filming all your valuable possession, then upload this video to the cloud. This can be used as proof of ownership in an insurance claim.
• Create at least a 5 meter fire break around the perimeter of your property
• Buy a photo scanner with a sheet feeder. Digitise all your family photos in less than a couple of hours. Upload these photos to the cloud. Never worry about them again.

OFFICIAL information resources

Australia's fire authorities officially endorse the following resources:
NATIONAL:

1. Report fires to the fire authorities (phone 000)
2. Fires near me: Australia-wide (Android app)
3. ABC Radio: Frequency Finder
4. ABC News' guidelines for what to do before, during and after a bushfire
5. Report Arsonists to CrimeStoppers (phone 1800 333 000)
6. List of emergency + disaster recovery resources (national and state)
7. Let people know you are safe
8. The Emergency+ app allows you to give your exact location to 000 operators

STATE:

State	Fire map	Evacuation centers (where available)	Homepage of fire authority
Victoria	Fire map (Vic)	Community fire refuges (Vic)	CFA homepage (Vic)
Western Australia	Fire map (WA)	Search for "@dfeswa" on facebook. Info is occasionally posted there.	DFES homepage (WA)
South Australia	Fire map (SA)	Map of evaculation centres (SA)	MFS homepage (SA)
NSW	Fire map (NSW)	List evacuation centres (NSW)	RFS homepage (NSW)
Queensland	Fire map (Qld)	General info (Qld)	QFES homepage (Qld)
Northern Territory	Fire map (NT)	List of all shelters (NT)	PFES homepage (NT)
Tasmania	Fire map (Tas)	Nearby safer places (Tas)	TFS homepage (Tas)
Australia Capital Territory	Fire map (ACT)		ESA homepage (ACT)

​

Disclaimer

• The information in the next section entitled "UNOFFICIAL survival guide" is content written by members of general public
• This section aims to share sensible, thought-provoking tips from people who have been through a bushfire recently and genuinely want to help the community by sharing their knowledge. You'll need to consider, evaluate and adapt these suggestions to your own circumstances, if appropriate.
• The goal of this page is only to elaborate upon the formal advice provided by fire authorities. The official guidance and advice from fire authorities will always take precedence over anything written on this page.

UNOFFICIAL Bushfire Survival Guide

Unless you live in a concrete jungle, you should expect your home to be under threat from fire sometime within the next couple of months

• Prepare early.
• Leave before the fire forces you to leave. Do not wait for "permission" to leave, or for someone to knock on your door. If in doubt, get out. The earlier you leave, the better your chances of survival.
• If you're not being threatened by a bushfire, please get off the road.

​
Prepare your FAMILY:

• Relocate you children, elderly and pets NOW.
  • Make them safe, before there is an emergency. You will want your dependent loved-ones to be already safe and well out of harm's way, well before there is an imminent fire threat. You will want to be able to completely focus on defending your property.
  • Leave animals behind if you have to. People have died going back for pets and livestock. It sucks, but sometimes it has to be done.
• Only put other people in the car if you are ready to go NOW.
  • Never put people in a car, and then return to the house. In more than one instance in 2009, parents put children in the car, went back to the house, and then returned to find the car on fire. Never leave people in a car near a fire.
• Keep the authorities informed about your plans, and especially if there are any vulnerable people at risk
• Turn on "Location Sharing" within Google Maps, on your phone, to share with your friends/family
  • This is a very useful tool

​
Prepare your ESCAPE

• Don't let yourself get trapped and surrounded.
• Always have at least 2 different escape plans.
• If under immediate threat from a fire, never travel up hill to escape. Fire travels much faster up hill than down hill. Travelling across the face of the fire, or travelling through burnt out areas is safer.

​
Prepare your CAR:

• Ensure you have petrol
• Put several containers of water in the car.
• Carry as much water as you can.
• Bring a car-charger for your phone
• Bring your wallet/credit card
• Never leave a car running on or near long grass, this will possibly cause a fire

​
Prepare for NO MOBILE SIGNAL

• Fires often disable power and phone networks
• Discuss rendezvous plan with family/neighbours, so you are all on the same page, even if you can't communicate with them
• Nearly all smart phones will simply stop working when they get too hot

​
Prepare for INJURY

• Don't travel alone
• Don't be reckless

​
Prepare your EMERGENCY REFUGE:

• Move gas tanks and BBQs, petrol, vehicles, firewood and green waste away from the house.
• The ideal refuge is a sealed, insulated, non flammable building and a wide firebreak surrounding it. Plan early, leave early, and you get the chance to shelter in one of these.
• residential pools, water tanks, and bathrooms are not safe refuges. In a pool, the air above the water superheats, and you die of internal burns. In a water tank you will be basically steamed, and in a bathroom all the tiles, glass, and pipe works superheat.
• A large farm dam, deep creek with flowing water, a river with flowing water, a lake, or the ocean are relatively safe. The movement of the water helps to cool the air, and cycle hot and cold air across the top of the water. Still water is never a better option than sheltering inside a solid structure.

Clog your gutters (eg, start with tennis balls etc) and fill the gutters with water

• Put on the sprinklers (don't do this too early: conserve your limited water resources)

​
DEFENDING YOUR HOME: (A reality check)

• For even a moderate fire, the radiant heat is so extreme that you won't physically be able to get close enough to the fire to put water onto it. Radiant heat can kill people from 20 meters away.
• If you haven't already taken significant steps to allow you to defend your house during a bushfire, then unfortunately it's probably too late to safely defend your property.
• If you have a weatherboard property, your property is 'bushland', or you live on the side of a hill, you're a sitting duck.
• If you fall into this category, you need to simply flee the area immediately and leave your house in the highly capable hands of the fire fighters. Don't become a liability for the firefighters.

​
Prepare your GEAR:

• Overalls or jeans/thick cotton shirt
  • button up to the neck/chin, strap down around the wrists/ankles
  • close any gaps between your clothing - ie, white hot coals can enter your boots or gloves, or go up the leg of your pants, go up your arm, or down your shirt front/back, or down your backside.
  • remove any nylon/polyester clothing, it melts onto your skin like napalm
• Thick cotton/wool socks
  • consider wearing two pairs of socks.
• Leather boots
  • steel capped boots are recommended (My personal experience is that steel capped Blundstones become very hot around the toes while fighting fires, especially if you're wearing thin socks. Therefore, wear thick socks)
• Helmet
  • large tree branches can drop on you
• Goggles
  • must be sealed to face
  • smoke/embers will still go in the side/bottom of sunglasses. Sunglasses are completely useless.
• Leather gloves
  • absolutely essential
• Face mask
  • get one specifically designed to filter smoke (a "P2" filter), eg from Bunnings.
  • buy a Ventolin over-the-counter from the pharmacy (~$7)
• Drinking water
  • you will drink much, much more than you think. You may need to give water to someone
  • carry minimum 10L of dedicated, clean, drinking water.
• Backpack Weed-Sprayer
  • one of the most useful firefighting tools I've discovered
  • allows you to carry 15L of water with minimal strain, and it allows you put out small spot fires quickly, using only a tiny amount of water per spot fire.
  • 15L of water goes a hell of a long way when you are using this backpack
• Shovel
  • consider the effect of heat on the handle. Will it burn? Will it become hot to hold, if you happen to not be wearing leather gloves?
• Chainsaw
  • fill it with fuel

​
​
Lastly:
Things to do in the winter, BEFORE the fire season starts:

• Go around your house filming all your valuable possession, then upload this video to the cloud. This can be used as proof of ownership in an insurance claim.
• Create at least a 5 meter fire break around the perimeter of your property
• Buy a photo scanner with a sheet feeder. Digitise all your family photos in less than a couple of hours. Upload these photos to the cloud. Never worry about them again.

OFFICIAL information resources

Australia's fire authorities officially endorse the following resources:
NATIONAL:

1. Report fires to the fire authorities (phone 000)
2. Fires near me: Australia-wide (Android app)
3. ABC Radio: Frequency Finder
4. ABC News' guidelines for what to do before, during and after a bushfire
5. Report Arsonists to CrimeStoppers (phone 1800 333 000)
6. List of emergency + disaster recovery resources (national and state)
7. Let people know you are safe
8. The Emergency+ app allows you to give your exact location to 000 operators

STATE:

State	Fire map	Evacuation centers (where available)	Homepage of fire authority
Victoria	Fire map (Vic)	Community fire refuges (Vic)	CFA homepage (Vic)
Western Australia	Fire map (WA)	Search for "@dfeswa" on facebook. Info is occasionally posted there.	DFES homepage (WA)
South Australia	Fire map (SA)	Map of evaculation centres (SA)	MFS homepage (SA)
NSW	Fire map (NSW)	List evacuation centres (NSW)	RFS homepage (NSW)
Queensland	Fire map (Qld)	General info (Qld)	QFES homepage (Qld)
Northern Territory	Fire map (NT)	List of all shelters (NT)	PFES homepage (NT)
Tasmania	Fire map (Tas)	Nearby safer places (Tas)	TFS homepage (Tas)
Australia Capital Territory	Fire map (ACT)		ESA homepage (ACT)

​

Disclaimer

• The information in the next section entitled "UNOFFICIAL survival guide" is content written by members of general public
• This section aims to share sensible, thought-provoking tips from people who have been through a bushfire recently and genuinely want to help the community by sharing their knowledge. You'll need to consider, evaluate and adapt these suggestions to your own circumstances, if appropriate.
• The goal of this page is only to elaborate upon the formal advice provided by fire authorities. The official guidance and advice from fire authorities will always take precedence over anything written on this page.

UNOFFICIAL Bushfire Survival Guide

Unless you live in a concrete jungle, you should expect your home to be under threat from fire sometime within the next couple of months

• Prepare early.
• Leave before the fire forces you to leave. Do not wait for "permission" to leave, or for someone to knock on your door. If in doubt, get out. The earlier you leave, the better your chances of survival.
• If you're not being threatened by a bushfire, please get off the road.

​
Prepare your FAMILY:

• Relocate you children, elderly and pets NOW.
  • Make them safe, before there is an emergency. You will want your dependent loved-ones to be already safe and well out of harm's way, well before there is an imminent fire threat. You will want to be able to completely focus on defending your property.
  • Leave animals behind if you have to. People have died going back for pets and livestock. It sucks, but sometimes it has to be done.
• Only put other people in the car if you are ready to go NOW.
  • Never put people in a car, and then return to the house. In more than one instance in 2009, parents put children in the car, went back to the house, and then returned to find the car on fire. Never leave people in a car near a fire.
• Keep the authorities informed about your plans, and especially if there are any vulnerable people at risk
• Turn on "Location Sharing" within Google Maps, on your phone, to share with your friends/family
  • This is a very useful tool

​
Prepare your ESCAPE

• Don't let yourself get trapped and surrounded.
• Always have at least 2 different escape plans.
• If under immediate threat from a fire, never travel up hill to escape. Fire travels much faster up hill than down hill. Travelling across the face of the fire, or travelling through burnt out areas is safer.

​
Prepare your CAR:

• Ensure you have petrol
• Put several containers of water in the car.
• Carry as much water as you can.
• Bring a car-charger for your phone
• Bring your wallet/credit card
• Never leave a car running on or near long grass, this will possibly cause a fire

​
Prepare for NO MOBILE SIGNAL

• Fires often disable power and phone networks
• Discuss rendezvous plan with family/neighbours, so you are all on the same page, even if you can't communicate with them
• Nearly all smart phones will simply stop working when they get too hot

​
Prepare for INJURY

• Don't travel alone
• Don't be reckless

​
Prepare your EMERGENCY REFUGE:

• Move gas tanks and BBQs, petrol, vehicles, firewood and green waste away from the house.
• The ideal refuge is a sealed, insulated, non flammable building and a wide firebreak surrounding it. Plan early, leave early, and you get the chance to shelter in one of these.
• residential pools, water tanks, and bathrooms are not safe refuges. In a pool, the air above the water superheats, and you die of internal burns. In a water tank you will be basically steamed, and in a bathroom all the tiles, glass, and pipe works superheat.
• A large farm dam, deep creek with flowing water, a river with flowing water, a lake, or the ocean are relatively safe. The movement of the water helps to cool the air, and cycle hot and cold air across the top of the water. Still water is never a better option than sheltering inside a solid structure.

Clog your gutters (eg, start with tennis balls etc) and fill the gutters with water

• Put on the sprinklers (don't do this too early: conserve your limited water resources)

​
DEFENDING YOUR HOME: (A reality check)

• For even a moderate fire, the radiant heat is so extreme that you won't physically be able to get close enough to the fire to put water onto it. Radiant heat can kill people from 20 meters away.
• If you haven't already taken significant steps to allow you to defend your house during a bushfire, then unfortunately it's probably too late to safely defend your property.
• If you have a weatherboard property, your property is 'bushland', or you live on the side of a hill, you're a sitting duck.
• If you fall into this category, you need to simply flee the area immediately and leave your house in the highly capable hands of the fire fighters. Don't become a liability for the firefighters.

​
Prepare your GEAR:

• Overalls or jeans/thick cotton shirt
  • button up to the neck/chin, strap down around the wrists/ankles
  • close any gaps between your clothing - ie, white hot coals can enter your boots or gloves, or go up the leg of your pants, go up your arm, or down your shirt front/back, or down your backside.
  • remove any nylon/polyester clothing, it melts onto your skin like napalm
• Thick cotton/wool socks
  • consider wearing two pairs of socks.
• Leather boots
  • steel capped boots are recommended (My personal experience is that steel capped Blundstones become very hot around the toes while fighting fires, especially if you're wearing thin socks. Therefore, wear thick socks)
• Helmet
  • large tree branches can drop on you
• Goggles
  • must be sealed to face
  • smoke/embers will still go in the side/bottom of sunglasses. Sunglasses are completely useless.
• Leather gloves
  • absolutely essential
• Face mask
  • get one specifically designed to filter smoke (a "P2" filter), eg from Bunnings.
  • buy a Ventolin over-the-counter from the pharmacy (~$7)
• Drinking water
  • you will drink much, much more than you think. You may need to give water to someone
  • carry minimum 10L of dedicated, clean, drinking water.
• Backpack Weed-Sprayer
  • one of the most useful firefighting tools I've discovered
  • allows you to carry 15L of water with minimal strain, and it allows you put out small spot fires quickly, using only a tiny amount of water per spot fire.
  • 15L of water goes a hell of a long way when you are using this backpack
• Shovel
  • consider the effect of heat on the handle. Will it burn? Will it become hot to hold, if you happen to not be wearing leather gloves?
• Chainsaw
  • fill it with fuel

​
​
Lastly:
Things to do in the winter, BEFORE the fire season starts:

• Go around your house filming all your valuable possession, then upload this video to the cloud. This can be used as proof of ownership in an insurance claim.
• Create at least a 5 meter fire break around the perimeter of your property
• Buy a photo scanner with a sheet feeder. Digitise all your family photos in less than a couple of hours. Upload these photos to the cloud. Never worry about them again.

OFFICIAL information resources

Australia's fire authorities officially endorse the following resources:
NATIONAL:

1. Report fires to the fire authorities (phone 000)
2. Fires near me: Australia-wide (Android app)
3. ABC Radio: Frequency Finder
4. ABC News' guidelines for what to do before, during and after a bushfire
5. Report Arsonists to CrimeStoppers (phone 1800 333 000)
6. List of emergency + disaster recovery resources (national and state)
7. Let people know you are safe
8. The Emergency+ app allows you to give your exact location to 000 operators

STATE:

State	Fire map	Evacuation centers (where available)	Homepage of fire authority
Victoria	Fire map (Vic)	Community fire refuges (Vic)	CFA homepage (Vic)
Western Australia	Fire map (WA)	Search for "@dfeswa" on facebook. Info is occasionally posted there.	DFES homepage (WA)
South Australia	Fire map (SA)	Map of evaculation centres (SA)	MFS homepage (SA)
NSW	Fire map (NSW)	List evacuation centres (NSW)	RFS homepage (NSW)
Queensland	Fire map (Qld)	General info (Qld)	QFES homepage (Qld)
Northern Territory	Fire map (NT)	List of all shelters (NT)	PFES homepage (NT)
Tasmania	Fire map (Tas)	Nearby safer places (Tas)	TFS homepage (Tas)
Australia Capital Territory	Fire map (ACT)		ESA homepage (ACT)

​

Disclaimer

• The information in the next section entitled "UNOFFICIAL survival guide" is content written by members of general public
• This section aims to share sensible, thought-provoking tips from people who have been through a bushfire recently and genuinely want to help the community by sharing their knowledge. You'll need to consider, evaluate and adapt these suggestions to your own circumstances, if appropriate.
• The goal of this page is only to elaborate upon the formal advice provided by fire authorities. The official guidance and advice from fire authorities will always take precedence over anything written on this page.

UNOFFICIAL Bushfire Survival Guide

Unless you live in a concrete jungle, you should expect your home to be under threat from fire sometime within the next couple of months

• Prepare early.
• Leave before the fire forces you to leave. Do not wait for "permission" to leave, or for someone to knock on your door. If in doubt, get out. The earlier you leave, the better your chances of survival.
• If you're not being threatened by a bushfire, please get off the road.

​
Prepare your FAMILY:

• Relocate you children, elderly and pets NOW.
  • Make them safe, before there is an emergency. You will want your dependent loved-ones to be already safe and well out of harm's way, well before there is an imminent fire threat. You will want to be able to completely focus on defending your property.
  • Leave animals behind if you have to. People have died going back for pets and livestock. It sucks, but sometimes it has to be done.
• Only put other people in the car if you are ready to go NOW.
  • Never put people in a car, and then return to the house. In more than one instance in 2009, parents put children in the car, went back to the house, and then returned to find the car on fire. Never leave people in a car near a fire.
• Keep the authorities informed about your plans, and especially if there are any vulnerable people at risk
• Turn on "Location Sharing" within Google Maps, on your phone, to share with your friends/family
  • This is a very useful tool

​
Prepare your ESCAPE

• Don't let yourself get trapped and surrounded.
• Always have at least 2 different escape plans.
• If under immediate threat from a fire, never travel up hill to escape. Fire travels much faster up hill than down hill. Travelling across the face of the fire, or travelling through burnt out areas is safer.

​
Prepare your CAR:

• Ensure you have petrol
• Put several containers of water in the car.
• Carry as much water as you can.
• Bring a car-charger for your phone
• Bring your wallet/credit card
• Never leave a car running on or near long grass, this will possibly cause a fire

​
Prepare for NO MOBILE SIGNAL

• Fires often disable power and phone networks
• Discuss rendezvous plan with family/neighbours, so you are all on the same page, even if you can't communicate with them
• Nearly all smart phones will simply stop working when they get too hot

​
Prepare for INJURY

• Don't travel alone
• Don't be reckless

​
Prepare your EMERGENCY REFUGE:

• Move gas tanks and BBQs, petrol, vehicles, firewood and green waste away from the house.
• The ideal refuge is a sealed, insulated, non flammable building and a wide firebreak surrounding it. Plan early, leave early, and you get the chance to shelter in one of these.
• residential pools, water tanks, and bathrooms are not safe refuges. In a pool, the air above the water superheats, and you die of internal burns. In a water tank you will be basically steamed, and in a bathroom all the tiles, glass, and pipe works superheat.
• A large farm dam, deep creek with flowing water, a river with flowing water, a lake, or the ocean are relatively safe. The movement of the water helps to cool the air, and cycle hot and cold air across the top of the water. Still water is never a better option than sheltering inside a solid structure.

Clog your gutters (eg, start with tennis balls etc) and fill the gutters with water

• Put on the sprinklers (don't do this too early: conserve your limited water resources)

​
DEFENDING YOUR HOME: (A reality check)

• For even a moderate fire, the radiant heat is so extreme that you won't physically be able to get close enough to the fire to put water onto it. Radiant heat can kill people from 20 meters away.
• If you haven't already taken significant steps to allow you to defend your house during a bushfire, then unfortunately it's probably too late to safely defend your property.
• If you have a weatherboard property, your property is 'bushland', or you live on the side of a hill, you're a sitting duck.
• If you fall into this category, you need to simply flee the area immediately and leave your house in the highly capable hands of the fire fighters. Don't become a liability for the firefighters.

​
Prepare your GEAR:

• Overalls or jeans/thick cotton shirt
  • button up to the neck/chin, strap down around the wrists/ankles
  • close any gaps between your clothing - ie, white hot coals can enter your boots or gloves, or go up the leg of your pants, go up your arm, or down your shirt front/back, or down your backside.
  • remove any nylon/polyester clothing, it melts onto your skin like napalm
• Thick cotton/wool socks
  • consider wearing two pairs of socks.
• Leather boots
  • steel capped boots are recommended (My personal experience is that steel capped Blundstones become very hot around the toes while fighting fires, especially if you're wearing thin socks. Therefore, wear thick socks)
• Helmet
  • large tree branches can drop on you
• Goggles
  • must be sealed to face
  • smoke/embers will still go in the side/bottom of sunglasses. Sunglasses are completely useless.
• Leather gloves
  • absolutely essential
• Face mask
  • get one specifically designed to filter smoke (a "P2" filter), eg from Bunnings.
  • buy a Ventolin over-the-counter from the pharmacy (~$7)
• Drinking water
  • you will drink much, much more than you think. You may need to give water to someone
  • carry minimum 10L of dedicated, clean, drinking water.
• Backpack Weed-Sprayer
  • one of the most useful firefighting tools I've discovered
  • allows you to carry 15L of water with minimal strain, and it allows you put out small spot fires quickly, using only a tiny amount of water per spot fire.
  • 15L of water goes a hell of a long way when you are using this backpack
• Shovel
  • consider the effect of heat on the handle. Will it burn? Will it become hot to hold, if you happen to not be wearing leather gloves?
• Chainsaw
  • fill it with fuel

​
​
Lastly:
Things to do in the winter, BEFORE the fire season starts:

• Go around your house filming all your valuable possession, then upload this video to the cloud. This can be used as proof of ownership in an insurance claim.
• Create at least a 5 meter fire break around the perimeter of your property
• Buy a photo scanner with a sheet feeder. Digitise all your family photos in less than a couple of hours. Upload these photos to the cloud. Never worry about them again.

OFFICIAL information resources

Australia's fire authorities officially endorse the following resources:
NATIONAL:

1. Report fires to the fire authorities (phone 000)
2. Fires near me: Australia-wide (Android app)
3. ABC Radio: Frequency Finder
4. ABC News' guidelines for what to do before, during and after a bushfire
5. Report Arsonists to CrimeStoppers (phone 1800 333 000)
6. List of emergency + disaster recovery resources (national and state)
7. Let people know you are safe
8. The Emergency+ app allows you to give your exact location to 000 operators

STATE:

State	Fire map	Evacuation centers (where available)	Homepage of fire authority
Victoria	Fire map (Vic)	Community fire refuges (Vic)	CFA homepage (Vic)
Western Australia	Fire map (WA)	Search for "@dfeswa" on facebook. Info is occasionally posted there.	DFES homepage (WA)
South Australia	Fire map (SA)	Map of evaculation centres (SA)	MFS homepage (SA)
NSW	Fire map (NSW)	List evacuation centres (NSW)	RFS homepage (NSW)
Queensland	Fire map (Qld)	General info (Qld)	QFES homepage (Qld)
Northern Territory	Fire map (NT)	List of all shelters (NT)	PFES homepage (NT)
Tasmania	Fire map (Tas)	Nearby safer places (Tas)	TFS homepage (Tas)
Australia Capital Territory	Fire map (ACT)		ESA homepage (ACT)

​

Disclaimer

• The information in the next section entitled "UNOFFICIAL survival guide" is content written by members of general public
• This section aims to share sensible, thought-provoking tips from people who have been through a bushfire recently and genuinely want to help the community by sharing their knowledge. You'll need to consider, evaluate and adapt these suggestions to your own circumstances, if appropriate.
• The goal of this page is only to elaborate upon the formal advice provided by fire authorities. The official guidance and advice from fire authorities will always take precedence over anything written on this page.

UNOFFICIAL Bushfire Survival Guide

Unless you live in a concrete jungle, you should expect your home to be under threat from fire sometime within the next couple of months

• Prepare early.
• Leave before the fire forces you to leave. Do not wait for "permission" to leave, or for someone to knock on your door. If in doubt, get out. The earlier you leave, the better your chances of survival.
• If you're not being threatened by a bushfire, please get off the road.

​
Prepare your FAMILY:

• Relocate you children, elderly and pets NOW.
  • Make them safe, before there is an emergency. You will want your dependent loved-ones to be already safe and well out of harm's way, well before there is an imminent fire threat. You will want to be able to completely focus on defending your property.
  • Leave animals behind if you have to. People have died going back for pets and livestock. It sucks, but sometimes it has to be done.
• Only put other people in the car if you are ready to go NOW.
  • Never put people in a car, and then return to the house. In more than one instance in 2009, parents put children in the car, went back to the house, and then returned to find the car on fire. Never leave people in a car near a fire.
• Keep the authorities informed about your plans, and especially if there are any vulnerable people at risk
• Turn on "Location Sharing" within Google Maps, on your phone, to share with your friends/family
  • This is a very useful tool

​
Prepare your ESCAPE

• Don't let yourself get trapped and surrounded.
• Always have at least 2 different escape plans.
• If under immediate threat from a fire, never travel up hill to escape. Fire travels much faster up hill than down hill. Travelling across the face of the fire, or travelling through burnt out areas is safer.

​
Prepare your CAR:

• Ensure you have petrol
• Put several containers of water in the car.
• Carry as much water as you can.
• Bring a car-charger for your phone
• Bring your wallet/credit card
• Never leave a car running on or near long grass, this will possibly cause a fire

​
Prepare for NO MOBILE SIGNAL

• Fires often disable power and phone networks
• Discuss rendezvous plan with family/neighbours, so you are all on the same page, even if you can't communicate with them
• Nearly all smart phones will simply stop working when they get too hot

​
Prepare for INJURY

• Don't travel alone
• Don't be reckless

​
Prepare your EMERGENCY REFUGE:

• Move gas tanks and BBQs, petrol, vehicles, firewood and green waste away from the house.
• The ideal refuge is a sealed, insulated, non flammable building and a wide firebreak surrounding it. Plan early, leave early, and you get the chance to shelter in one of these.
• residential pools, water tanks, and bathrooms are not safe refuges. In a pool, the air above the water superheats, and you die of internal burns. In a water tank you will be basically steamed, and in a bathroom all the tiles, glass, and pipe works superheat.
• A large farm dam, deep creek with flowing water, a river with flowing water, a lake, or the ocean are relatively safe. The movement of the water helps to cool the air, and cycle hot and cold air across the top of the water. Still water is never a better option than sheltering inside a solid structure.

Clog your gutters (eg, start with tennis balls etc) and fill the gutters with water

• Put on the sprinklers (don't do this too early: conserve your limited water resources)

​
DEFENDING YOUR HOME: (A reality check)

• For even a moderate fire, the radiant heat is so extreme that you won't physically be able to get close enough to the fire to put water onto it. Radiant heat can kill people from 20 meters away.
• If you haven't already taken significant steps to allow you to defend your house during a bushfire, then unfortunately it's probably too late to safely defend your property.
• If you have a weatherboard property, your property is 'bushland', or you live on the side of a hill, you're a sitting duck.
• If you fall into this category, you need to simply flee the area immediately and leave your house in the highly capable hands of the fire fighters. Don't become a liability for the firefighters.

​
Prepare your GEAR:

• Overalls or jeans/thick cotton shirt
  • button up to the neck/chin, strap down around the wrists/ankles
  • close any gaps between your clothing - ie, white hot coals can enter your boots or gloves, or go up the leg of your pants, go up your arm, or down your shirt front/back, or down your backside.
  • remove any nylon/polyester clothing, it melts onto your skin like napalm
• Thick cotton/wool socks
  • consider wearing two pairs of socks.
• Leather boots
  • steel capped boots are recommended (My personal experience is that steel capped Blundstones become very hot around the toes while fighting fires, especially if you're wearing thin socks. Therefore, wear thick socks)
• Helmet
  • large tree branches can drop on you
• Goggles
  • must be sealed to face
  • smoke/embers will still go in the side/bottom of sunglasses. Sunglasses are completely useless.
• Leather gloves
  • absolutely essential
• Face mask
  • get one specifically designed to filter smoke (a "P2" filter), eg from Bunnings.
  • buy a Ventolin over-the-counter from the pharmacy (~$7)
• Drinking water
  • you will drink much, much more than you think. You may need to give water to someone
  • carry minimum 10L of dedicated, clean, drinking water.
• Backpack Weed-Sprayer
  • one of the most useful firefighting tools I've discovered
  • allows you to carry 15L of water with minimal strain, and it allows you put out small spot fires quickly, using only a tiny amount of water per spot fire.
  • 15L of water goes a hell of a long way when you are using this backpack
• Shovel
  • consider the effect of heat on the handle. Will it burn? Will it become hot to hold, if you happen to not be wearing leather gloves?
• Chainsaw
  • fill it with fuel

​
​
Lastly:
Things to do in the winter, BEFORE the fire season starts:

• Go around your house filming all your valuable possession, then upload this video to the cloud. This can be used as proof of ownership in an insurance claim.
• Create at least a 5 meter fire break around the perimeter of your property
• Buy a photo scanner with a sheet feeder. Digitise all your family photos in less than a couple of hours. Upload these photos to the cloud. Never worry about them again.

OFFICIAL information resources

Australia's fire authorities officially endorse the following resources:
NATIONAL:

1. Report fires to the fire authorities (phone 000)
2. Fires near me: Australia-wide (Android app)
3. ABC Radio: Frequency Finder
4. ABC News' guidelines for what to do before, during and after a bushfire
5. Report Arsonists to CrimeStoppers (phone 1800 333 000)
6. List of emergency + disaster recovery resources (national and state)
7. Let people know you are safe
8. The Emergency+ app allows you to give your exact location to 000 operators

STATE:

State	Fire map	Evacuation centers (where available)	Homepage of fire authority
Victoria	Fire map (Vic)	Community fire refuges (Vic)	CFA homepage (Vic)
Western Australia	Fire map (WA)	Search for "@dfeswa" on facebook. Info is occasionally posted there.	DFES homepage (WA)
South Australia	Fire map (SA)	Map of evaculation centres (SA)	MFS homepage (SA)
NSW	Fire map (NSW)	List evacuation centres (NSW)	RFS homepage (NSW)
Queensland	Fire map (Qld)	General info (Qld)	QFES homepage (Qld)
Northern Territory	Fire map (NT)	List of all shelters (NT)	PFES homepage (NT)
Tasmania	Fire map (Tas)	Nearby safer places (Tas)	TFS homepage (Tas)
Australia Capital Territory	Fire map (ACT)		ESA homepage (ACT)

​

Disclaimer

• The information in the next section entitled "UNOFFICIAL survival guide" is content written by members of general public
• This section aims to share sensible, thought-provoking tips from people who have been through a bushfire recently and genuinely want to help the community by sharing their knowledge. You'll need to consider, evaluate and adapt these suggestions to your own circumstances, if appropriate.
• The goal of this page is only to elaborate upon the formal advice provided by fire authorities. The official guidance and advice from fire authorities will always take precedence over anything written on this page.

UNOFFICIAL Bushfire Survival Guide

Unless you live in a concrete jungle, you should expect your home to be under threat from fire sometime within the next couple of months

• Prepare early.
• Leave before the fire forces you to leave. Do not wait for "permission" to leave, or for someone to knock on your door. If in doubt, get out. The earlier you leave, the better your chances of survival.
• If you're not being threatened by a bushfire, please get off the road.

​
Prepare your FAMILY:

• Relocate you children, elderly and pets NOW.
  • Make them safe, before there is an emergency. You will want your dependent loved-ones to be already safe and well out of harm's way, well before there is an imminent fire threat. You will want to be able to completely focus on defending your property.
  • Leave animals behind if you have to. People have died going back for pets and livestock. It sucks, but sometimes it has to be done.
• Only put other people in the car if you are ready to go NOW.
  • Never put people in a car, and then return to the house. In more than one instance in 2009, parents put children in the car, went back to the house, and then returned to find the car on fire. Never leave people in a car near a fire.
• Keep the authorities informed about your plans, and especially if there are any vulnerable people at risk
• Turn on "Location Sharing" within Google Maps, on your phone, to share with your friends/family
  • This is a very useful tool

​
Prepare your ESCAPE

• Don't let yourself get trapped and surrounded.
• Always have at least 2 different escape plans.
• If under immediate threat from a fire, never travel up hill to escape. Fire travels much faster up hill than down hill. Travelling across the face of the fire, or travelling through burnt out areas is safer.

​
Prepare your CAR:

• Ensure you have petrol
• Put several containers of water in the car.
• Carry as much water as you can.
• Bring a car-charger for your phone
• Bring your wallet/credit card
• Never leave a car running on or near long grass, this will possibly cause a fire

​
Prepare for NO MOBILE SIGNAL

• Fires often disable power and phone networks
• Discuss rendezvous plan with family/neighbours, so you are all on the same page, even if you can't communicate with them
• Nearly all smart phones will simply stop working when they get too hot

​
Prepare for INJURY

• Don't travel alone
• Don't be reckless

​
Prepare your EMERGENCY REFUGE:

• Move gas tanks and BBQs, petrol, vehicles, firewood and green waste away from the house.
• The ideal refuge is a sealed, insulated, non flammable building and a wide firebreak surrounding it. Plan early, leave early, and you get the chance to shelter in one of these.
• residential pools, water tanks, and bathrooms are not safe refuges. In a pool, the air above the water superheats, and you die of internal burns. In a water tank you will be basically steamed, and in a bathroom all the tiles, glass, and pipe works superheat.
• A large farm dam, deep creek with flowing water, a river with flowing water, a lake, or the ocean are relatively safe. The movement of the water helps to cool the air, and cycle hot and cold air across the top of the water. Still water is never a better option than sheltering inside a solid structure.

Clog your gutters (eg, start with tennis balls etc) and fill the gutters with water

• Put on the sprinklers (don't do this too early: conserve your limited water resources)

​
DEFENDING YOUR HOME: (A reality check)

• For even a moderate fire, the radiant heat is so extreme that you won't physically be able to get close enough to the fire to put water onto it. Radiant heat can kill people from 20 meters away.
• If you haven't already taken significant steps to allow you to defend your house during a bushfire, then unfortunately it's probably too late to safely defend your property.
• If you have a weatherboard property, your property is 'bushland', or you live on the side of a hill, you're a sitting duck.
• If you fall into this category, you need to simply flee the area immediately and leave your house in the highly capable hands of the fire fighters. Don't become a liability for the firefighters.

​
Prepare your GEAR:

• Overalls or jeans/thick cotton shirt
  • button up to the neck/chin, strap down around the wrists/ankles
  • close any gaps between your clothing - ie, white hot coals can enter your boots or gloves, or go up the leg of your pants, go up your arm, or down your shirt front/back, or down your backside.
  • remove any nylon/polyester clothing, it melts onto your skin like napalm
• Thick cotton/wool socks
  • consider wearing two pairs of socks.
• Leather boots
  • steel capped boots are recommended (My personal experience is that steel capped Blundstones become very hot around the toes while fighting fires, especially if you're wearing thin socks. Therefore, wear thick socks)
• Helmet
  • large tree branches can drop on you
• Goggles
  • must be sealed to face
  • smoke/embers will still go in the side/bottom of sunglasses. Sunglasses are completely useless.
• Leather gloves
  • absolutely essential
• Face mask
  • get one specifically designed to filter smoke (a "P2" filter), eg from Bunnings.
  • buy a Ventolin over-the-counter from the pharmacy (~$7)
• Drinking water
  • you will drink much, much more than you think. You may need to give water to someone
  • carry minimum 10L of dedicated, clean, drinking water.
• Backpack Weed-Sprayer
  • one of the most useful firefighting tools I've discovered
  • allows you to carry 15L of water with minimal strain, and it allows you put out small spot fires quickly, using only a tiny amount of water per spot fire.
  • 15L of water goes a hell of a long way when you are using this backpack
• Shovel
  • consider the effect of heat on the handle. Will it burn? Will it become hot to hold, if you happen to not be wearing leather gloves?
• Chainsaw
  • fill it with fuel

​
​
Lastly:
Things to do in the winter, BEFORE the fire season starts:

• Go around your house filming all your valuable possession, then upload this video to the cloud. This can be used as proof of ownership in an insurance claim.
• Create at least a 5 meter fire break around the perimeter of your property
• Buy a photo scanner with a sheet feeder. Digitise all your family photos in less than a couple of hours. Upload these photos to the cloud. Never worry about them again.

OFFICIAL information resources

Australia's fire authorities officially endorse the following resources:
NATIONAL:

1. Report fires to the fire authorities (phone 000)
2. Fires near me: Australia-wide (Android app)
3. ABC Radio: Frequency Finder
4. ABC News' guidelines for what to do before, during and after a bushfire
5. Report Arsonists to CrimeStoppers (phone 1800 333 000)
6. List of emergency + disaster recovery resources (national and state)
7. Let people know you are safe
8. The Emergency+ app allows you to give your exact location to 000 operators

STATE:

State	Fire map	Evacuation centers (where available)	Homepage of fire authority
Victoria	Fire map (Vic)	Community fire refuges (Vic)	CFA homepage (Vic)
Western Australia	Fire map (WA)	Search for "@dfeswa" on facebook. Info is occasionally posted there.	DFES homepage (WA)
South Australia	Fire map (SA)	Map of evaculation centres (SA)	MFS homepage (SA)
NSW	Fire map (NSW)	List evacuation centres (NSW)	RFS homepage (NSW)
Queensland	Fire map (Qld)	General info (Qld)	QFES homepage (Qld)
Northern Territory	Fire map (NT)	List of all shelters (NT)	PFES homepage (NT)
Tasmania	Fire map (Tas)	Nearby safer places (Tas)	TFS homepage (Tas)
Australia Capital Territory	Fire map (ACT)		ESA homepage (ACT)

​

Disclaimer

• The information in the next section entitled "UNOFFICIAL survival guide" is content written by members of general public
• This section aims to share sensible, thought-provoking tips from people who have been through a bushfire recently and genuinely want to help the community by sharing their knowledge. You'll need to consider, evaluate and adapt these suggestions to your own circumstances, if appropriate.
• The goal of this page is only to elaborate upon the formal advice provided by fire authorities. The official guidance and advice from fire authorities will always take precedence over anything written on this page.

UNOFFICIAL Bushfire Survival Guide

Unless you live in a concrete jungle, you should expect your home to be under threat from fire sometime within the next couple of months

• Prepare early.
• Leave before the fire forces you to leave. Do not wait for "permission" to leave, or for someone to knock on your door. If in doubt, get out. The earlier you leave, the better your chances of survival.
• If you're not being threatened by a bushfire, please get off the road.

​
Prepare your FAMILY:

• Relocate you children, elderly and pets NOW.
  • Make them safe, before there is an emergency. You will want your dependent loved-ones to be already safe and well out of harm's way, well before there is an imminent fire threat. You will want to be able to completely focus on defending your property.
  • Leave animals behind if you have to. People have died going back for pets and livestock. It sucks, but sometimes it has to be done.
• Only put other people in the car if you are ready to go NOW.
  • Never put people in a car, and then return to the house. In more than one instance in 2009, parents put children in the car, went back to the house, and then returned to find the car on fire. Never leave people in a car near a fire.
• Keep the authorities informed about your plans, and especially if there are any vulnerable people at risk
• Turn on "Location Sharing" within Google Maps, on your phone, to share with your friends/family
  • This is a very useful tool

​
Prepare your ESCAPE

• Don't let yourself get trapped and surrounded.
• Always have at least 2 different escape plans.
• If under immediate threat from a fire, never travel up hill to escape. Fire travels much faster up hill than down hill. Travelling across the face of the fire, or travelling through burnt out areas is safer.

​
Prepare your CAR:

• Ensure you have petrol
• Put several containers of water in the car.
• Carry as much water as you can.
• Bring a car-charger for your phone
• Bring your wallet/credit card
• Never leave a car running on or near long grass, this will possibly cause a fire

​
Prepare for NO MOBILE SIGNAL

• Fires often disable power and phone networks
• Discuss rendezvous plan with family/neighbours, so you are all on the same page, even if you can't communicate with them
• Nearly all smart phones will simply stop working when they get too hot

​
Prepare for INJURY

• Don't travel alone
• Don't be reckless

​
Prepare your EMERGENCY REFUGE:

• Move gas tanks and BBQs, petrol, vehicles, firewood and green waste away from the house.
• The ideal refuge is a sealed, insulated, non flammable building and a wide firebreak surrounding it. Plan early, leave early, and you get the chance to shelter in one of these.
• residential pools, water tanks, and bathrooms are not safe refuges. In a pool, the air above the water superheats, and you die of internal burns. In a water tank you will be basically steamed, and in a bathroom all the tiles, glass, and pipe works superheat.
• A large farm dam, deep creek with flowing water, a river with flowing water, a lake, or the ocean are relatively safe. The movement of the water helps to cool the air, and cycle hot and cold air across the top of the water. Still water is never a better option than sheltering inside a solid structure.

Clog your gutters (eg, start with tennis balls etc) and fill the gutters with water

• Put on the sprinklers (don't do this too early: conserve your limited water resources)

​
DEFENDING YOUR HOME: (A reality check)

• For even a moderate fire, the radiant heat is so extreme that you won't physically be able to get close enough to the fire to put water onto it. Radiant heat can kill people from 20 meters away.
• If you haven't already taken significant steps to allow you to defend your house during a bushfire, then unfortunately it's probably too late to safely defend your property.
• If you have a weatherboard property, your property is 'bushland', or you live on the side of a hill, you're a sitting duck.
• If you fall into this category, you need to simply flee the area immediately and leave your house in the highly capable hands of the fire fighters. Don't become a liability for the firefighters.

​
Prepare your GEAR:

• Overalls or jeans/thick cotton shirt
  • button up to the neck/chin, strap down around the wrists/ankles
  • close any gaps between your clothing - ie, white hot coals can enter your boots or gloves, or go up the leg of your pants, go up your arm, or down your shirt front/back, or down your backside.
  • remove any nylon/polyester clothing, it melts onto your skin like napalm
• Thick cotton/wool socks
  • consider wearing two pairs of socks.
• Leather boots
  • steel capped boots are recommended (My personal experience is that steel capped Blundstones become very hot around the toes while fighting fires, especially if you're wearing thin socks. Therefore, wear thick socks)
• Helmet
  • large tree branches can drop on you
• Goggles
  • must be sealed to face
  • smoke/embers will still go in the side/bottom of sunglasses. Sunglasses are completely useless.
• Leather gloves
  • absolutely essential
• Face mask
  • get one specifically designed to filter smoke (a "P2" filter), eg from Bunnings.
  • buy a Ventolin over-the-counter from the pharmacy (~$7)
• Drinking water
  • you will drink much, much more than you think. You may need to give water to someone
  • carry minimum 10L of dedicated, clean, drinking water.
• Backpack Weed-Sprayer
  • one of the most useful firefighting tools I've discovered
  • allows you to carry 15L of water with minimal strain, and it allows you put out small spot fires quickly, using only a tiny amount of water per spot fire.
  • 15L of water goes a hell of a long way when you are using this backpack
• Shovel
  • consider the effect of heat on the handle. Will it burn? Will it become hot to hold, if you happen to not be wearing leather gloves?
• Chainsaw
  • fill it with fuel

​
​
Lastly:
Things to do in the winter, BEFORE the fire season starts:

• Go around your house filming all your valuable possession, then upload this video to the cloud. This can be used as proof of ownership in an insurance claim.
• Create at least a 5 meter fire break around the perimeter of your property
• Buy a photo scanner with a sheet feeder. Digitise all your family photos in less than a couple of hours. Upload these photos to the cloud. Never worry about them again.

OFFICIAL information resources

Australia's fire authorities officially endorse the following resources:
NATIONAL:

1. Report fires to the fire authorities (phone 000)
2. Fires near me: Australia-wide (Android app)
3. ABC Radio: Frequency Finder
4. ABC News' guidelines for what to do before, during and after a bushfire
5. Report Arsonists to CrimeStoppers (phone 1800 333 000)
6. List of emergency + disaster recovery resources (national and state)
7. Let people know you are safe
8. The Emergency+ app allows you to give your exact location to 000 operators

STATE:

State	Fire map	Evacuation centers (where available)	Homepage of fire authority
Victoria	Fire map (Vic)	Community fire refuges (Vic)	CFA homepage (Vic)
Western Australia	Fire map (WA)	Search for "@dfeswa" on facebook. Info is occasionally posted there.	DFES homepage (WA)
South Australia	Fire map (SA)	Map of evaculation centres (SA)	MFS homepage (SA)
NSW	Fire map (NSW)	List evacuation centres (NSW)	RFS homepage (NSW)
Queensland	Fire map (Qld)	General info (Qld)	QFES homepage (Qld)
Northern Territory	Fire map (NT)	List of all shelters (NT)	PFES homepage (NT)
Tasmania	Fire map (Tas)	Nearby safer places (Tas)	TFS homepage (Tas)
Australia Capital Territory	Fire map (ACT)		ESA homepage (ACT)

​

Disclaimer

• The information in the next section entitled "UNOFFICIAL survival guide" is content written by members of general public
• This section aims to share sensible, thought-provoking tips from people who have been through a bushfire recently and genuinely want to help the community by sharing their knowledge. You'll need to consider, evaluate and adapt these suggestions to your own circumstances, if appropriate.
• The goal of this page is only to elaborate upon the formal advice provided by fire authorities. The official guidance and advice from fire authorities will always take precedence over anything written on this page.

UNOFFICIAL Bushfire Survival Guide

Unless you live in a concrete jungle, you should expect your home to be under threat from fire sometime within the next couple of months

• Prepare early.
• Leave before the fire forces you to leave. Do not wait for "permission" to leave, or for someone to knock on your door. If in doubt, get out. The earlier you leave, the better your chances of survival.
• If you're not being threatened by a bushfire, please get off the road.

​
Prepare your FAMILY:

• Relocate you children, elderly and pets NOW.
  • Make them safe, before there is an emergency. You will want your dependent loved-ones to be already safe and well out of harm's way, well before there is an imminent fire threat. You will want to be able to completely focus on defending your property.
  • Leave animals behind if you have to. People have died going back for pets and livestock. It sucks, but sometimes it has to be done.
• Only put other people in the car if you are ready to go NOW.
  • Never put people in a car, and then return to the house. In more than one instance in 2009, parents put children in the car, went back to the house, and then returned to find the car on fire. Never leave people in a car near a fire.
• Keep the authorities informed about your plans, and especially if there are any vulnerable people at risk
• Turn on "Location Sharing" within Google Maps, on your phone, to share with your friends/family
  • This is a very useful tool

​
Prepare your ESCAPE

• Don't let yourself get trapped and surrounded.
• Always have at least 2 different escape plans.
• If under immediate threat from a fire, never travel up hill to escape. Fire travels much faster up hill than down hill. Travelling across the face of the fire, or travelling through burnt out areas is safer.

​
Prepare your CAR:

• Ensure you have petrol
• Put several containers of water in the car.
• Carry as much water as you can.
• Bring a car-charger for your phone
• Bring your wallet/credit card
• Never leave a car running on or near long grass, this will possibly cause a fire

​
Prepare for NO MOBILE SIGNAL

• Fires often disable power and phone networks
• Discuss rendezvous plan with family/neighbours, so you are all on the same page, even if you can't communicate with them
• Nearly all smart phones will simply stop working when they get too hot

​
Prepare for INJURY

• Don't travel alone
• Don't be reckless

​
Prepare your EMERGENCY REFUGE:

• Move gas tanks and BBQs, petrol, vehicles, firewood and green waste away from the house.
• The ideal refuge is a sealed, insulated, non flammable building and a wide firebreak surrounding it. Plan early, leave early, and you get the chance to shelter in one of these.
• residential pools, water tanks, and bathrooms are not safe refuges. In a pool, the air above the water superheats, and you die of internal burns. In a water tank you will be basically steamed, and in a bathroom all the tiles, glass, and pipe works superheat.
• A large farm dam, deep creek with flowing water, a river with flowing water, a lake, or the ocean are relatively safe. The movement of the water helps to cool the air, and cycle hot and cold air across the top of the water. Still water is never a better option than sheltering inside a solid structure.

Clog your gutters (eg, start with tennis balls etc) and fill the gutters with water

• Put on the sprinklers (don't do this too early: conserve your limited water resources)

​
DEFENDING YOUR HOME: (A reality check)

• For even a moderate fire, the radiant heat is so extreme that you won't physically be able to get close enough to the fire to put water onto it. Radiant heat can kill people from 20 meters away.
• If you haven't already taken significant steps to allow you to defend your house during a bushfire, then unfortunately it's probably too late to safely defend your property.
• If you have a weatherboard property, your property is 'bushland', or you live on the side of a hill, you're a sitting duck.
• If you fall into this category, you need to simply flee the area immediately and leave your house in the highly capable hands of the fire fighters. Don't become a liability for the firefighters.

​
Prepare your GEAR:

• Overalls or jeans/thick cotton shirt
  • button up to the neck/chin, strap down around the wrists/ankles
  • close any gaps between your clothing - ie, white hot coals can enter your boots or gloves, or go up the leg of your pants, go up your arm, or down your shirt front/back, or down your backside.
  • remove any nylon/polyester clothing, it melts onto your skin like napalm
• Thick cotton/wool socks
  • consider wearing two pairs of socks.
• Leather boots
  • steel capped boots are recommended (My personal experience is that steel capped Blundstones become very hot around the toes while fighting fires, especially if you're wearing thin socks. Therefore, wear thick socks)
• Helmet
  • large tree branches can drop on you
• Goggles
  • must be sealed to face
  • smoke/embers will still go in the side/bottom of sunglasses. Sunglasses are completely useless.
• Leather gloves
  • absolutely essential
• Face mask
  • get one specifically designed to filter smoke (a "P2" filter), eg from Bunnings.
  • buy a Ventolin over-the-counter from the pharmacy (~$7)
• Drinking water
  • you will drink much, much more than you think. You may need to give water to someone
  • carry minimum 10L of dedicated, clean, drinking water.
• Backpack Weed-Sprayer
  • one of the most useful firefighting tools I've discovered
  • allows you to carry 15L of water with minimal strain, and it allows you put out small spot fires quickly, using only a tiny amount of water per spot fire.
  • 15L of water goes a hell of a long way when you are using this backpack
• Shovel
  • consider the effect of heat on the handle. Will it burn? Will it become hot to hold, if you happen to not be wearing leather gloves?
• Chainsaw
  • fill it with fuel

​
​
Lastly:
Things to do in the winter, BEFORE the fire season starts:

• Go around your house filming all your valuable possession, then upload this video to the cloud. This can be used as proof of ownership in an insurance claim.
• Create at least a 5 meter fire break around the perimeter of your property
• Buy a photo scanner with a sheet feeder. Digitise all your family photos in less than a couple of hours. Upload these photos to the cloud. Never worry about them again.

OFFICIAL information resources

Australia's fire authorities officially endorse the following resources:
NATIONAL:

1. Report fires to the fire authorities (phone 000)
2. Fires near me: Australia-wide (Android app)
3. ABC Radio: Frequency Finder
4. ABC News' guidelines for what to do before, during and after a bushfire
5. Report Arsonists to CrimeStoppers (phone 1800 333 000)
6. List of emergency + disaster recovery resources (national and state)
7. Let people know you are safe
8. The Emergency+ app allows you to give your exact location to 000 operators

STATE:

State	Fire map	Evacuation centers (where available)	Homepage of fire authority
Victoria	Fire map (Vic)	Community fire refuges (Vic)	CFA homepage (Vic)
Western Australia	Fire map (WA)	Search for "@dfeswa" on facebook. Info is occasionally posted there.	DFES homepage (WA)
South Australia	Fire map (SA)	Map of evaculation centres (SA)	MFS homepage (SA)
NSW	Fire map (NSW)	List evacuation centres (NSW)	RFS homepage (NSW)
Queensland	Fire map (Qld)	General info (Qld)	QFES homepage (Qld)
Northern Territory	Fire map (NT)	List of all shelters (NT)	PFES homepage (NT)
Tasmania	Fire map (Tas)	Nearby safer places (Tas)	TFS homepage (Tas)
Australia Capital Territory	Fire map (ACT)		ESA homepage (ACT)

​

Disclaimer

• The information in the next section entitled "UNOFFICIAL survival guide" is content written by members of general public
• This section aims to share sensible, thought-provoking tips from people who have been through a bushfire recently and genuinely want to help the community by sharing their knowledge. You'll need to consider, evaluate and adapt these suggestions to your own circumstances, if appropriate.
• The goal of this page is only to elaborate upon the formal advice provided by fire authorities. The official guidance and advice from fire authorities will always take precedence over anything written on this page.

UNOFFICIAL Bushfire Survival Guide

Unless you live in a concrete jungle, you should expect your home to be under threat from fire sometime within the next couple of months

• Prepare early.
• Leave before the fire forces you to leave. Do not wait for "permission" to leave, or for someone to knock on your door. If in doubt, get out. The earlier you leave, the better your chances of survival.
• If you're not being threatened by a bushfire, please get off the road.

​
Prepare your FAMILY:

• Relocate you children, elderly and pets NOW.
  • Make them safe, before there is an emergency. You will want your dependent loved-ones to be already safe and well out of harm's way, well before there is an imminent fire threat. You will want to be able to completely focus on defending your property.
  • Leave animals behind if you have to. People have died going back for pets and livestock. It sucks, but sometimes it has to be done.
• Only put other people in the car if you are ready to go NOW.
  • Never put people in a car, and then return to the house. In more than one instance in 2009, parents put children in the car, went back to the house, and then returned to find the car on fire. Never leave people in a car near a fire.
• Keep the authorities informed about your plans, and especially if there are any vulnerable people at risk
• Turn on "Location Sharing" within Google Maps, on your phone, to share with your friends/family
  • This is a very useful tool

​
Prepare your ESCAPE

• Don't let yourself get trapped and surrounded.
• Always have at least 2 different escape plans.
• If under immediate threat from a fire, never travel up hill to escape. Fire travels much faster up hill than down hill. Travelling across the face of the fire, or travelling through burnt out areas is safer.

​
Prepare your CAR:

• Ensure you have petrol
• Put several containers of water in the car.
• Carry as much water as you can.
• Bring a car-charger for your phone
• Bring your wallet/credit card
• Never leave a car running on or near long grass, this will possibly cause a fire

​
Prepare for NO MOBILE SIGNAL

• Fires often disable power and phone networks
• Discuss rendezvous plan with family/neighbours, so you are all on the same page, even if you can't communicate with them
• Nearly all smart phones will simply stop working when they get too hot

​
Prepare for INJURY

• Don't travel alone
• Don't be reckless

​
Prepare your EMERGENCY REFUGE:

• Move gas tanks and BBQs, petrol, vehicles, firewood and green waste away from the house.
• The ideal refuge is a sealed, insulated, non flammable building and a wide firebreak surrounding it. Plan early, leave early, and you get the chance to shelter in one of these.
• residential pools, water tanks, and bathrooms are not safe refuges. In a pool, the air above the water superheats, and you die of internal burns. In a water tank you will be basically steamed, and in a bathroom all the tiles, glass, and pipe works superheat.
• A large farm dam, deep creek with flowing water, a river with flowing water, a lake, or the ocean are relatively safe. The movement of the water helps to cool the air, and cycle hot and cold air across the top of the water. Still water is never a better option than sheltering inside a solid structure.

Clog your gutters (eg, start with tennis balls etc) and fill the gutters with water

• Put on the sprinklers (don't do this too early: conserve your limited water resources)

​
DEFENDING YOUR HOME: (A reality check)

• For even a moderate fire, the radiant heat is so extreme that you won't physically be able to get close enough to the fire to put water onto it. Radiant heat can kill people from 20 meters away.
• If you haven't already taken significant steps to allow you to defend your house during a bushfire, then unfortunately it's probably too late to safely defend your property.
• If you have a weatherboard property, your property is 'bushland', or you live on the side of a hill, you're a sitting duck.
• If you fall into this category, you need to simply flee the area immediately and leave your house in the highly capable hands of the fire fighters. Don't become a liability for the firefighters.

​
Prepare your GEAR:

• Overalls or jeans/thick cotton shirt
  • button up to the neck/chin, strap down around the wrists/ankles
  • close any gaps between your clothing - ie, white hot coals can enter your boots or gloves, or go up the leg of your pants, go up your arm, or down your shirt front/back, or down your backside.
  • remove any nylon/polyester clothing, it melts onto your skin like napalm
• Thick cotton/wool socks
  • consider wearing two pairs of socks.
• Leather boots
  • steel capped boots are recommended (My personal experience is that steel capped Blundstones become very hot around the toes while fighting fires, especially if you're wearing thin socks. Therefore, wear thick socks)
• Helmet
  • large tree branches can drop on you
• Goggles
  • must be sealed to face
  • smoke/embers will still go in the side/bottom of sunglasses. Sunglasses are completely useless.
• Leather gloves
  • absolutely essential
• Face mask
  • get one specifically designed to filter smoke (a "P2" filter), eg from Bunnings.
  • buy a Ventolin over-the-counter from the pharmacy (~$7)
• Drinking water
  • you will drink much, much more than you think. You may need to give water to someone
  • carry minimum 10L of dedicated, clean, drinking water.
• Backpack Weed-Sprayer
  • one of the most useful firefighting tools I've discovered
  • allows you to carry 15L of water with minimal strain, and it allows you put out small spot fires quickly, using only a tiny amount of water per spot fire.
  • 15L of water goes a hell of a long way when you are using this backpack
• Shovel
  • consider the effect of heat on the handle. Will it burn? Will it become hot to hold, if you happen to not be wearing leather gloves?
• Chainsaw
  • fill it with fuel

​
​
Lastly:
Things to do in the winter, BEFORE the fire season starts:

• Go around your house filming all your valuable possession, then upload this video to the cloud. This can be used as proof of ownership in an insurance claim.
• Create at least a 5 meter fire break around the perimeter of your property
• Buy a photo scanner with a sheet feeder. Digitise all your family photos in less than a couple of hours. Upload these photos to the cloud. Never worry about them again.

OFFICIAL information resources

Australia's fire authorities officially endorse the following resources:
NATIONAL:

1. Report fires to the fire authorities (phone 000)
2. Fires near me: Australia-wide (Android app)
3. ABC Radio: Frequency Finder
4. ABC News' guidelines for what to do before, during and after a bushfire
5. Report Arsonists to CrimeStoppers (phone 1800 333 000)
6. List of emergency + disaster recovery resources (national and state)
7. Let people know you are safe
8. The Emergency+ app allows you to give your exact location to 000 operators

STATE:

State	Fire map	Evacuation centers (where available)	Homepage of fire authority
Victoria	Fire map (Vic)	Community fire refuges (Vic)	CFA homepage (Vic)
Western Australia	Fire map (WA)	(sometimes reported here) (WA)	DFES homepage (WA)
South Australia	Fire map (SA)	Map of evaculation centres (SA)	MFS homepage (SA)
NSW	Fire map (NSW)	List evacuation centres (NSW)	RFS homepage (NSW)
Queensland	Fire map (Qld)	General info (Qld)	QFES homepage (Qld)
Northern Territory	Fire map (NT)	List of all shelters (NT)	PFES homepage (NT)
Tasmania	Fire map (Tas)	Nearby safer places (Tas)	TFS homepage (Tas)
Australia Capital Territory	Fire map (ACT)		ESA homepage (ACT)

​

Disclaimer

• The information in the next section entitled "UNOFFICIAL survival guide" is content written by members of general public
• This section aims to share sensible, thought-provoking tips from people who have been through a bushfire recently and genuinely want to help the community by sharing their knowledge. You'll need to consider, evaluate and adapt these suggestions to your own circumstances, if appropriate.
• The goal of this page is only to elaborate upon the formal advice provided by fire authorities. The official guidance and advice from fire authorities will always take precedence over anything written on this page.

UNOFFICIAL Bushfire Survival Guide

Unless you live in a concrete jungle, you should expect your home to be under threat from fire sometime within the next couple of months

• Prepare early.
• Leave before the fire forces you to leave. Do not wait for "permission" to leave, or for someone to knock on your door. If in doubt, get out. The earlier you leave, the better your chances of survival.
• If you're not being threatened by a bushfire, please get off the road.

​
Prepare your FAMILY:

• Relocate you children, elderly and pets NOW.
  • Make them safe, before there is an emergency. You will want your dependent loved-ones to be already safe and well out of harm's way, well before there is an imminent fire threat. You will want to be able to completely focus on defending your property.
  • Leave animals behind if you have to. People have died going back for pets and livestock. It sucks, but sometimes it has to be done.
• Only put other people in the car if you are ready to go NOW.
  • Never put people in a car, and then return to the house. In more than one instance in 2009, parents put children in the car, went back to the house, and then returned to find the car on fire. Never leave people in a car near a fire.
• Keep the authorities informed about your plans, and especially if there are any vulnerable people at risk
• Turn on "Location Sharing" within Google Maps, on your phone, to share with your friends/family
  • This is a very useful tool

​
Prepare your ESCAPE

• Don't let yourself get trapped and surrounded.
• Always have at least 2 different escape plans.
• If under immediate threat from a fire, never travel up hill to escape. Fire travels much faster up hill than down hill. Travelling across the face of the fire, or travelling through burnt out areas is safer.

​
Prepare your CAR:

• Ensure you have petrol
• Put several containers of water in the car.
• Carry as much water as you can.
• Bring a car-charger for your phone
• Bring your wallet/credit card
• Never leave a car running on or near long grass, this will possibly cause a fire

​
Prepare for NO MOBILE SIGNAL

• Fires often disable power and phone networks
• Discuss rendezvous plan with family/neighbours, so you are all on the same page, even if you can't communicate with them
• Nearly all smart phones will simply stop working when they get too hot

​
Prepare for INJURY

• Don't travel alone
• Don't be reckless

​
Prepare your EMERGENCY REFUGE:

• Move gas tanks and BBQs, petrol, vehicles, firewood and green waste away from the house.
• The ideal refuge is a sealed, insulated, non flammable building and a wide firebreak surrounding it. Plan early, leave early, and you get the chance to shelter in one of these.
• residential pools, water tanks, and bathrooms are not safe refuges. In a pool, the air above the water superheats, and you die of internal burns. In a water tank you will be basically steamed, and in a bathroom all the tiles, glass, and pipe works superheat.
• A large farm dam, deep creek with flowing water, a river with flowing water, a lake, or the ocean are relatively safe. The movement of the water helps to cool the air, and cycle hot and cold air across the top of the water. Still water is never a better option than sheltering inside a solid structure.

Clog your gutters (eg, start with tennis balls etc) and fill the gutters with water

• Put on the sprinklers (don't do this too early: conserve your limited water resources)

​
DEFENDING YOUR HOME: (A reality check)

• For even a moderate fire, the radiant heat is so extreme that you won't physically be able to get close enough to the fire to put water onto it. Radiant heat can kill people from 20 meters away.
• If you haven't already taken significant steps to allow you to defend your house during a bushfire, then unfortunately it's probably too late to safely defend your property.
• If you have a weatherboard property, your property is 'bushland', or you live on the side of a hill, you're a sitting duck.
• If you fall into this category, you need to simply flee the area immediately and leave your house in the highly capable hands of the fire fighters. Don't become a liability for the firefighters.

​
Prepare your GEAR:

• Overalls or jeans/thick cotton shirt
  • button up to the neck/chin, strap down around the wrists/ankles
  • close any gaps between your clothing - ie, white hot coals can enter your boots or gloves, or go up the leg of your pants, go up your arm, or down your shirt front/back, or down your backside.
  • remove any nylon/polyester clothing, it melts onto your skin like napalm
• Thick cotton/wool socks
  • consider wearing two pairs of socks.
• Leather boots
  • steel capped boots are recommended (My personal experience is that steel capped Blundstones become very hot around the toes while fighting fires, especially if you're wearing thin socks. Therefore, wear thick socks)
• Helmet
  • large tree branches can drop on you
• Goggles
  • must be sealed to face
  • smoke/embers will still go in the side/bottom of sunglasses. Sunglasses are completely useless.
• Leather gloves
  • absolutely essential
• Face mask
  • get one specifically designed to filter smoke (a "P2" filter), eg from Bunnings.
  • buy a Ventolin over-the-counter from the pharmacy (~$7)
• Drinking water
  • you will drink much, much more than you think. You may need to give water to someone
  • carry minimum 10L of dedicated, clean, drinking water.
• Backpack Weed-Sprayer
  • one of the most useful firefighting tools I've discovered
  • allows you to carry 15L of water with minimal strain, and it allows you put out small spot fires quickly, using only a tiny amount of water per spot fire.
  • 15L of water goes a hell of a long way when you are using this backpack
• Shovel
  • consider the effect of heat on the handle. Will it burn? Will it become hot to hold, if you happen to not be wearing leather gloves?
• Chainsaw
  • fill it with fuel

​
​
Lastly:
Things to do in the winter, BEFORE the fire season starts:

• Go around your house filming all your valuable possession, then upload this video to the cloud. This can be used as proof of ownership in an insurance claim.
• Create at least a 5 meter fire break around the perimeter of your property
• Buy a photo scanner with a sheet feeder. Digitise all your family photos in less than a couple of hours. Upload these photos to the cloud. Never worry about them again.

OFFICIAL information sources

All links provided in this top section are official information sources from Australia's fire emergency services
NATIONAL:

1. Report fires to the fire authorities (phone 000)
2. Fires near me: Australia-wide (Android app)
3. ABC Radio: Frequency Finder
4. ABC News' guidelines for what to do before, during and after a bushfire
5. Report Arsonists to CrimeStoppers (phone 1800 333 000)
6. List of emergency + disaster recovery resources (national and state)
7. Let people know you are safe
8. The Emergency+ app allows you to give your exact location to 000 operators

STATE:

State	Fire map	Evacuation centers (where available)	Homepage of fire authority
Victoria	Fire map (Vic)	Community fire refuges (Vic)	CFA homepage (Vic)
Western Australia	Fire map (WA)	(sometimes reported here) (WA)	DFES homepage (WA)
South Australia	Fire map (SA)	Map of evaculation centres (SA)	MFS homepage (SA)
NSW	Fire map (NSW)	List evacuation centres (NSW)	RFS homepage (NSW)
Queensland	Fire map (Qld)	General info (Qld)	QFES homepage (Qld)
Northern Territory	Fire map (NT)	List of all shelters (NT)	PFES homepage (NT)
Tasmania	Fire map (Tas)	Nearby safer places (Tas)	TFS homepage (Tas)
Australia Capital Territory	Fire map (ACT)		ESA homepage (ACT)

​
​
​

Disclaimer

• The information in the next section entitled "UNOFFICIAL survival guide" is content written by members of general public
• This section aims to share sensible, thought-provoking tips from people we've been through a bushfire recently and genuinely want to help the community by sharing their knowledge. You'll need to consider, evaluate and adapt these suggestions to your own circumstances, if appropriate.
• The goal of this page is only to elaborate upon the formal advice provided by fire authorities. The official guidance and advice from fire authorities will always take precedence over anything written on this page.

UNOFFICIAL bushfire survival guide

Unless you live in a concrete jungle, you should expect your home to be under threat from fire sometime within the next couple of months
​

• Prepare early.
• Leave before the fire forces you to leave. Do not wait for "permission" to leave, or for someone to knock on your door. If in doubt, get out.
• If you're not being threatened by a bushfire, please get off the road.

​
Prepare your CAR:

• Ensure you have petrol
• Put several containers of water in the car.
• Carry as much water as you can.
• Bring a car-charger for your phone
• Bring your wallet/credit card

​
Prepare for CLOSED ROADS

• Don't let yourself get trapped and surrounded.
• Always have at least 2 different escape plans.

​
Prepare for NO MOBILE SIGNAL

• Fires often disable power and phone networks
• Discuss rendezvous plan with family/neighbours, so you are all on the same page, even if you can't communicate with them
• Nearly all smart phones will simply stop working when they get too hot

​
Prepare for INJURY

• Don't travel alone
• Don't be reckless

​
Prepare your GEAR:
Overalls or jeans/thick cotton shirt

• button up to the neck/chin, strap down around the wrists/ankles
• close any gaps between your clothing - ie, white hot coals can enter your boots or gloves, or go up the leg of your pants, go up your arm, or down your shirt front/back, or down your backside.
• remove any nylon/polyester clothing, it melts onto your skin like napalm

Thick cotton/wool socks

• consider wearing two pairs of socks.

Leather boots

• steel capped boots are recommended (My personal experience is that steel capped Blundstones become very hot around the toes while fighting fires, especially if you're wearing thin socks. Therefore, wear thick socks)

Helmet

• large tree branches can drop on you

Goggles

• must be sealed to face
• smoke/embers will still go in the side/bottom of sunglasses. Sunglasses are completely useless.

Leather gloves

• absolutely essential

Face mask

• get one specifically designed to filter smoke (a "P2" filter), eg from Bunnings.
• buy a Ventolin over-the-counter from the pharmacy (~$7)

Drinking water

• you will drink much, much more than you think. You may need to give water to someone
• carry minimum 10L of dedicated, clean, drinking water.

Backpack Weed-Sprayer

• one of the most useful firefighting tools I've discovered
• allows you to carry 15L of water with minimal strain, and it allows you put out small spot fires quickly, using only a tiny amount of water per spot fire.
• 15L of water goes a hell of a long way when you are using this backpack

Shovel

• consider the effect of heat on the handle. Will it burn? Will it become hot to hold, if you happen to not be wearing leather gloves?

Chainsaw

• fill it with fuel

​
Prepare your FAMILY:
Relocate you children, elderly and pets NOW.

• Make them safe, before there is an emergency. You will want your dependent loved-ones to be already safe and well out of harm's way, well before there is an imminent fire threat. You will want to be able to completely focus on defending your property.

Keep the authorities informed about your plans, and especially if there are any vulnerable people at risk
Turn on "Location Sharing" within Google Maps, on your phone, to share with your friends/family

• this is a very useful tool

​
Prepare your EMERGENCY REFUGE:

• Move gas tanks and BBQs, petrol, vehicles, firewood and green waste away from the house.
• The ideal refuge is a sealed, insulated, non flammable building and a wide firebreak surrounding it. Plan early, leave early, and you get the chance to shelter in one of these.

If you have been caught by surprise and do not have access to brick or concrete based shelter, consider the following only as a last resort (due to the danger from radiant heat)

• Previously burned open clearings/paddocks
• Swimming pools,
• Large concrete slabs.

Clog your gutters (eg, start with tennis balls etc) and fill the gutters with water

• Put on the sprinklers (don't do this too early: conserve your limited water resources)

​
DEFENDING YOUR HOME: (A reality check)

• For even a moderate fire, the radiant heat is so extreme that you won't physically be able to get close enough to the fire to put water onto it. Radiant heat can kill people from 20 meters away.
• If you haven't already taken significant steps to allow you to defend your house during a bushfire, then unfortunately it's probably too late to safely defend your property.
• If you have a weatherboard property, your property is 'bushland', or you live on the side of a hill, you're a sitting duck.
• If you fall into this category, you need to simply flee the area immediately and leave your house in the highly capable hands of the fire fighters. Don't become a liability for the firefighters.

​
​
​
Things to do in the winter. ie, BEFORE the fire season starts:

• Go around your house filming all your valuable possession, then upload this video to the cloud. This can be used as proof of ownership in an insurance claim.
• Create at least a 5 meter fire break around the perimeter of your property
• Buy a photo scanner with a sheet feeder. Digitise all your family photos in less than a couple of hours. Upload these photos to the cloud. Never worry about them again.