The first and most important thing to decide is whether you intend to stay with your home if there is a bushfire.

If you decide to leave home you must do it early in the day and in advance of knowing there is a fire in the area. The announcement of a Total Fire Ban or increased fire danger should be the trigger for your decision. Late evacuation can be deadly.

Good housekeeping can help beat the wildfire threat. The ferocity of the fire front and the amount of radiant heat results from the weather, slope of the ground and the amount of fine fuel, such as long dry grass, fallen leaves, twigs, scrub or flammable shrubs. The most volatile fire fuel is dry material smaller in diameter than a pencil.

You should aim to reduce the amount of fine fuel for 20 to 30 metres around your house. Reducing the fire intensity can make it safer for you to stay and defend your home from sparks and embers flying from the main fire.

A well-maintained garden will reduce the fire intensity around your house and make it safer for you to stay and put out spot fires started by embers. A well watered lawn is a good fire break.

Will I have time to evacuate safely?

Experience has shown that many residents receive little, if any, official warning of an approaching fire. Will you have time to leave the area safely or will you run the risk of being caught in your car or on foot in the open?

In a car you have much less protection from radiant heat than if you are in your house. The vast majority of deaths in bushfire involves people caught in cars or on foot. Once the fire is close, visibility will be very poor and travel will be hazardous.

Roads can easily be blocked by fallen trees, power lines, abandoned cars or even firefighting vehicles.

Whatever your decision, it is essential that you and your home are prepared to withstand a bushfire. If the fire is upon you before you can safely leave, you might be forced to shelter in your home.

How safe is your home?

A home is far more likely to survive if able-bodied people are there during a bushfire because they can quickly put out small outbreaks on or near the house. However you need the proper equipment and to be mentally and physically prepared to fight the fire. And most importantly, your house and its surrounds have to be prepared well before the day of the fire threat - preferably before the start of the fire season.

When the fire has passed through

After the fire front has passed, it will be safer to come out of your home and deal with any spot fires. Trees, logs and other heavy fuels will smoulder for many hours. Embers from these smouldering fires are likely to be blown against the house and start it burning. This is the stage when many unattended homes are lost.

Remember, fire fighting equipment left outside may be damaged by the fire as it passes. Pumps and hoses can be burnt and plastic hose connectors on outside taps may melt.

Many of the services we rely on are also vulnerable to bushfire. It is common for the electricity and telephone service to be cut. Mains water pressure may drop or run dry as everyone tries to draw water from the system or if the electric pump stops.

Burning embers set most homes on fire

Small outbreaks can be put out easily if caught early. However if no one is there the fire can grow and eventually destroy the home.

Installation of a sprinkler system has helped save homes from bushfire by soaking parts of the house most vulnerable to burning embers.

Whether you are planning to leave the house or stay, you need to identify all these places and prepare your property. If you stay, you need to make sure these areas are patrolled regularly.

Some of the danger spots:

There are obvious benefits in being as self-reliant as possible. You must plan well in advance before the fire danger period.

You’ll need water. Have an independent water supply in a dam, tank or swimming pool. Even a knapsack, a bath or a 200-litre drum filled with rain run-off from the shed roof can be the difference between putting out spot fires and losing your home.

It is important to be able to use the stored water when you need it. A petrol or diesel-driven pump, hose and buckets are good.

Communications are important. A battery powered radio to monitor the news would be useful.

A torch will help you work around your home in the dark when you are dealing with the threat of embers.

Protective clothing of non-synthetic materials, long pants, woollen jumpers, wide brimmed hat, gloves, strong footwear and woollen blankets are essential. Have goggles to protect eyes and damp cotton scarves or handerchiefs to cover nose and mouth to help breathing.

Develop A Bushfire Survival Plan

Every household and family is different - different people, skills, level of preparedness and situation. If you plan ahead, your risk will be lowered.

Be alert to what is happening around you in your district on a hot summer day. Be constantly on the lookout for fire activity.

Then if fire strikes: