Bushfire protection: be prepared

If you live in the bush, or in suburban fringe areas, chances are you may be in danger of experiencing a bushfire. Fires are unpredictable so it’s important to plan ahead.

Preparation checklist

There are a number of tasks you can do around your home to help reduce the impact of bushfires:

Ensure your gutters are clear of leaves and twigs; installing leaf guards to your gutters can help reduce maintenance.
Remove any building timber, firewood or other flammable items from under and around your home.
Remove any flammable materials such as paint or engine oils from your shed or garage.
Cut long grass within 20 metres of the home and within 5 metres of sheds and garages.
Prune surrounding trees so that branches are at least 2 metres away from all buildings, including sheds, children's play areas and water tanks.
Vent pipes on LPG cylinders away from the house.
Ensure that roof vents or skylights are sealed.

Download our quick and easy checklist for tasks you can do to protect your home from a bushfire.

Bushfire preparation checklist

Prepare your garden

With a properly planned and managed garden, you can reduce the potential damage to your home in the event of a bushfire. Houses usually catch alight as a result of sparks and embers landing on them and sparking fires. So designing and managing surrounding vegetation could mean the difference between losing your house to a bushfire or not.

For more information on your garden design and plant selection view our brochure on surviving a bushfire.

Prepare for bushfires

Bushfire survival plan

A Bushfire Survival Plan provides valuable information on preparing your home and yourself and can help prevent you from making rushed and dangerous decisions.

Your local Fire Authority can help you develop yours. It’s recommended that you complete your evacuation plan with your family and share it with your neighbours, so everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency.

Find your local emergency service details below:

NSW | VIC | SA | WA | NT | TAS | QLD

Bushfire survival kit

Prepare a bushfire kit and always ensure the contents are in working condition.

Things to consider include:

Ladder
Spade
Rake
Trimmer
Chainsaw
Mower
Hoses
Buckets
Water containers
Water pump

Portable Radio
Waterproof torch
Batteries
Rags
Fire extinguisher
Fire blanket
First aid kit
Generator
Portable Sprayer

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint Test.