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How to prepare a bushfire survival kit

The various pieces of a bushfire survival kit, including first aid kit, esky, brush, respirator mask and more

Overview

A well prepared bushfire kit should contain all of the essentials that you, your family and pets need until it's safe to return home. This guide tells you some of the things you should consider including in your kit in case you need to evacuate.

Tools and materials

    Materials

    Steps

    1Pack plenty of water and non-perishable food

    One of the key things to pack is enough non-perishable food. Consider storing it in a cooler so that it's easy to load into your vehicle when you have to leave. Things to pack include; canned food, dry food such as biscuits, crackers, muesli bars and nuts, plenty of water and a water bottle for everyone. You'll also need a can opener, plates, bowls, knives, forks and spoons.

    Various essentials, including canned food, batteries, toothpaste, wipes, bottled water and more

    2Pack your basic toiletries

    After you've evacuated, you may be away from home for several days, so pack enough toiletries. Your toiletries kit should include towels, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, deodorant, nappies and prescription medication if necessary. 

    Various essentials being packed into a esky

    3Pack for your pets

    If you have any pets, you'll need to take them with you if you need to evacuate quickly. Make sure you pack what they need. This will include food, water and bowls.
    Batteries, a hammer, a towel, garbage bags, tool charge packs and a flashlight

    4Important appliances to pack

    You never know when, or for how long, you may need to evacuate your home. If it's during the night make sure you have at least one torch and a supply of batteries in your kit. Make sure you pack your phone charger and a charged battery pack. Also pack a battery powered radio and spare batteries, so you can listen to emergency updates. If possible, also take with your computer back-ups on an external hard drive.

    A flashlight being tested

    5Protective clothing and first aid

    Despite the intense heat from a bushfire, it's important to not wear light, summer clothing. Pack protective clothing and safety equipment such as long sleeve shirts made from thick cotton or wool, long pants, leather boots, protective gloves, dust masks or respirators and safety glasses.  A well-stocked first aid kit is also an important part of any bushfire ready kit. Pack all of these in sturdy bags or hessian bags. These bags can also be soaked with water and used to put out spot fires. 

    The various pieces of a bushfire survival kit, including first aid kit, esky, brush, respirator mask and more

    6Pack your important documents

    As well as food and clothing, pack important documents that would be hard to replace. This would include birth and marriage certificates, insurance documents, passports and even photo albums.

    Heavy duty gloves going into a sports bag

    7Visit your local fire authority website

    For a more comprehensive list of what you might want to put in your bushfire ready kit, download a list from your local fire authority:

    Health & Safety

    Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. 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.

    When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.