Due to a mix of environmental factors, Australian fire services have released warnings that this coming bushfire season will be accompanied by higher than average fire risks when compared to the past 3-4 years.
Working with community leaders and fire authorities facilitating city council fire safety initiatives, Shepparton residents have been urged to begin their bushfire planning and preparation. Residents of the greater Shepparton area are also being recommended to review their home and contents cover to see if they are sufficiently covered for extreme weather conditions this summer.
Preparing your property for this upcoming bushfire season is a simple and necessary task that will help keep your family safe as well as prevent unnecessary damage to your property this summer. Planning ahead and creating a bushfire survival plan will also ensure that you and your family know exactly what to do in the event of a fire-related emergency. The changing weather conditions have had a dramatic effect on the likely fire danger, understanding and staying up to date with our new climate conditions is key to your preparation this fire season.
Here are some key considerations that will need to be made to ensure your household is prepared for this coming 2024-2025 bushfire season.
Prepare Your Property
Shepparton residents have been urged by Victorian fire authorities to begin to prepare their properties for the upcoming fire season as it could begin sooner than expected. Simple preparations now around your home will make a huge difference in protecting the community. Starting now and getting ahead of the fire season will prevent you from being caught off guard as bushfires can escalate quickly and change pathways at a moment’s notice.
Clear the area around your home of any dry and dead vegetation as well as any flammable debris such as wood and building materials. Check fence lines and access points for any build up of leaves that could catch fire. Trim established plants and shrubs of any excess foliage as this can also cause bushfires. Being through is key as a single ember can start a large fire when present with the right fuel source.
Old or damaged electrical equipment can also pose a fire risk if not stored or maintained properly. Lithium-ion batteries like those used in our mobile phones and other technological devices, have been known to be extremely flammable and must be used and stored carefully in fire-prone areas.
It’s recommended that residents stay diligent with their devices and household appliances as an overheated phone or microwave can easily combust and start a fire. Be sure to also check your home’s fuse box and make sure that all your property wiring is maintained. As electrical fires are some of the most common causes of fires in Australian homes, staying on top of your home’s electrical maintenance requirements can also aid in protecting your property against the ever present risk of fires over this coming summer.
Bushfire Survival Plan
Your bushfire survival plan is the key to keep you and your family safe in the event of a fire. Victoria fire authorities recommend that all Shepparton residents review their bushfire survival plan yearly and make sure that any changes are clearly communicated to everyone in the household.
A bushfire survival plan should outline how members of your household plan to act in the event of a bushfire. It should include how you will defend the property and when you will leave to ensure everyone’s safety.
Arguably most importantly, your family’s bushfire survival plan should also include meeting points, relevant authorities contacts and the location of emergency supplies. If everyone is operating with the same game plan, you can greatly reduce your family’s risks of becoming lost or injured during a fire-related emergency.
Everyone in your household should be familiar with the plan as well as their roles and responsibilities. Not only should your bushfire survival plan be understood by everyone in your home but also relevant members of your community, such as local friends and family.
Understanding Weather Conditions
The combination of unique weather conditions has provided the perfect conditions for an intense bushfire season. The large volume of rainfall earlier in the year has caused a build-up of fuel in the form of tall grasses and dense bushland regions across Australia. This build-up has yet to be cleared as intense winds in early spring disrupted the planned back burning. Some planned burns in New South Wales being subject to these winds became out of control damaging properties in the greater Sydney area.
The current El Nino weather system puts added pressure on fire risk as the weather system produces high winds and drier conditions. The Bureau of Meteorology has projected that the current El Nino system will gradually turn into a La Nina weather pattern, which would bring cooler temperatures. It is, however, unclear when this shift from El Nino to La Nina would happen as there are no indications of the patterns changing as of yet.
With this ambiguity, it’s become increasingly essential for Shepparton residents to use the official BOM website and regional fire authorities to stay up to date with the latest changes in weather conditions.
Stay Fire-Ready This Summer
Shepparton residents are urged to be prepared for this upcoming fire season as it could come sooner than expected and be more intense than recent bushfire seasons. Preparing your property is a simple and necessary task and will not only prevent damage to your home but will also help the community defend against bushfires. Fire authorities across the country also recommend that all homes have a bushfire survival plan ready as it will drastically increase your chances of survival. With the weather conditions constantly changing it is important to understand them and stay up to date with any changes, knowing what is coming ahead will allow you to get the most time possible to prepare. The more we all prepare the safer the Shepparton community will be as a whole
