BUSHFIRE PREPARE

Your best chance of surviving a bushfire is to plan in advance and be prepared for the decisions you will have to make about leaving or staying and defending.

My Bushfire Plan

My Bushfire Plan is a bushfire preparedness tool, providing you with one place to prepare, store, print, share and update your bushfire plan any time, from any device.

Prepare for a bushfire now and keep yourself and your household safe.

Start My Bushfire Plan

Know your Fire Danger Rating

Fire Danger Ratings (FDR) are issued daily and describe the potential level of danger should a bushfire start. They provide important information so you can take action to protect yourself and others from the potentially dangerous impacts of a bushfire.

Launching on 1 September 2022, the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) is a new, nationally consistent FDR system that features four simplified rating levels to more accurately reflect fire danger conditions and provide you with clear messages of what to do at each level.

The rating is your prompt to take action to stay safe. You need to stay informed and know what the FDR is for your area each day.

Plan and prepare

Most fires can be controlled.

  • Stay up to date and be alert for fires in your area.
  • Check your bushfire plan. If you do not have a plan, make one now.

Be ready to act

Fires can be dangerous.

  • There’s a heightened risk. Be alert for fires in your area.
  • If a fire starts, your life and property may be at risk.
  • Review your bushfire plan. If you do not have a plan, make one now.
  • Leave bushfire risk areas if necessary.

Take action now

Fires will spread quickly and be extremely dangerous.

  • These are dangerous fire conditions.
  • Put your bushfire plan into action.
  • If a fire starts, take immediate action. If you and your property are not prepared to the highest level, plan to leave early.
  • Avoid travel through bushfire risk areas.

For your survival, leave bushfire risk areas

If a fire starts and takes hold, lives are likely to be lost.

  • These are the most dangerous conditions for a fire.
  • It may be too late to make a bushfire plan. Prepare your emergency kit and choose where you will go and different ways to get there.
  • Stay safe by going to a safer location early in the morning or the night before.
  • Homes cannot withstand fires in these conditions. You may not be able to leave, and help may not be available.

Don’t leave it too late to make a bushfire plan. Get prepared for bushfire season and create or update your plan now.

  • On days when there is minimal risk, the Fire Danger Rating will be set to ‘no rating’.
  • Bushfires which start in these conditions are unlikely to spread in a dangerous or life-threatening way, but you will still need to remain alert and abide by local seasonal laws and regulations.

FAQs: Fire Danger Ratings

What is the Australian Fire Danger Rating System?
Why has the system changed?
Who was responsible for the AFDRS change?
What are the new ratings?
Why is Moderate the lowest rating?
Does ‘No Rating’ mean a fire won’t start?
How can I share information about the Fire Danger Ratings with my community?
How can I check my Fire Danger Rating today?
What else should I do to stay prepared ahead of bushfire season?

Know the bushfire alerts and warnings

If you live in a bushfire risk area, you need to understand the Bushfire Warning Systems before a fire threatens your home. The alerts give information on how severe a bushfire is once it’s started. Alerts have three warning levels indicating the increasing risk to your life or property, and the decreasing amount of time you have until the fire arrives.

Get the factsheet

For all current bushfire alerts and warnings visit emergency.wa.gov.au

Prepare your emergency kit

When a bushfire is likely to impact your home, staying to defend it or preparing to shelter in place is extremely dangerous. You must be mentally and physically ready and have an extensive emergency kit plus an independent supply of power and water to increase your chances of survival.

If you don’t know that you could handle the life-threatening situation and keep your family safe, then your best option is to evacuate early and have an emergency evacuation kit.

You should prepare your kit before the bushfire season and keep it in an accessible spot that everyone knows about.

Emergency evacuation kit
Staying in place emergency kit

Prepare your home and property

Firefighters will be too busy fighting fires on the frontline to defend your home and property, so it is your responsibility to be prepared. Download, print and complete the Property Preparation Checklist to give your home and property the best possible chance of surviving a bushfire.

Managing vegetation around buildings

New Standards in Western Australia are making it easier for people to protect their property from bushfires. The introduction of Bush Fire Risk Treatment Standards allows landowners or occupiers, within certain areas of the State, the ability to undertake specific vegetation management activities around residential and public buildings. If followed, the Standards ensure they will not be liable to prosecution under other laws. Open the Standards here or visit the Western Australian Government Gazette.

Bush Fire Risk Treatment Standards

Asset Protection Zones

As a property owner, you have an important role in reducing the bushfire risk to occupants, visitors and neighbours. One of the most important steps is the creation and maintenance of an Asset Protection Zone (APZ).

An APZ is a low-fuel area immediately surrounding a building. It should include a defendable space adjacent to the building, which is no less than three metres in width, has minimal vegetation and is free from combustible items and obstructions. If correctly designed and maintained, an APZ can increase the likelihood that your building can be defended during a bushfire and that it will survive if left undefended.

Prepare your pets and livestock

When preparing your family and property for natural disasters, you also need to consider your pets and livestock.

Ensure that your pets are properly identified with a name tag or microchip or that you have a recent photo of them with you, and that stock registers for your livestock are current.

Find out more about pet and livestock welfare in an emergency by visiting the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website.

You can also ask your local government if there are pet or livestock welfare arrangements in place during an emergency.

Prepare your pet
Manage your livestock
Evacuating without your pets

Prepare your community with Bushfire Ready

Bushfire Ready is a community-led program that encourages local residents to learn about planning and preparing for bushfires by working together.

Get the brochure
How does Bushfire Ready work?
Why should I get involved with Bushfire Ready?
How do I get started?

More Information

During a bushfire

If a bushfire has started, then you need to monitor official warnings.

Learn more

Recovering from a bushfire

In the wake of a bushfire, it can be incredibly daunting to return home.

Learn more

Bushfire Centre of Excellence

An education hub where bushfire management personnel can come together for training and learning.

Learn more

Bushfire prone areas

Find out if your property is located in a bushfire prone area and view the planning requirements.

Learn more

Total fire ban

A Total Fire Ban is declared when a fire is likely to spread rapidly.

Learn more

Planned burning

The process of planning and applying fire to a predetermined area.

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Rural and farm fire

Bushfire risk when you live in a rural or farming area.

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Bushfire overview

To survive a bushfire you must be prepared to make your own decisions.

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Support for at risk communities

Ensure the safety of direct care workers, staff, and in-home clients.

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Bushfire publications

View and download bushfire manuals, guides and publications.

Learn more