Remain vigilant of your surroundings, and follow any advice or directions provided by emergency services personnel or via an emergency broadcast on local radio (see below for frequencies).
Let someone know your plans and how to contact you.
During a bushfire the critical time for personal safety is during the 5 to 10 minutes it takes for the fire front to pass.
As the fire front passes, properties will be subject to radiant heat, flame contact, ember attack, smoke, loud noise, darkness and power failure.
Radiant Heat
Radiant heat can kill. To protect yourself, you need to cover up, dress appropriately and take refuge.
Solid structures and appropriate clothing may provide protection from radiant heat. It cannot penetrate through solid objects, which means your best protection is in a well-prepared house or structure if you are unable to leave the area before the bushfire starts.
Personal Protective Clothing
Cover all exposed skin to protect from radiant heat. Wear: •Long sleeved shirt and trousers in natural fibres (for example, wool or cotton). •Wide-brimmed hat and solid shoes or boots.
Travelling on the Road
Ensure your vehicle is properly maintained for the journey you are undertaking.
Keep several woollen blankets and a supply of fresh water in your vehicle, just in case you are caught in a bushfire.
If you are aware of bushfires before you leave home, plan an alternative route and do not travel to the affected area. If you come across smoke while travelling, turn around and go back. Listen to the radio and ask locally for help to find a safe way through.
If you need to use your vehicle as a shelter from a bushfire: •Find a clearing away from dense bush and flammable material on the ground, such as branches and leaves. •Park the vehicle off the roadway to avoid collisions in poor visibility. •Face the vehicle towards the oncoming fire front. •Turn headlights and hazard warning lights on. •Tightly close all windows and doors. •Stay inside your vehicle-it offers the best protection from the radiant heat. •Shut all the air vents and turn the air conditioning off. •Turn the engine off. •Get down below the window level into the foot wells and shelter under woollen blankets. •Drink water to minimise the risks of dehydration.
As The Fire Front Passes
During a bushfire the critical time for personal safety is during the 5 to 10 minutes it takes for the fire front to pass. •Stay in the vehicle until the fire front has passed. •Fuel tanks are very unlikely to explode. •Smoke gradually gets inside the vehicle and fumes will be released from the interior of the vehicle. Stay as close to the floor as possible to minimise inhalation and cover mouth with a cloth. •Tyres and external plastic body parts may catch alight. In more extreme cases the vehicle interior may catch on fire. •Once the front has passed and the temperature has dropped, cautiously exit the vehicle (be careful-internal parts will be extremely hot). •Move to a safe area such as a strip of land that has already burnt. •Stay covered in woollen blankets, continue to drink water and wait for assistance.
Bushwalking
It is advisable not to go bushwalking during fire danger days, but if you are caught in a bushfire you should: •Never try to outrun the fames. •Head for a natural fire break, e.g. streams, clearings or rock outcrops. •Keep away from high ground in the path of the fire. •Never shelter in an above ground water tank. •Cover yourself or shelter behind a solid object such as a rock, to protect yourself against radiant heat.
Camping and Houseboats
People on camping and houseboat holidays must ensure they are familiar with local fire restrictions.
If camping or staying in a caravan park, enquire if a safe refuge area has been designated. A brick toilet building or shower block may be the best option.
Be careful using generators and make sure you are familiar with restrictions applying to fires and barbeques.
If visiting a national park, ask the rangers about the local fire and barbecue regulations as they can vary.
This also applies to houseboat users when lighting fires along riverbanks.
To report a fire, call 000-for emergency warnings and alerts, tune into one of our emergency broadcast partners.
SA Emergency Broadcast Partners: ABC Local Radio, FIVEaa Radio, Sky News Television, WIN Television, Commercial Radio Australia
