Suburban living rarely evokes images of bushfires, but the truth is that every summer many Sydney-siders live with this very threat.
Our national parks and reserves weave through municipalities, creating wonderful green spaces for us all to enjoy, but come the warmer months these areas become volatile and leave adjacent residents at risk of grass and bushfires.
While these homes are most vulnerable, embers can travel kilometres away from the original fire, leaving neighbouring suburbs exposed too.
With this in mind, it’s important for ALL Sydney-siders to remain vigilant about fire safety and prevention.
HOW BUSHFIRES BEHAVE
It is important you understand how bushfires behave to help you protect your family and home against them. All fires need fuel, air and heat.
Fuel
Vegetation around your home like dry grass, leaves, twigs and bark provide fuel for a fire. This fuel plays a part in how hot a fire can be and how fast it can spread. If fuel is removed, the fire will starve.
Heat
Bushfires generate unbelievable heat. Much of this heat goes up into the air but significant heat also radiates at ground level. This radiant heat spreads the fire by drying out vegetation so it will burn
Embers
Even if the fire front does not reach your home it can still be damaged by burning embers carried by strong winds. Embers can get into your home through gaps in roofs, walls, evaporative air conditioners, windows and doors. They can land on materials that easily burn and this can start a fire. Research has shown that ember attack is the main reason that houses catch fire during a bushfire. Embers can continue to threaten your home even after the fire front has passed. [1]
PREPARATION AND PREVENTION
There are a number of ways you can prepare for fire season and prevent your home from falling victim to fire.
Prevention
- Landscape to reduce fire risk – use gravel and paving nearer to your house and ensure shrubs and tree canopies are at least a couple of metres from home.
- Use non-combustible materials for deckings and carports.
- Install fine steel wire mesh screens on all windows, doors, vents and weep holes. [2]
- Fit metal NOT plastic fly screens on windows and doors. [2]
- Enclose open areas under your decks and floors. [2]
- Seal all gaps in external roof and wall cladding. [2]
If you’re going on a holiday make sure you switch off any non-essential appliances. Appliances can cause internal fires too!
Preparation
- Keep your front and back yards free from combustible materials
- Keep your backyard tidy, free from any build up of flammable material.
- Clean leaves from gutters, roofs and downpipes regularly, and fit quality metal leaf guards.
- Mow your grass regularly, both in the front and back yards.
- Remove excess ground fuels and other combustible material.
- Relocate any flammable items away from your home including woodpiles, paper, boxes, crates, hanging baskets and garden furniture.
LET CHEAPEST LOAD OF RUBBISH HELP YOU PREPARE
As the name suggests, Cheapest Load of Rubbish provides a Sydney rubbish removal service.
There are a number of ways we can help you prevent household fires and assist your with your fire safety plan, including:
- Removing flammable materials from your home including Paper, Cardboard and Household Chemicals
- Mow lawns, trim trees and shrubs and remove excess weeds through our Garden Clean-Up service
- Take away piles of Timber, Leaves and Twigs and any other debris around or under your house
- Demolish Garden Sheds and old Carports
- Remove unwanted Furniture items causing excessive clutter
In general, if you haven’t used something in 12 months, the chances are you don’t actually need it!
Be brave, gather all your unwanted items together and call Cheapest Load of Rubbish on 9550 1181. We offer a same-day service where possible, so don’t be shy, book in a pick-up today.
Being clutter free and fire ready will be the smartest and most rewarding thing you’ve done this new year!
- https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/safetyinformation/fire/bushfire/bushfirefactsheets/dfes_bushfire-factsheet-how_bushfires_behave.pdf
- https://www.allianz.com.au/home-insurance/news/bushfire-safety
