A strategy is a collection of actions that if implemented together, can reduce the risk of damage during a weather event or crisis.
Different properties and communities face different levels of risk. The level of risk from bushfire is dependent on:
- the proximity of the house or community to bushland and
- the type of bush and the slope of the land under the bush and the features of your house and property.
Resilience ratings assess the attributes of your property or community and may provide recommendations to help mitigate the risks.
Codes and Standards e.g., AS3959 (Bushfire) can also be used to assess the hazard at a specific site.
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Actions
Where you build a property can help minimise the chance of damage from a bushfire. This action is important in the design stage of your home, when you choose where to site it. This should reflect the anticipated level of bushfire attack. This is important for larger rural properties, where there may be flexibility in positioning your house.
Wind attack can damage buildings, spread debris, and promote the spread of fire. Locate your building in places with low wind exposure. Avoid the top or side of ridges as these locations are vulnerable to wind attack.
Know your 'Bushfire Attack Level' (BAL). Your BAL considers the weather, slope, and distance from vegetation. Knowing your BAL can help you make decisions to reduce your bushfire risk. It can help you decide where to site your home, and other decisions such as strategic landscaping and appropriate construction materials.
Topography is vital in positioning your home. Fire increases in intensity as it moves up a slope. It is important to not site your home near vegetation that has a rising slope under it. You could also consider cutting into a hill and using slab construction rather than elevating floors. This reduces exposure of more surfaces to radiant heat.
Try to avoid siting your house near trees. If you have to, try to create a separation distance of 1.5 times the height of the tallest tree. Maintain proper maintenance of trees and avoid building directly under them. Simple roof designs can also reduce risk by reducing debris build up.
The positioning of your home should allow for access and escape. Aim to include a suitable access road for emergency services if needed in a disaster. Make sure access allows firefighters to locate and access the water supply (whether mains or static water supply). Refer to your state or territory fire service to check the fittings required by your service.
Resilience rating tools can help indicate the resilience of your home. They can also identify areas of vulnerability and make recommendations.
You should undertake a range of actions to reduce your risk.