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Plan and prepare for fire

Having a fire plan and preparing your property now could save your life. Get started today with our Online Fire Planner.

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Having a fire plan and preparing your property now could save your life.

During an emergency such as a bushfire, it is hard to think clearly. You may forget important things or waste valuable time deciding where to go.

There are some simple steps you can take to get ready now:

online fire planner

Get started with our Online Fire Planner

Getting started is easy and you can create a basic plan in as little as 10 minutes.

Start your fire plan

Fire Danger Ratings

The Fire Danger Rating is a scale that tells you how dangerous and unpredictable a fire will be if one starts.

As of 1 September 2022, Fire Danger Ratings changed across Australia.

Fire Danger Ratings provide information so people can take action to protect themselves and others. The higher the fire danger, the more dangerous the conditions and the greater the impact will be if a fire starts.

The new system uses better technology and research to determine fire danger ratings, and was developed using feedback from one of Australia’s largest surveys of communities.

The new ratings are designed to be easier to understand and provides clear advice about actions to take.

The new Australian Fire Danger Rating system is determined by:

Fires can start on any day with any rating. On higher danger-rated days, fire is more likely to be unpredictable and difficult for emergency services to control.

You need to know the rating in your area.

Victoria has 9 weather districts based on council boundaries:

graphic map of Victoria demonstrating the different fire districts and the Fire Danger Rantings.

Each district is given its own rating for each day over the warmer months. Ratings are forecast up to four days in advance and updated daily. Find your fire district on the CFA’s website.

You can also find important localised information to help you plan for bushfire in your area at the CFA Local Information page.

Learn more about each of the ratings

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What should I do?

For your survival, leave bushfire risk areas. Your life may depend on the decision you make, even before there is a fire.

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.

Avoid forested areas, thick bush or long, dry grass.

Know your trigger to leave.

Make a decision about:

What should I do?

Take action now to protect your life and property.

Check your bushfire plan and that your property is fire ready. If a fire starts, take immediate action. If you and your property are not prepared to the highest level, go to a safer location well before the fire impacts.

Reconsider travel through bushfire risk areas. Leaving bushfire risk areas early in the day is your safest option.

Be aware of local conditions and seek information.

You can:

What should I do?

Check your fire plan.

There’s heightened risk. Be alert for fires in your area,

Decide what you will do if a fire starts.

If a fire starts, your life and property may be at risk. The safest option is to avoid bushfire risk areas.

Be aware of local conditions and seek information.

You can:

What should I do?

Stay up to date and be ready to act if there is a fire.

Check your fire plan.

Monitor conditions.

Action may be needed.

Leave if necessary.

The system has an ‘off’ level for days where no proactive action is required by the community. This does not mean that fires cannot happen, but that they are not likely to move or act in a way that threatens the safety of the community. This rating is the thin white wedge on the colour wheel sitting under ‘Moderate'.

How to plan for bushfires and grassfires

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It is very important to know what your plan will be for fire risk days. Decide what you will do on High, Extreme and Catastrophic days.

For more information on Fire Danger Ratings and warnings, you can visit the Vic Emergency website.

Leaving early on fire risk days is always the safest option. It is rare that you will need to do this. Once the Fire Danger Rating reaches Extreme or Catastrophic, you should plan to leave all fire prone areas for the day.

Leaving early on fire risk days before a fire starts is safer. It means you will be in a clear mindset to follow your fire plan. It also reduces the risk of leaving too late when a fire has already started.

Always discuss with your family and friends when you’ll leave, so that everyone is clear what the plan is.

It is best to have a couple of places to go. The person you planned to visit may not be home, or the route you planned to take may be closed.

Will you go to a:

When you are making your fire plan, think about the unexpected and consider back-up plans.

What if:

It is particularly important to know what you will do if you are not able to drive for any reason. How will you get away from fire prone areas?

It is always safer to leave early.

Make a list of things you will need and important documents and items you want to keep safe. This is your Emergency Kit.

Pack things like:

Put a reminder in your calendar to put together your Emergency Kit before the fire season.

Need help with your list? The Red Cross have a great app ‘Get Prepared’ to help organise all the important items you need to consider.

You can download:

Fires are also a very stressful time for your pets and livestock.

Having a plan for them means they will be happier and safer when an emergency hits:

It is important to let your family and friends know you’re safe and what your movements are. It can reduce everyone’s stress and concern.

Make a list of people you will inform. Make sure to note down their contact details, just in case you lose your phone or it runs out of battery.

Is there anyone in your street who may need a little extra help?

They could be:

You can:

What does Leave Early mean?

If you live in a regional area at risk of bushfire and grass fires, we recommend to always leave the night before or morning of an Extreme or Catastrophic (Fire Danger Rating) day.

These days are rare. They are rated high risk because of:

The worse these conditions are, the more difficult it is for emergency services to control fire. If the fire is unpredictable and uncontrollable, you do not want to be anywhere near it. Leave early.

Fires can start at any rating. Watch the conditions and check warnings so you know what to do if a fire starts.

You can:

Total Fire Ban Days

Total Fire Ban Days are different to Fire Danger Ratings:

Total Fire Bans are declared by CFA on days when fires are likely to spread rapidly and be difficult to control. This sets legal restrictions on what activities can or cannot occur in a district for that day.

The purpose of a Total Fire Ban is to reduce the activities that may start a fire such as campfires and some outdoor BBQs.

You can find out more about what you can and cannot do on Total Fire Ban days on the CFA website.

Communities

Updated 15 November 2023

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