On Saturday October 14th, a small but interested group attended the Fire Planning Workshop at the Gnarwarre Pavillion and learnt about preparing their properties for the coming fire season.

The following is a brief summary of what was discussed:

1) Farm fire management and your responsibilities
– The safety of all the people living, working or visiting your property. Include contact details for your neighbours.
– The safety of your pets and livestock, creating safe zones.
– Cutting the risk of starting unplanned fires, particularly when operating machinery, vehicles and equipment and controlled burns.
– All fire pumps and equipment are in good working order and everyone on your farm know how they operate. Remember that mains power may be cut during a fire event.
-Preventing private power poles causing a fire.
-Access to the property, assets and water for firefighting purposes. Clearly identify your property address at your front gate for emergency services.

2) Know your daily fire danger rating and restrictions.

3) Decide early if you plan to stay and protect your property or leave to a safer location.

4) Use a pre-season check list so you don’t forget something. You can contact your local CFA to schedule a property visit to help you improve your preparation for the fire season.

5) Survival guide, communication, risks of high fuel loads and the danger of radiant heat.

FARM BUSHFIRE PLANNING CHECKLIST
Items to protect on a farm… [is this your priority order?]:
• People
• Home and contents
• Livestock
• Infrastructure
• PlantConserved Fodder

There are 3 phases to consider, and many issues, when compiling a written plan to survive bushfire:

1. Pre fire Preparation
   Know your patch, and surrounds! Compass directions, road and locality names, neighbours…
   Understand legal obligations [TFBs], fire behaviour and risk [FDRs].
   What do you beforehand to organise survivability for people, the home and the farm?
   Relationship with insurer and level of insurance?
   Vegetation management and landscaping – the 1/10/30 guide. Access for fire trucks.
   Is the plan to stay and defend a well-prepared property, or leave early to safer place? On Catastrophic FDR…leave ?!
   Emergency kit.
   Personal and personnel capacity and resources assessment! Who will be home? Contact list.
   The Three R’s Plan –‘ritten, realistic, and rehearsed plan! Include a map.
2. At time of fire impact
   Know the dangers of ember attack, and the peril of radiant heat.
   Getting accurate information and communication plan.
   What livestock/pets suffer most; what class are the most valuable? Do you move them if time?
   For plant and infrastructure – what will be needed most on the day, and in the days after impact?
   Power, water supply items, fodder, tractor, boundary fence, yards…?
   What of them can be protected in a plan well before the event, and during, making sure of the implications of exposure to radiant heat.
   Be calm and considered, and have fall-back plans.
3. Post fire recovery
   Prioritise recovery/restitution tasks?
   What external services and assistance may be available quickly? Will access be possible to your property if you are away?
   How will your mental health be considered?

Some resources:
https://www.mla.com.au
https://www.redcross.org.au
https://www.cfs.sa.gov.au
https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au

This is a video a class of local schoolkids produced after doing bushfire risk sessions with Michael Greenham [CFA] and Glenelg Shire. All their own work!