Are you at Risk?

Our desire to live close to nature means that many homes are built in areas that are at risk of bushfire. There are several elements that increase the bushfire risk to our properties and families, and it pays to assess and attempt to mitigate these risks well in advance.

You are at more risk if you:

• are close to bushland or areas with significant ground fuels (bush, scrub, grass etc)
• live in a designated bushfire prone area according to your council’s bushfire prone land map
• live in a general area with a history of fire incidents
• are on top of a slope, such as a ridge or hill - fire runs quickly upslope
• have continuous rows of vegetation on, or leading to your property
• have combustible material near structures, such as bushes/shrubs growing next to homes, woodpiles, rubbish or leaves in gutters
• live on a property with limited access, making it difficult for you and firefighters to get into and exit your property (e.g. one road in and out, or no access around your property)
• have little access to water for firefighting
• are distant from firefighting services
• haven’t prepared your family, house, property and firefighting equipment.

Living in a Bushfire Prone Area

When there is a bushfire risk to property (either existing or proposed development) due to forest or grasslands close by, that property is considered to be in a bushfire prone area.

Local councils have identified bushfire prone areas in collaboration with the Rural Fire Service and these are marked out on maps of the area.

To find out if you live in a bushfire prone area, contact your local council. Ask about your local Bushfire Prone Land Map.

The RFS has several publications available on living in bushfire prone areas:

(Please note that the links below will take you to the official NSW RFS website)

• Planning for Bushfire Protection
• Building in a Bushfire Prone Area
• Standards for Asset Protection Zones
• Standards for Low Intensity Burning
• Standards for Pile Burning
• Application and Guidelines for Bush Fire Hazard Reducton Certificates

The RFS also have checklists and Fact Sheets available to help you protect your home and property:

• These are available in PDF format from our Publications Area

More about Preparing for Bushfire:

• How Bushfires Affect Houses
• Family Fire Plan
• Protecting Your House and Garden
• Water Supplies and Equipment
• Preparing Your Property – Farms and Landholders
• Hazard Reduction
• Safe Burning Practices
• How the RFS Can Help 
• How You Can Help