Bushfire season starts tomorrow

The ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) urges Canberrans to be ready for the bushfire season which begins tomorrow, 1 September 2018.

The Bureau of Meteorology has advised a 50% change of an El Nino event which means elevated risk to the ACT from bushfire, heatwave, and dust storms is likely.

The ESA has over 400 ACT Rural Fire Service members, more than 340 paid ACT Fire & Rescue firefighters, access to 160 firefighters in the ACT Parks and Conservation Service and over 800 Community Fire Unit members, who are all well prepared to help protect the ACT from bushfire.

All Canberrans should ensure they too are doing their part. Make sure you understand Fire Danger Rating (FDR) levels to help make safe decisions when travelling in and around the ACT. From 1 September 2018, the ESA will update the FDR daily, which is displayed electronically on all major arterial roads across the ACT, as well as on the home page of the ESA website.

In addition, people living in or near Bushfire Prone Areas (BPAs) should download a Bushfire Survival Plan from the ESA website, fill it in and have a discussion with their family about what they will do in the event of a fire.

You can check if you live in a BPA, download information about FDR levels and bushfire warnings, and find fact sheets on preparing for the bushfire season via the ESA website, esa.act.gov.au.

During the bushfire season, rural landowners and managers must obtain a free permit from the ACT Rural Fire Service before conducting hazard reduction burns. To apply for a permit contact 6207 8609, or send an email request to rfs@act.gov.au.

For more information on this year’s bushfire season, and how to prepare your property visit:
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