To leave early or stay and fight?

When bushfires strike, you need to know what to do if you stay, or go

WHETHER you decide to leave early, or stay to protect your property, you need a plan. Your and your family’s lives depend on it.

Here are some tips from the Queensland Rural Fire Service on what to do if you choose to stay, or go.

LEAVE EARLY

If you plan to leave early, ensure you do so well before a bushfire threatens your property and/or travelling by roads becomes hazardous. You will need a Bushfire Evacuation Kit. Follow these procedures:

Move cars to a safe location Remove garden furniture, door mats and other items

Close windows and doors and shut blinds

Take down curtains and move furniture away from windows

Seal gaps under doors and windows with wet towels

Bring pets inside and restrain them (leash, cage or secure room) and provide water

Block downpipes (at the top) and fill gutters with water if possible

Wet down the sides of buildings, decks and close shrubbery in the likely path of the bushfire

Wet down fine fuels close to buildings Turn on garden sprinklers for 30 minutes before the bushfire arrives

Fill containers with water – baths, sinks, buckets, wheelie bins

Tune in to warnings to monitor local radio, websites or social media for updates Put on protective clothing

Drink lots of water

Get out of there.

STAY AND FIGHT

Preparation is the key to survival and the QRFS emphasises the importance of being mentally and physically ready.

First, ask yourself: Is your property able to withstand the impact of a bushfire? Do you clearly understand what you need to do and have the correct equipment to do so? What will you do to protect your property and life when the fire arrives? Do you have a bushfire emergency kit?

Prepare for the approaching fire: as per the Leave Early guide.

As the fire front arrives:

Disconnect hose and fittings and bring inside

Go inside for shelter Drink lots of water

Shelter in your house on the opposite side of the approaching fire

Patrol and check for embers inside, particularly in the roof space

Check on family and pets Maintain a means of escape Continually monitor conditions Be prepared to evacuate at any minute, with your Bushfire Evacuation Kit.

After the fire front has passed, check for small spot fires and burning embers: Inside the roof space

Under floor boards and house On verandas and decks

On window ledges and door sills In roof lines and gutters

In garden beds and mulch

In wood heaps

Around outdoor furniture.