Bush Firewise

Bush FireWise Program

1. The Bush FireWise program builds on and extends the successful RFS Community Fireguard program in which trained facilitators assist groups of householders to work through their fire safety issues.
   RFS members are trained to implement the program by working with small groups and individuals living in bush fire risk areas.
2. This additional training will enable experienced firefighters to undertake fire safety audits to give specific advice to individuals who live in bush fire prone areas.

Elements of Bush FireWise program include:

Static Water Supply Marking System

• The SWS marking system provides specially designed markers for landowners with useable water supplies such as dams and pools.
• Brigades will record these as part of pre-incident planning to source readily available water.
• The benefits to landowners include the knowledge that the brigade is aware of their property and additional fire safety measures have been carried out to ensure access to the static water supply.

Blue Hydrant Markers

• Reflective markers are placed near the centre of a road adjacent to water hydrant enabling brigades to quickly identify where hydrants are located.
• These markers have been used previously but Bush FireWise co-ordinates their installation Statewide.
• Residents will be encouraged to ‘adopt a hydrant' to ensure that it is clear of debris and always visible. Unhindered access to hydrants in emergency situations benefits everyone.

Structured Public Meetings

• RFS members are trained to deliver fire safety strategies at community meetings using specifically designed resources and scripted presentations.
• Groups of residents are provided with information specifically related to their localities.
• From these meetings residents requiring extra assistance and information are referred to facilitators.

Asset Protection Zones

• RFS members are trained and resources produced to inform landowners of their responsibility to maintain these Asset Protection Zones (APZs) to protect their own and adjoining land from bushfire.
• APZs are part of the development consent conditions for buildings in bush fire prone areas.
• Information related to fuel reduction and modification and fire resistant species of plants and trees will allow residents to plan and maintain theses areas effectively.

Advertising

• Television commercials encouraging people to down load the Bush Firewise check list from the RFS website air on regional and metropolitan stations during the Bushfire Danger Period.
• Where people do not have access to the web, a toll free number,1800 654 443, is available to seek information that can be posted or people can be directed to a local source of information.
• This commercial will be on high rotation and will coincide with what is expected to be a period of high bush fire danger.
• These initiatives, together with the existing RFS education programs, provide home and landowners with a comprehensive range of information delivered electronically or verbally face to face.
• The Bush Firewise program caters for a variety of forums and formats from more structured community meetings to working with individual home and landowners.
• In this way the RFS is providing the people of NSW in bushfire prone areas with the most up-to-date and relevant information.
• This enables them to make informed decisions that will help to protect their properties and to save their lives and those of their families.