Ways To Prepare Your Home For a Bushfire

You are one of the lucky ones if you live in warm, sunny weather surrounded by luscious greenery. Property seekers usually go chasing after the sun for year-round BBQs and beach outings. However, those who live in such a climate know that although blessed, the risk of some natural disaster is always just around the corner. Commonly known as bushfires, these are random and uncontrollable occurrences that can wreak havoc on surrounding homes. Bushfires are caused by burning of bushes and grass after storing solar energy that ends up combusting like fuel. If you just moved into a house close to bushland, here are some ways you need to know to prepare your home against bushfires:

Install Necessary Screening  Shields

Bushfires can start and run wild in a matter of seconds destroying everything along the way. Smoke from such fires can be very dense and easily cause suffocation. It is necessary to install fire-resistant shutters to protect against flying ashes and stall the fires from entering inside your house. Other essential items to always have at hand are masks and fire-resistant gloves. But, not all masks are created equal; you need to know what mask should you use for bushfire smoke to help you breathe normally and think clearly about your next move. Invest in specialized masks that prevent harmful particles from passing into your lungs. Gloves will allow you to safely handle any objects caught on fire. Remember that the first thing you will need to consider is you and your family’s safety. This comes first before attempting to save the house or any belongings. 

Keep Your Garden Neat

Your lawn should always be mowed to stop the fires from spreading further. Although unpredictable, bushfires are seasonal, so make sure to have your lawn regularly grazed ahead of the season to protect against the hazards of longer grass. Clear any clutter from your garden, even the garden furniture, move it inside for the season as these can easily catch fire and accelerate it. Also, conduct a fire drill to ensure you have clear pathways through your garden, and should firemen need to access your home during an emergency.

Finish Any Maintenance Work

You know these maintenance jobs you have been putting off for a few months now? It is time to get them done. Fix broken roof tiles and replace missing ones to protect your home from flaming tree bushes falling off outdoors. Seek professional help to clean and unclog gutters from debris and dead leaves, since these are highly susceptible to burning and speeding up fires.

Get Rid Of Flammable Outdoor Items

Make sure that the exterior of your house is properly insulated against fire. If this is not something you thought about when you were still building your home, you do not need to worry. Immediately replace your wooden fences with fire-resistant ones made from iron or vinyl that comes highly recommended by the fire protection associations. Also, when planning your kids’ outdoor playing area, refrain from purchasing plastic slides and swings. You will be better off resorting to play sets made out of metal.  PVC is also a good option, even though it’s a type of plastic, it’s actually fire-retardant and much less flammable than regular plastic.

Devise an Evacuation Plan

Sometimes bushfires get so intense that you have no choice but to leave your house and save your life. So, you will need to have an evacuation plan. Identify the exits around your home and keep them clear at all times. All family members should be aware of this plan and practice any related steps. Especially if you have small kids, try to make it easy for them to comprehend the plan; you can hang up colorful arrows on the walls for simple instructions that they can follow even if you are not with them at the time of the bushfire. 

Insure Your Home Against Fires

Bushfire or not, you should have your home covered against all kinds of natural disasters. However, local insurance companies in areas-prone to bushfires usually have suitable plans that you can benefit from. You need to be attentive though as some plans mention “fires”, but not natural disaster ones. This is common to overlook, so you need to have a long and detailed conversation with your insurance company once you move into your new house.

During times of hardship, make sure you cooperate with your neighbors and community to survive these fires peacefully. Now that you are more aware of ways to protect your home from bushfires, be a proactive citizen and share these insights with your neighbors to ensure their safety as well.