What Can You Do to Have a Fighting Chance against bushfires?

Undoubtedly as soon as the weather heats up, every Australian cringes at the thought of the Bush Fire Season. Destructive and devastating, a fire does not discriminate - if you have not prepared properly, you could suffer terrible consequences.

The great thing is, there are some very simple things you can do to help prevent a disaster. Simple things that can be the difference between not having a fighting chance and that of saving your property, or your neighbors!

1. Clean your gutters of leaves and twigs
2. Repair damaged or missing tiles on the roof
3. Install fine metal mesh screens on windows and doors
4. Fit seals around doors and windows to eliminate gaps
5. Enclose the areas under the house
6. Repair to cover gaps in external walls
7. Keep lawns short and gardens well maintained
8. Cut back trees and shrubs overhanging buildings
9. Clean up fallen leaves, twigs and debris around the property
10. Have hoses long enough to reach around your house
11. If you have pool, tank, dam or other water source, put a Static Water Supply (SWS) sign on your property so fire fighters know where they can get water
12. Check and maintain adequate levels of home and contents insurance. Ensure it is up to date.
13. Join local emergency groups for alerts on social media

Sometimes even the most unusual of implements could help save your life, and especially if the necessary precautions have been taken before.

An extraordinary case was Ilse Heidegger from Woolooga in south east QLD. In September last year she saved her cattle and home from a roaring bush fire by riding her horse around armed with a leaf blower. The leaf blower starved a small portion of the fire of oxygen, allowing her cattle to cross to safety. This type of bravery will be sure something to go down in folk tales.

Read the full story here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-23/battling-woolooga-flames-with-a-leaf-blower/10293986 

Being prepared can be the difference between life and death. Understandably, sometimes the local authorities and fire fighters are unable to get to our properties in time, so it is paramount we are vigilant in making sure our properties are as bushfire ready as possible.

Here at Rapid Spray, we prepare each year for the fire season. We increase our stock levels of all our fire fighting equipment from trailers, compact units to our fire fighting backpacks.

It is of great importance to use to ensure we have stock ready in many locations around Australia to help fight fire when the need arises.

Should you ever decide to gear up and have your own personal firefighting equipment, please do not to hesitate to contact us on 1800 011 000 and we will be more than happy to help you.

Each state has there own fire program - see links below for further information. 

QLD: https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx 

NSW: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/13322/Standards-for-Low-Intensity-Bush-Fire-Hazard-Reduction-Burning.pdf

NT: https://www.pfes.nt.gov.au/Fire-and-Rescue/Fire-escape-plan.aspx

SA: https://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/prepare_for_a_fire.jsp

TAS: http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/Show?pageId=colbushfirePrepareActSurvive

VIC: https://parkweb.vic.gov.au/safety/be-safe-plan-ahead/bushfire-safety

WA: https://www.emergency.wa.gov.au/prepare