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Bush fire attack level

Victoria has mapped designated bushfire prone areas. There are many precautions you can take to help protect your home and maximise your safety.

If you are planning to build or renovate key steps include:

ensuring an appropriate building site location
using suitable building materials
ensuring proximity to independent water resources
managing the vegetation surrounding the building and clearing debris close to the building.

It is also important to ensure your property is accessible for emergency vehicles and has a water supply for firefighting.

The Victorian Building Authority recommends the following to help reduce the risk of damage to homes in the event of a bushfire:

Use building materials appropriate for the conditions and your Bushfire Attack Level (BAL)
Remove any overhanding tree branches, take out shrubs over one metre high next to or below windows, keep grass short and clean up other debris near your building site or home that could easily catch fire to help provide some defendable space
Follow the step-by-step guide to protecting your home from fire by downloading the Country Fire Authority (CFA) Fire Ready Kit from CFA website or phoning the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667 for a copy.
Ensure you have a Bushfire Survival Plan in place and practise it regularly.
Get involved in community meetings about fire preparedness in the neighbourhood. Go to the CFA website for meeting details.
If you have a full rainwater tank near your home, ensure it is accessible.

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