NSW Rural

BUSH FIRE SAFETY Fire Service 03

Leaving Early
leave early and survive a bush fire

The safest option in a bush

fire is always to leave early, You should never “wait and see what happens”
well before the fire threatens. during a bush fire. Leaving late means you will be
You should leave if: on the road when conditions are the most dangerous,
or you may not be able to get out at all. The longer
you wait to leave the greater the risk to your life.
The Fire Danger Rating
is Catastrophic. On these
days fires will be so intense
it is not safe to defend any
home - no matter how well
prepared. Extreme and
Severe days are also very
dangerous and leaving
early will always be the
safest option.
You have not prepared
yourself or your property to
give you and your home the
best level of protection from
r i n g t o l e a ve
a fire.
Pre pa ly m ea n s:
There are children, elderly, ea r al Plan,
Did you know
Being well away fr
or disabled people in your h F ire Surviv
le ti ng a B u s
.g ov.au om a
home. People who are C o m p
w ww.rfs .n s w bush fire is the O
vulnerable due to age, health availa b le a t
o, how to NLY way
e re you will g ill take to ensure your sa
or any other reason should in g w h
Plann re, and what you
w fety.
always leave early. get the n g e r R a ting
Da
aily Fire
Your house is not K n o w ing the d what it means
rea and
in your a for all
defendable. Some houses,
s p o rt o rganised ing pets
g tran includ
because of their location, Havin rs of the family,
m b e the fire
construction, or surrounding me
in fo rm ation on from TV,
g
vegetation are not safe to ly seekin onditions
Active n and weather c et so you know
defend. The NSW RFS Bush situatio e intern
io and th
Fire Household Assessment local rad ave
le aren’t
Tool (www.rfs.nsw.gov.au) when to
p la n in case you er
g a back
-up at oth
can help you assess your ugh. Wh
home’s level of risk and Havin leave early eno u could get to?
able to es are there yo
make an informed decision. safer pla
c ighbours
, fr ie n d s , and ne
On some days no properties ily
g to fam e early
will be defendable. Talkin our plan to leav
about y

© State of New South Wales through the NSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE 2012. E2