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“A house in my street has an overgrown fire hazard of a garden. What can I do about it?”
When considering your safety in bushfire season, it’s important to make note of hazards before a fire arrives.
So important, in fact, that we made it the very first task of the Challenge.
The Mud Map you made probably contains quite a handful of potential fire hazards. Some of those hazards may be on public land or somebody else’s private property.
As landowners or tenants, each of us is responsible for managing fire risk where we live. But sometimes things get out of control – yards get overgrown, houses can get neglected, and become potential fire hazards.
The good news is that most hazards can be dealt with, and private property is no exception. You can report bushfire hazards near you – on both private and public land – directly to your local RFS fire control centre.
A kind word beats a council visit
Before you pick up the phone to report, consider whether a direct approach is best.
If you’re able to do so, a neighbourly chat – or even an offer of help – can go a long way. Your neighbour may not be aware of the hazard or the potential risk to your property. You might even talk them into joining you on the Get Ready Challenge!
The most resilient communities are the ones that help each other, and in terms of bushfire safety nothing beats a neighbourhood working together.
Getting help from the RFS
If you need advice on the situation feel free to call your local RFS Fire Control Centre – in the upper Blue Mountains it’s in Katoomba, on 02 4784 7444. The officers there can provide you with information about bush fire preparation, and may organise to inspect the hazard.
If all other options fail the final step is to make a formal Bush Fire Hazard Complaint. An RFS team will check out the situation, and if they identify it as a bushfire hazard, the property owner can be directed to deal with it – this works for both private and publicly owned land..
For more information about this process see this link.
Stage 4: Complete!
You are absolutely smashing this! Bushfire plans are made. Emergency kit and grab bag are packed. Yard is suitably blitzed.
Now it’s time to get to work on the home front.