Let’s be honest – most of us mean to get ready for bushfire season, but life gets in the way. The good news? You don’t need to turn your house into a fortress or spend your weekend knee-deep in leaf litter.
Here are three simple things you can do, starting right now, to make your household safer through the bushfire season. Each one takes less time than a good movie and might just save you a whole lot of stress later.
1. Clear those gutters
When was the last time you looked in your gutters? If the answer is “not since we moved in,” you’re not alone.
All those twigs, leaves and gunk aren’t just unsightly – they’re perfect food for flying embers. During a bushfire, embers get lifted and can travel many kilometres on the wind. If one lands in a roof gutter full of dry leaves it’s an invitation to start a fire.
What to do:
- Get up a ladder (nice and safely – or hire someone if you’d rather stay on the ground)
- Scoop out all the leaf litter and debris
- Hose them clean
- Pop on some metal gutter guards if you can
Time: about 2 hours for most homes.
Bonus: clean gutters also mean fewer mozzies and no more waterfall effect in a downpour.
2. Create an ember-free zone around your home
You’ve heard of the Swedish death clean? Meet the Blue Mountains bushfire backyard blitz!
Take a wander around your yard and take note of any places that embers could take hold. Got bushes growing up against the house? Firewood piled under the deck? Then it’s time for a quick reshuffle.
Creating defendable space doesn’t mean turning your garden into a desert – it just means giving embers less to work with near your home. Think of it as a short haircut for your yard: tidy, practical, still good-looking.
What to do:
- Move anything flammable to be at least 2 metres away from the house
- Trim branches hanging over your roof
- Keep lawns short and gardens tidy
- Relocate woodpiles, gas bottles and outdoor furniture
- Swap bark mulch near the house for pebbles or pavers.
Pro tip: Choose plants with glossy leaves rather than dry or papery ones – they’re harder to ignite.
Yes, the rose bush might sulk for a bit. But your house will thank you.
3. Know your escape routes
“We’ll leave if it looks bad on the day.”
It’s what most people say – until the smoke’s already drifting in and the highway is blocked.
Spend half an hour now working out your evacuation plan, and a Plan B. It’s a small job that makes a massive difference when the pressure’s on.
What to do:
- Map out at least two routes out of your area
- Decide where you’ll go in the event that you decide to leave (and let those people know they’re on standby for visitors)
- Round up your important documents and any other irreplaceables into a Grab Bag
- Make sure everyone — including the kids — knows the plan
Add the Live Traffic website to your favourites, and download the Hazards Near Me app (available from your device’s App Store) for updates on fire conditions.
Why these three things matter
Clean gutters stop embers getting a foothold. A tidy yard gives you a space you can defend against a fire’s progress. And a solid escape plan keeps your head clear when things get hectic.
Each one is simple, but together they’re a huge step towards a safer household. And when you’re prepared, you’re not just protecting your own house. You’re protecting your neighbours too. Fires hate clean, tidy, well-prepared streets.
So pick one of these this weekend, and get cracking. Then reward yourself with a cuppa and a smug grin – because you can’t spell “bushfire ready challenge” without “u r a legend”.
Ready to go further?
Join the Get Ready Challenge – six weeks of simple, practical steps to make your household bushfire-ready. No jargon, no scare tactics, just solid local advice (and maybe a few dad jokes).