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Time for a Readiness Reality Check
Even if you already know that you plan to leave, this article is a must-read. You may end up in a situation where staying and defending is the only option.
Staying and defending gives your house its best chance to make it through a fire, but it’s not a task to take on lightly – the physical and mental demands are extreme.
In this article we’ll talk about
- conditions you need to prepare for when a fire comes through
- The “hows and whys” of defending against ember attack
- Why there may not be a fire truck to help you if you do stay
Even if you already know that you plan to leave, this article is a must-read. You may end up in a situation where staying and defending is the only option.
What conditions should I expect if I stay?
People who have stayed to defend their home during a bushfire describe the experience as an ordeal:
“terrifying, hot and noisy”
“Sounds like a freight train”
A fire front is an assault on all your senses
- intense heat and thick smoke
- darkness
- noise
Knowing what it will be like will help you decide whether you’re physically and mentally up for the task, and to manage the inevitable stress if it happens to you.
Surviving Catastrophic
Recent fires in Australia and overseas have provided a wealth of media and YouTube clips that show the very real risk and fear of people who have been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In this video we hear from Mallacoota locals who describe the experience as a fast moving bush fire approaches and passes.
It’s hard to imagine from a video clip just how you will feel in the moment.
The short story, and an important warning, is not to take Catastrophic or Extreme fire conditions lightly. These kinds of conditions put even the best trained and equipped fire crews to the test, and this is not the time to play hero. You will be safest well away from the fire affected area in these conditions.
The Stay and Defend Marathon
The fire front will pass in a few minutes. But the job of defending your house begins long before the front arrives, and doesn’t end for hours afterwards. Your main job when defending your house is to be on constant patrol for embers.
Defending against an ember attack
If you’ve been playing along at home you’ll remember that 90% of houses lost to bush fire are not burned in the actual fire front, but as a result of ember attack.
Flying embers travel many kilometres ahead of the fire on hot, dry winds. These embers can blow into nooks and crannies under the house, gaps in the roof, gutters and open windows. They may sit and smoulder without visible smoke or other signs that a fire has started.
Many houses have burned down hours after the fire front has passed due to small points of ignition that had gone unnoticed.
Embers present the greatest risk but also the best chance for you to actively defend your home.
Know your Stay and Defend action plan
Before the fire front arrives
- Bring in all wooden outdoor furniture, door mats etc
- Bring in garden hoses – rubber will melt in the heat of the fire
- Make sure access paths around your shelter are clear of trip hazards or flammable items
- Fill up garbage bins, sinks, tubs and buckets with water –
- Block your downpipes and fill gutters with water to prevent embers catching
- Roll up wet towels, block gaps under doors and windows to keep smoke out
- Have a cotton mop ready to go for spot fires
As the fire front arrives
- Choose a ground level room you can retreat to with at least two ways out (either windows or doors)
- Keep hallways and exits clear
- Patrol your shelter for spot fires
- Protect yourself from radiant heat and embers with wool blankets from your Emergency Kit.
After the fire front passes
Many houses are lost to spot fires after the fire has passed. The best form of defence is attack, so now is the time to go back into active defender mode.
- Reconnect garden hoses (water pressure will be reduced if firefighters are in your street)
- Grab your hairy mop and patrol both inside and outside for spot fires.
- Don’t stay in a burning building – once the front has passed it will be safer outside
- Remember to rest, rehydrate, and get medical help if needed.
The legend of the hairy mop
Legend has it that in the Upper Blue Mountains an elderly lady once successfully defended her home from ember attack with a wet cotton mop.
She spent hours braving the smoke and embers to confidently splosh out spot fires. The mop allowed her small and precious water supply to last for hours. Genius!
She needed to constantly keep checking on
- ceiling cavities
- roof gutters and valleys
- under decks,
- outdoor furniture
- the garden shed
- wood piles, etc.
You’ll also need to be on a continual patrol over these areas for a number of hours after the fire front has passed. It sounds like a marathon, because it is!
“Can’t I just rely on a fire truck to save my place”‘
There will never be one fire truck for every house. During a major fire most resources are likely to be drawn to the fire line to contain and control a bushfire. Meanwhile, streets away, you could be standing vigilant in your safety gear ready to douse that tiny ember before it takes hold and spreads.
The Check-in Checklist
If you’re thinking of staying to defend, run your plan by others. Family, friends, neighbours, and your local RFS brigade can all help point out things you might not have considered.
☐ Use the RFS Bush Fire Household Assessment tool to assess your home’s risk level before committing to stay
☐ Tell your friends and family that you have decided to stay and defend so they can check in with you later.
☐ Have your communications organised and charged – phone, battery powered AM radio, two-way radios.
☐ Brush up on your defence tasks
☐ Organise a teammate to help you if possible. Two people can keep an eye on more of the house and provide logistical and moral support. Band together with neighbours if you can.
☐ You won’t be able to do all of this and care for someone else. If you have little kids or injured or infirm adults in your care make plans to get them out of the area ahead of time so you can get on with the important task at hand.
☐ Have at least 10 litres drinking water per person ready to go. Dehydration in hot dry conditions happens very quickly.
☐ Keep snacks on hand, and electrolyte drinks to help you stay hydrated
By planning and keeping a clear head you can:
- look out for your safety
- remember your triggers and actions
- remember your plan B if the situation changes.
It is so very important to plan thoroughly and to make sure you are as well equipped as you can be.
Summary
None of this is intended to scare you off the idea of defending your property. However it’s vital for your safety that you are physically and mentally prepared for very difficult conditions.
Everyone has their own limits. Your safety depends on knowing yours.
Ask yourself the hard questions.
- Am I physically and mentally ready for this? What’s my level of fitness?
- Do I deal well in stressful situations?
- Can I keep calm and focused despite smoky, dark and noisy conditions?
- Can I handle several hours of these conditions wearing all my protective gear?
If the answer to any of the above is no, flick back a step and make sure you have a solid plan to leave early.
If you’re confident, keep going and knock over the next task.