With warmer weather already here, RACV has provided bushfire preparation advice and a series of safety tips for Victorians to help prepare their homes for the increased risk of bushfire this summer.
Bushfires
Australian Fire Danger Ratings explained
Learn what Australia's Fire Danger Ratings mean from Moderate to Catastrophic, and what to do to stay safe during bushfire and grassfire conditions.
The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) is used consistently across every state and territory, with four colour-coded ratings: Moderate, High, Extreme and Catastrophic. The higher the rating, the more dangerous the conditions and potential consequences of a fire.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) urges Victorians to have a better understanding of what actions to take at each fire danger level. The four simple ratings offer clear recommendations for how to best protect yourself.
Understanding these ratings is particularly important during the warmer months and when living in or travelling through bushfire-prone parts of Victoria.
What are Fire Danger Ratings?
Australia has used fire danger rating systems since the 1950s, when forester A.G. McArthur developed a system after studying how fires behaved under different fuel and weather conditions.
Fire Danger Ratings indicate the potential consequences of a fire, if one starts. Importantly, they do not indicate how likely a fire is to start.
Ratings are calculated using weather forecasts and environmental information, including temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, recent rainfall, vegetation dryness and fuel information.
Fire Danger Ratings can be forecast up to four days in advance, giving communities time to prepare, check their bushfire survival kit and put their bushfire plans into action.
The current Australian Fire Danger Ratings have been in place since 1 September 2022. Image: Getty
What do the four Fire Danger Ratings mean?
Moderate: plan and prepare
At a Moderate Fire Danger Rating, most fires can be controlled.
Stay up to date with local conditions and make sure you know what you will do if a fire starts. If you live in a bushfire-prone area, this is also a good time to review your bushfire plan and prepare your property.
High: be ready to act
A High rating means fires can be dangerous and there is a heightened risk.
Be on the alert for fires in your area, and decide ahead of time what you will do if a fire starts. Make sure your bushfire plan is up to date, and ensure your property is fire ready. Consider changing travel plans that involve bushfire-prone areas.
CFA advises that if a fire starts during an Extreme Fire Danger Rating, your life and property may be at risk. The safest option is to leave bushfire risk areas early in the day.
Extreme: take action now
At an Extreme Fire Danger Rating, fires can spread quickly and be extremely dangerous. Expect hot, windy and dry conditions.
You must take action immediately to protect your life and property during an Extreme Fire Danger Rating. If a fire starts, CFA recommends that unless you and your property are prepared to the highest level, go to a safer location well before the fire arrives. Leave early in the day if possible.
Catastrophic: leave bushfire risk areas
Catastrophic represents the most dangerous fire conditions. If a fire starts and takes hold, lives are likely to be lost.
CFA advises people to leave bushfire risk areas for their survival during a Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating. Head to a safer location early in the morning, or even the night before. In these conditions, homes cannot withstand fires. If you become trapped at your property, you may not be able to leave and help may not be available.
What does the white box mean?
There's a thin white, rectangular box underneath the Moderate level. When the sign's arrow points to this box it, means no fire danger rating has been issued.
It doesn't mean that fires cannot happen; it means that a fire isn't likely to act in a way that threatens the safety of the local community.
Stay informed on bushfire warnings and be prepared to leave if required. Image: Getty
Is a Fire Danger Rating the same as a Total Fire Ban?
No. A Fire Danger Rating describes how dangerous a fire could be if one started. A Total Fire Ban is a legal declaration restricting activities that could cause a fire.
That means you should check both the Fire Danger Rating and whether a Total Fire Ban applies to your area.
More: What does a total fire ban mean?
How to check the Fire Danger Rating in Victoria
Victorians can check current and forecast Fire Danger Ratings through CFA and VicEmergency. Ratings apply to fire weather districts, so make sure you know the district for where you live or where you are travelling.
Fire danger information may also be displayed on roadside signs or be broadcast on television, radio, newspapers or social media.
Fire Danger Ratings should be used as a trigger for your bushfire survival plan rather than waiting until you see smoke or receive a warning. Conditions can change quickly, so stay informed and be prepared to act.
A bushfire survival kit helps you to respond promptly to evacuation advice. Image: Getty
Protecting your property from bushfire
Preparation is key to help protect yourself and your property during the bushfire season (which, depending weather conditions and your municipality, can begin as early as October and run as late as May).
Residents and those travelling into or through bushfire-prone areas should stay informed using VicEmergency.
It's also vital to have a bushfire plan that your entire household is familiar with, and that your property is maintained – that means clearing excess vegetation, maintaining gutters, and removing flammable stockpiles (like firewood) away from your home.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
