REMEMBER HOW CLOSE THE FIRES GOT TO COLDSTREAM LAST SUMMER?
THE FOLLWING IS REPRINTED FROM OUR LOCAL LEADER.
tO READ THE FULL STORY CLICK ON THE title ABOVE.
IT IS essential to prepare your home and property for bushfire, even if you don’t plan to stay to defend.
Steps you take now could help to reduce the spread, speed and heat of a fire, and increase the chances your home will survive.
These preparations must begin well before the fire season.
You will have to consider:
1. If you have adequate defendable space and how you will manage the vegetation
2. How your house is best maintained and what improvements can be made.
You must also take steps to reduce the impact of embers on your house.
These are burning bits of twigs, leaves and debris that have the potential to burn down your home.
One of the main causes of property loss and damage is ember attack, but there are steps you can take to reduce this risk.
• Protect underfloor spaces with non-combustible sheeting or metal mesh. This will prevent embers from landing under the house and starting spot fires.
• Cover all external vents with metal mesh to prevent embers from entering your home.
• Protect evaporative coolers with metal mesh screens. You will need to check with your evaporative cooler supplier to ensure the performance of the system is not compromised by installing the mesh.
• Ensure any external timber cladding is regularly maintained and all gaps are sealed.
• Place weather stripping around the inside of doors and windows to eliminate any gaps.
• Make non-combustible fire screens to cover external skylights.
• Fit leaf guards to gutters to prevent a build up of leaves.
• Ensure fuel and chemicals are properly stored in structures.
• Install fencing made from non-combustible materials, such as metal or brick.
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