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FAQ


Creating my plan

What is My Bushfire plan?
The My Bushfire Plan website and companion app is a bushfire preparedness tool, providing you with one place to prepare, store, print, share and update your bushfire survival plan anytime, from any device.

Why should I create a plan?
Bushfires are unpredictable and can quickly turn into a life threatening situation. Having a plan and sharing it with your family is the best chance of survival. It is very difficult to make decisions when you are stressed, frightened and confused. Most people will not consider all the risks and options they have when a bushfire is approaching and underestimate the time it takes to evacuate family, pets and gather important items, medicines and support equipment. Thinking through your bushfire risk and the possible impact it may have on your safety and escape routes can save you and your family’s life.

Is where I live at risk of bushfire?
Please visit the designated bushfire prone areas map where areas coloured pink on the map have been identified by the Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner having the potential to be impacted by bushfires. If you live near bushland or forest you are at risk.

How do I choose my plan? What is the safest choice?
You create your own plan by considering the unique set of circumstances that relate to you and your household. Use the bushfire preparation resources available to help you to consider when you will leave, where you will go, what you need to take and which way you will go. If you are unsure, stay informed and plan to leave early in case of bushfire. Leaving early is your safest option during a bushfire emergency.

Can I stay and defend?
You should only plan to stay and defend if you are well prepared. It is also important to have a plan B if it is no longer safe to stay and defend your property – where will you take shelter? How will leave and where can you go? Being in a bushfire could be the most traumatic experience of your life. You may have to fight spot fires for many hours, and experience the fire front itself. Everyone in your household must be 100% comfortable with the decision and properly equipped. Your property must also be prepared.
If you choose to stay and defend, you will need to answer some quick questions to ensure that this is the best plan for you. Start now.

Can I create more than one plan?
Having a backup plan is a good idea in case the situation changes and no longer suits your first survival plan. You can create as many plans as you need.

Can I switch my plan type?
You can change plan type at any time when creating your plan. But once saved to an account, you won’t be able to switch plans. You can create a new account to store a new plan.

How do I identify areas to shelter in if I am unable to leave early?
This should be your last option. Sheltering in the path of a bushfire can be fatal. However, you need to be prepared to take shelter when you can no longer leave safely. Think about where you will go as part of your bushfire survival plan.

Where you choose to shelter may be your home, open paddock or oval, lake, dam or beach or an area where the fire has already burnt. There is a lot to consider. But ensure you wear protective clothing and footwear and a protective mask as there will be life threatening levels of heat and smoke.No home or building will be completely safe from bushfire, but it may offer some protection as the fire front passes. The area or room should be furthest from the direction of the fire front, well-sealed, with at least two exits. Prepare and carry a bushfire kit so you have have water, woollen blankets and other fire retardant material with you to help you shelter and survive.

How will I know in which direction to leave when a fire is approaching?
Get to know the broader area where you live and where a bushfire would come from. Become familiar with the wind directions necessary to impact your property and the roads you need to leave by. Learn what the different types of bushfire warnings mean and stay up to date with them, as well as fire ratings and weather forecasts, by visiting www.emergency.wa.gov.au.

Also connect with your local support groups and networks especially if you need assistance. Leave early to ensure your exits are clear. Remember to have as many options to leave as possible as a fire may surround an area too, blocking several exits.

Do I need formal training to Stay and Defend?
It is very important to know how to fight a fire, manage spot fires and flying embers. Defending your home from a bushfire is one of the most emotionally and physically stressful and demanding activities you could ever do. There are 4 key things to consider when it comes to protecting your house from bushfires:

  • Is your property defendable
  • Do you have enough water (at least 20,000 litres)?
  • Do you have all the firefighting equipment you need?
  • Are you personally prepared and ready to face this?

You don’t need formal training but it is vitally important you get yourself as prepared as you can. Contact your local bushfire brigade and inquire if they will visit your property and help you decide what you need to do. Keep an eye out for local community bushfire awareness events and activities that will provide local information for you.


Keeping my plan up-to-date

How do I save my plan?
You can save your progress at any stage of your plan creation - even if it is not completely finished. Just click on the save button and it will prompt you to create an account to store your plan.

Why should I create an account?
Creating an account will allow you to save and keep your plan up-to-date throughout the year and get reminders to help you prepare your property and your family for bushfire season.

How can I access and update my plan?
To access your plan at any time, you will need to create an account to save it.
You can then access your plan and account through the login link on the My Bushfire Plan website (mybushfireplan.wa.gov.au) or through the companion app (download the app on the Apple Store or get it on Google Play).

What if I don’t want to create an account? Are there other ways I can store my plan?
You can also download, print or share your plan via email. But please be aware that if you don’t create an account, you won’t be able to access or edit your plan via the My Bushfire website or companion app later. You also won’t have access to the reminders that will help you prepare for bushfire season.

Can I access my plan without internet connection?
If you have created a plan in your account, you can access it through the companion app without internet access.
 
What will happen to the information I enter? Who will have access to it?
Please access our Privacy Policy page for more information around collection, use and disclosure of personal information.

Putting my plan into action

What do I do after my plan has been created? What are the next steps?

Will I receive bushfire notifications?
The My Bushfire Plan website and companion app does not provide bushfire warnings and alerts. Please visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au for official warnings and current information for bushfires, storms, cyclones and floods.

How will I know that there's a fire approaching?
During a bushfire, emergency services will provide as much information as possible through a number of different methods, including www.emergency.wa.gov.au, DFES Facebook Page, Twitter and Local Government sources. In addition to this, your surroundings could also be your best information source. Stay alert to what is happening around you and seek out information yourself. Do not wait to be informed or told what to do. If you believe you may be in danger, implement your bushfire survival plan and act immediately to stay safe. There are four levels of warning. These change to reflect the increasing risk to your life or property, and the decreasing amount of time you have until the fire arrives. Find out more information here.

Should I rely on a warning to take action?
Fires can happen suddenly and change quickly, so don’t rely on receiving a warning. It’s your responsibility to stay informed and alert.
Your trigger may be to leave your property for a safer place before there is a fire because of an extreme or catastrophic fire danger rating. This might because of the time it may take you to put your plan into place. Your bushfire survival plan will include all the things you and your household need to do.


Have more questions? Submit them through media@dfes.wa.gov.au