Bushfire season in NSW and QLD is becoming increasingly intense, with hotter temperatures, stronger winds, and drier landscapes creating dangerous conditions for homeowners and landholders. Whether you live on acreage, a farm, or a semi-rural block, preparing your property before the fire season begins is the single most powerful way to protect your home, family, livestock and livelihood.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to do to get bushfire-ready, including property preparation, building protection, equipment recommendations, emergency planning, and what to pack in your survival kit. The goal is simple: to help you make informed, proactive decisions that significantly reduce risk when a fire threatens.
Why Early Bushfire Preparation Matters
Bushfires can move quickly, often faster than people expect. A fire front can shift direction in minutes, embers can travel long distances on strong winds, and spot fires can ignite well before the flames reach a home. In these moments, a property that has been properly prepared stands a far better chance of surviving.
Early preparation matters because:
It reduces fuel loads around buildings
It strengthens your home’s resistance to ember attacks
It ensures you have water and equipment ready to deploy
It gives you time to create and practise a survival plan
It helps firefighters access and defend your property if needed
Waiting until a fire is nearby is too late. Bushfire readiness must be done ahead of time, calmly and thoroughly.
Step 1 – Reduce Fuel Loads and Clear Vegetation
One of the most effective ways to prepare is reducing fuel around buildings. Dry grass, fallen leaves, overgrown shrubs and low-hanging branches act like a fuse during a bushfire.
Key actions include:
Maintain Your Surroundings
Clear fallen leaves, twigs, bark and dry debris
Keep grass mowed and prevent overgrowth
Prune branches hanging close to the home
Remove dead trees, sticks and accumulated green waste
Create a fuel-reduced zone around sheds, garages and water tanks
Store Combustible Items Safely
Keep these at least 10 metres away from buildings:
Firewood and timber
Mulch piles
Scrap materials
Pallets
Fuel containers
This helps stop flames from easily jumping to structures.
Step 2 – Prepare and Protect Your Home’s Structure
Ember attack is the most common cause of home loss during a bushfire. Embers can enter tiny gaps in roofs, gutters and vents, smouldering silently until flames ignite.
Strengthen your home’s defences by:
Clean Gutters and Roof Areas
Remove leaves and debris from gutters
Install metal gutter guards if possible
Repair damaged roof tiles or metal sheets
Seal Openings
Seal gaps around doors, windows and eaves
Cover external vents with fine metal mesh
Enclose under-house areas if embers can collect there
Protect Windows
Consider non-flammable shutters
Remove flammable outdoor furniture and door mats
These small upgrades dramatically improve your home’s ember resistance.
Step 3 – Ensure You Have Adequate Water Supply and Access
During a bushfire, mains water pressure can drop or fail completely. Rural and semi-rural landowners should always have their own independent water sources and the equipment to deliver that water effectively.
What You Should Have
A dedicated water tank or dam accessible for firefighting
Hoses long enough to reach around all structures
High-quality nozzles that can switch between jet and spray
A reliable fire pump to ensure strong water pressure
Rapid Spray Fire-Fighting Equipment Suggestions
Your Rapid Spray product range fits perfectly into this part of the checklist. Suitable options include:
Portable Fire Fighting Units Skid-mounted or trailer-mounted systems ideal for agricultural blocks and acreage
High-Pressure Fire Pumps Ensures strong water throw, essential in grassfire conditions
Lay-Flat or Suction Hoses Perfect for connecting portable pumps to tanks, dams or creeks
Fire Nozzles and Hose Reels Allow controlled water direction and flow
Knapsack Sprayers Excellent for spot fires or ember extinguishment around sheds and fence lines
These tools provide real, practical protection when a fire is nearby.
Step 4 – Create Defendable Space Around All Buildings
A “defendable space” is an area around buildings where vegetation and flammable materials have been strategically reduced. The aim is to slow the spread of fire and reduce heat intensity.
How to Create a Defendable Space
Keep shrubs and garden beds away from house walls
Trim trees so their lower branches are at least 1–2 metres above the ground
Ensure a clear area around water tanks, sheds and pump systems
Use gravel, paved areas or short grass as natural firebreaks
Keep fencing and gates in working order for accessibility
Firefighters often rely on these spaces during property protection.
Step 5 – Build Your Bushfire Survival Kit
Every household should have an emergency kit packed and accessible. In a crisis, you may have only minutes to leave.
A proper kit should include:
Essentials to Pack
Battery-powered radio
Torch and spare batteries
First-aid kit
Woollen blankets
Bottled water
Non-perishable food
Phone power banks
Medications and prescriptions
Important documents (hard copy + USB backup)
Protective clothing: cotton/wool pants, long-sleeved shirts, gloves, boots
Masks (P2 recommended)
Supplies for pets
Store the kit near the main exit and rehearse grabbing it quickly.
Step 6 – Create a Bushfire Action Plan (Stay or Leave Early)
A bushfire survival plan is critical and should be made well before fire season begins.
Your plan should outline:
Decide in Advance
At what fire danger rating will you leave?
Who is responsible for gathering pets?
Who collects documents and emergency kits?
Which route will you take if leaving early?
What is your backup route if the main road is inaccessible?
If You Choose to Stay and Defend
Ensure you understand the risks
Practice using your firefighting equipment
Maintain access to water and pumps
Wear full protective clothing
Make sure everyone understands safety signals
A well-practised plan can save lives.
Step 7 – Regularly Maintain All Fire-Fighting Equipment
Fire season can last months, and equipment that isn’t maintained may fail when needed most.
Maintenance checklist:
Inspect Regularly
Test your fire pump every few months
Check hose couplings, seals and spray patterns
Ensure your tank has sufficient water
Confirm all nozzles operate in both jet and spray modes
Inspect knapsack sprayers for leaks
Keep spare gaskets and hose clamps on hand
Reliable equipment gives you confidence when preparing your property.
Summary: Your Bushfire-Ready Property Checklist
A quick summary of what every NSW/QLD landowner should do:
Reduce fuel loads by clearing debris and trimming vegetation
Protect your home’s structure by sealing gaps and cleaning gutters
Ensure water supply and access tanks, pumps, hoses, nozzles
Create defendable spaces around all buildings
Build and store a full emergency survival kit
Develop a clear action plan for leaving early or defending
Maintain all equipment throughout the season
Final Thoughts – Preparation Saves Lives
Bushfire preparation is not about fear it’s about readiness. A well-maintained property equipped with the right tools, the right equipment, and a solid action plan gives you the best possible chance of protecting what matters most.
By preparing early, staying informed, and investing in appropriate firefighting equipment (like the units, tanks, pumps and hoses available at Rapid Spray), you dramatically improve your resilience in the face of fire.