Bush Fire Household Assessment Tool

The Bush Fire Household Assessment Tool is provided by the NSW Rural Fire Service to help you to assess your household's level of risk from a bush fire and make informed decisions about the safety of your household.

 

Fire Danger Rating

The Fire Danger Rating warns of the level of bush fire threat on any given day, based on the forecast weather conditions. It is an early indicator of the potential danger, should a bush fire start.

 

Bush Fire Survival Plan

Every home must have a Bush Fire Survival Plan encompassing the decision to either "Leave Early" or to "Stay and Defend" to ensure that you are prepared and know what to do in the event of a bush fire.
 
Everyone's Bush Fire Survival Plan will be different and needs to reflect individuals situations and circumstances.

Remember once you have completed your plan you need to ensure your property is properly prepared regardless of your decision to "Leave Early" or to "Stay and Defend". 
 

It is your responsibility to prepare yourself, your family and your home for the threat of bush fire. You need to act decisively in accordance with your Bush Fire Survival Plan when bush fires threaten. Your survival depends on your preparations, and the decisions you make.

 

Prepare well, act decisively – and survive.

Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSP)

Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSP) is a new concept that has evolved out of the tragic Victorian ‘Black Saturday’ bush fires in February 2009.

A NSP may be a building or an open space that can provide improved protection to human life, taking into account exposure to radiant heat, smoke and embers during the onset and passage of a bush fire. The primary purpose of a NSP is the protection of human life.

In September 2009, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), in conjunction with other NSW emergency service organisations, developed guidelines for the identification of NSPs across the State of NSW. As part of this identification process, potential NSPs are assessed against a set of criteria to determine if the building or open space is suitable.

Local Emergency Management Committees have been tasked with the responsibility identifying NSPs in their local area. It is intended that the NSPs will be identified by the end of October 2009 with the location information provided to the public via the RFS website soon after.

You should return to this site regularly for updates on the progress of the NSP program and to find a NSP close to you.