Serena Kirby, Denmark Bulletin

Preparing for fire season should be a year-round job and leaving it until summer was too late.

This is just one piece of advice Murray Brooker gave at his bushfire ready sessions.

Murray is the lead facilitator of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services-led Denmark bushfire ready program that is run by community members.

Murray is also the captain of the Mt Lindesay fire brigade and was one of the many firies who battled last February’s bushfire.

“I visit loads of properties and I’ve found that only 50 per cent comply with Shire regulations in regards to fire preparedness,” Murray said.

“This not only puts your property at risk but everyone else’s as well.”

Ember attack was one area Murray said people don’t think about enough and 80 per cent of homes lost in last year’s NSW fires was due to flying embers and not the fire front itself.

Embers could travel many kilometres and were more like an ember storm than just one or two floating through the air.

Blocking gaps in eaves to stop them getting into roofs, clearing gutters and removing wooden mulch from against the house would protect homes.

So too would having trees and plants of low flammability so they could trap flying embers before they reached the house.

Murray said that establishing a ‘trigger for activating your fire plan’ was a key thing that most people forgot to do.

“My trigger for getting ready is when the forecast is for a high or severe fire danger day,” he said.

“That’s when I get out my fire plan and stay alert.”

A practice of evacuation was vital and this should be timed and reviewed often.

It is advisable to drive along the escape route and have a second or third escape route mapped out and explored.

“We know some areas of Denmark only have one escape route and there’s always the risk of trees down or road congestion,” Murray said.

“That’s why leaving early is so important.

“Don’t stay and defend your home as no home can withstand a catastrophic fire.

“We want you safe and out of the way so fire crews can do their job.”

As tragic as it was to lose a home, Murray said now was a good time for homeowners to check their insurance policy as there could be things that standard house and contents policies didn’t include.

Check the current home replacement value as building costs had increased in the past two years.

Check coverage for demolition and debris removal, outbuildings and fencing and whether the home is insured for smoke and or water damage caused by fire.

“If firefighters are going to try and save your home, you can be sure they’re going to put one hell of a lot of water on it,” Murray said.

On the subject of an evacuation kit, Murray said there were great resources on the DFES website for what to include.

He also highlighted the importance of packing facemasks, goggles and protective clothing, as people were never prepared for the amount of smoke, the radiant heat and the sheer noise of a bushfire.

“It’s inevitable that there’ll be another bushfire in our area at some point,” Murray said.

“We live in a beautiful place but with that comes risks.

“Reduce that risk by being well prepared.”

Denmark Bushfire Ready is on facebook and more details on getting bushfire ready can be found on the Denmark Shire website and DFES.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 1 September 2022.