Bushfire FAQs

If you live in or near any of Campbelltown City's bushland suburbs then chances are you live on bushfire prone land.

Find out if your property is on bushfire prone land.

Building on Bushfire Prone Land

If you live in a bushfire prone area it is important to know what the fire danger rating is on any particular day.

On days of an 'Extreme' or 'Catastrophic' fire danger you will need to make a decision about leaving your home early, or staying and defending your property, in the event that a fire should occur.

Fire Danger Rating

Not everyone lives in a bushfire prone area, but, we might travel through these areas for work or leisure. On hot, dry and windy days please make sure you check the Fire Danger Rating.

It is important that you and your family have prepared a Bushfire Survival Plan before the beginning of a bushfire season. This is one of the best ways of ensuring your families safety before, and during the event of a bushfire.

Be sure to fill it out with your family so that everyone knows what to do in a bushfire emergency.

On anything other than an 'Extreme' or 'Catastrophic' fire danger day, a well prepared house is defendable. If you are fit and able, in both body and mind, the best thing to do is stay with your property.

In the majority of cases, houses that have burnt down in previous bushfires were from ember attack, which is easily managed once the fire front has passed. The young, ill, disabled or elderly should be relocated at the earliest convenience.

In the event of a bushfire, try to find out what is happening around you through local radio, social media (follow the RFS on Facebook and Twitter) or via the RFS website.

DO NOT wait to be told to leave, if you intend to leave early. If you think that you could get into trouble, then you probably will. Leaving early is the only safe option on days of 'Catastrophic' Fire Danger.

During a bushfire, Bushfire Alert Levels are used to give you an indication of the level of threat from a fire. These alerts will be used on social media, radio, television, the RFS website and some cases you may receive an Emergency Alert text message or phone call.

If you receive a Bushfire Alert, you must take it seriously. Failure to take action can result in death or injury to you or your family members.

Find out about Bushfire Alert Levels.

A Neighbourhood Safer Place is a place of last resort for those who elected to 'Stay and Defend' but have had to flee for their lives.

They are places where people can take short-term shelter during a bushfire and should only be used until the threat of a bushfire has passed.

They should not be confused with long-term options like Fire Refuges and Evacuation Centres and do not guarantee your safety. Neighbourhood Safer Places are only a place of last resort during a bushfire.

Neighbourhood Safer Places for the Campbelltown LGA.

Hazard reduction is often used as an excuse to illegally clear bushland, fence lines or roadsides, but hazard reduction is about modifying bush in a specific way, balancing asset protection with the needs of plants and wildlife.

• Hazard Reduction on Your Property
• Council's Hazard Reduction Program

Another misconception is that illegal land clearing only involves the removal of trees, but it can also be illegal to remove shrubs, native grasses and other understorey vegetation.

Bushfire management is more than just fire fighting and hazard reduction, although these are important. It involves identifying community and environmental assets at risk and developing strategies to deal with those risks.

The bush behind your house may have been burnt in the past, could be planned for burning in the future, or may have other measures in place to control the risk of fire.

Bushfire management for Campbelltown City is coordinated by the local Macarthur Bush Fire Management Committee and guided by the Macarthur Bush Fire Risk Management Plan.

Fires every 2 or 3 years can encourage the growth of a thick understorey of Bracken and Blady Grass, which burns easily and increases the fire hazard. It also damages the bush by leaving it open to weed invasion and eliminating shrubs such as Banksias, Wattles and Peas.

Generally single trees are not a bushfire hazard and as such cannot be removed as apart of hazard reduction. However, this depends on a few factors:

• How close the tree is to larger bushland
• How close the tree is to your house
• If it connects with any other trees
• If it connects with shrubs or understorey vegetation
• If it is a small or young tree that is a common species and its removal might be considered to enhance an Asset Protection Zone

If you are concerned that a tree/s might be a bushfire hazard on Council property, let us know.

If you are concerned that a tree/s might be a bushfire hazard on private property, contact the RFS.

Trees can catch alight quickly in extreme conditions if something close by is already burning. Bits of burning bark and branch may dislodge and be carried some distance by thermal winds - but the tree won't shatter - it can be a frightening experience but a tree cannot actually explode without some kind of explosive involved.

You need to take steps to prepare yourself, your family and your home. This means being prepared well before a bushfire occurs.

Go to the Bushfire Safety page to find out more about:

• Preparing your Bushfire Survival Plan
• Preparing yourself and your family
• Preparing your property
• Prepare. Act. Survive.