Are you bushfire ready?

Are you bushfire prepared?

A well-prepared home stands a greater chance of withstanding a bushfire. If planning to evacuate early, preparing your property enhances its resilience to fire or ember attacks. If you are unable to leave, a properly prepared home is also easier to defend, minimises risk to nearby properties, and offers better protection.
Here are some key maintenance tips to help ready your property:

• Gutters: Regularly clear out leaves, twigs and other debris.
• Gutter Guards: Install metal guards to prevent debris build up.
• Roof: Repair any damaged or missing tiles.
• Screens: Fit fine metal mesh screens on windows and doors.
• Seals: Add seals around doors and windows to close any gaps.
• Walls: Repair or cover any gaps in external walls.
• Under House: Enclose the space beneath your home.
• Lawns and Gardens: Keep lawns well-trimmed and gardens maintained.
• Trees and Shrubs: Trim back any that overhang buildings.
• Hoses: Ensure hoses are long enough to reach around your house.
• Water Supply: Place a Static Water Supply (SWS) sign at your property entrance if you have a pool, tank, or dam, so firefighters can locate water sources.
• Sprinkler System: Attach a fire sprinkler system to your gutters.
• Insurance: Ensure your home and contents insurance is comprehensive and review sums insured annually as part of your renewal process.

For more information, or if you believe its time to undertake a review of your current insurance policy to ensure suitability, get in touch with our Private Clients team to find out more. We are here to help!