Whether you live in the city, the urban fringe or in rural and regional Victoria it is essential you have a Bushfire Survival Plan.

This details how you will prepare and what action you will take if threatened by a bushfire. Your plan must be written down and practised regularly.

Bushfires kill and survival must be your main priority.

The first step in preparing your Bushfire Survival Plan is determining whether it is safe and viable for you to stay to defend your home or whether it is best to leave before fire threatens.

CFA’s Home Bushfire Self-Assessment Tool has been designed to help you understand whether your home has adequate defendable space and thus whether staying to defend is an option. This new tool is the first step in preparing your plan – you will also need to consider many other factors.

Your plan should take into consideration the ages and physical capabilities of all those in your household and the environment in which you live or may holiday.

Children, the elderly and vulnerable are advised to leave before bushfire threatens and should not be part of plans to stay to defend.

It is vital you create a written plan, discuss it with all members of your household, practise it regularly and enact it when bushfire danger is high.

CFA’s Bushfire Survival Kit will help you prepare your Bushfire Plan.

Things you may consider include:

• Are you prepared to stay to defend or will you leave before bushfire threatens?

• Does everyone in your family understand the dangers of bushfire and your plan?

• Have you arranged appropriate car and household insurance?

• Do you know what you will take with you in an emergency?

• Have you considered pets or livestock?

• Does your area have a Township Protection Plan and are you aware of it?

• Is your car supplied with bottled water, enough petrol, woollen blankets and other necessities should you need to leave?

• Do you know if your resort/holiday destination has a bushfire plan?

For further information, go to www.cfa.vic.gov.au or phone the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.