Bushfire awareness
Australia is a very dry Continent. Bushfires have always been a concern, mainly for those ‘on the land’ or ‘in the bush’ but with changing climate and unpredictable weather conditions they have become a concern for more populated areas over the past 20 years.
With the weather warming up and the high fuel load of grasses it is time to discuss Bushfire preparedness. Every Bush and Grass fire behaves differently and are often hard to fight due to terrain, weather and vast landscapes.
WWOOF Hosts will have a Bushfire plan, and it is important to follow their plan and the advice of the local authorities as conditions can quickly change.
Please check conditions prior to travel using an Emergency App. If you are travelling by car it is important to know what to do if you encounter a bushfire while travelling. Conditions can change minute to minute.
Useful Links and Apps
We recommend all WWOOFers to download the Emergency + or the READI Apps which have been developed for National Emergency Coverage.
ABC Radio or the ABC Listen App for all Emergency Radio Broadcasts
There are also individual Emergency Apps for each State you are travelling to:
VicEmergency (Victoria)
Hazards near Me (New South Wales)
Emergency WA (Western Australia)
Alert SA (South Australia)
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) in your State is also a great resource.
Fire Restriction Days and Total Fire Bans: There are different restrictions on activities during Total Fire Ban Days and Fire Danger Periods. More information can be found in the Can I or Can’t I Brochure
One more note to make,
WWOOF Australia Hosts and staff who have lived through a Bushfire still deal with the stress and trauma caused by these events and some may be suffering from PTSD. One Host we contacted recently, whose house was saved by a sudden wind change (with all neighbours losing their homes) was very open, discussing the day-to-day living with PTSD from being in a Watch and Act Alert for 3 weeks prior to the fire reaching his property. So, please be mindful of the dangers and stresses involved in these events.
Stay Safe and Travel Safe,
WWOOF Australia Team
Photos sourced from the CFA Digital Library digitallibrary.cfa.vic.gov.au
