Att 5. BAL Report - 555 Louis Bazzo Dr

 

Travelling in your vehicle near
a bushfire

Sheltering inside a vehicle is a high-risk strategy that
can result in death. Whilst sheltering inside a vehicle
offers you a slightly higher chance of survival than
being caught in the open, having a leave early or stay
strategy is a much Safer option.

You should never take a journey into areas where the
fire danger is catastrophic or extreme. You should
consider postponing or finding alternative routes

if necessary. If you can smell or see smoke in the
distance it is best to u-turn and drive away from the
danger.

If you are caught in smoke or flames while on the road:

= Turn on the vehicle’s headlights and hazard
warning lights.

= Ifyou need to shelter in your vehicle drive your car
into a bare, clear area well away from surrounding
trees, leaving lights on. Position vehicle to prevent
side impact from advancing fire front.

= Close all windows and vents.

= Leave the engine running and turn off the air
conditioning system.

= Cover your entire body with woollen or cotton
blankets to protect from radiant heat.

= Take shelter below the window level.

= Drink water frequently and stay in the vehicle until
the fire front has passed.

= Once the fire front has passed exit the vehicle to
inspect the damage and ensure other passengers
are safe.

 

Neighbourhood Safer Places

A Neighbourhood Safer Place (NSP) is a place of last
resort for people during a bushfire. An NSP may form
part of a back-up plan when:

= Your Bushfire Survival Plan has failed.

= Your plan was to stay but the extent of the fire
means that your home cannot withstand the
impact of the fire and therefore your home is not
a safe place to shelter.

= The fire has escalated to an extreme or catastrophic
level and relocation is the safest option.

An NSP is an identified building or open space within
the community that can provide a level of protection
from the immediate life-threatening effects of a
bushfire. NSPs still entail some risk, both in moving
to them and while sheltering in them and cannot be
considered completely safe.

They are a place of last resort in bushfire emergencies
only. The following limitations of NSPs need to be
considered within your Bushfire Survival Plan:

= NSPs do not cater for pets.

= Firefighters may not be present as they will be
fighting the main fire front elsewhere.

= NSPs do not provide meals or amenities.

= They may not provide shelter from the elements,
particularly flying embers.

If you are a person with special needs you should give
consideration to what assistance you may require at
an NSP.

Although QFRS cannot guarantee an immediate
presence during a bushfire, every effort will be made
to provide support as soon as resources are available.

If an NSP is part of your contingency plan it should not
require extended travel through fire-affected areas to
get there.

PREPARE. ACT. SURVIVE.