Compiled Plans & Documents OPW18-0342 02

                                                                           Bushfire Emergency Provisions
                                       Residential Aged Care Facility – 6 Grasstree Court, Sunrise Beach

Primary Action 4: Decision to Shelter in Place
Given the nature of the facility and the vulnerability of occupants, sheltering in place will always be
an action of last resort. The bushfire-specific emergency provisions contained within this document
encompass a model which seeks to avoid an emergency situation by evacuating the facility as
early as possible. This alleviates the potential for vulnerable occupants to find themselves in a
dangerous situation, avoids unnecessary burden on emergency services and reduces the extent of
stress on all involved.

However, in some circumstances an emergency event may arise. It may be too late to leave when
the following occurs:

     •    Smoke is entering parts of the facility;

     •    Egress from the facility is unavailable (i.e. tree fall, vehicle accident, etc.);

     •    Areas immediately adjacent to the facility are involved in flame;

     •    Radiant heat outside of the building is too high for persons to be exposed; or

     •    Emergency services advise facility operators that it is too late to leave.

Generally, a series of bushfire warnings will be issued before a situation such as above occurs. This
underscores the need for staff to maintain maximum situational awareness of increased fire danger
days, so as to avoid such a scenario.

If a situation occurs where it becomes too late for persons to leave, call 000. Occupants must be
relocated to the forward-most fire compartment of the facility, adjacent to Grasstree Court. All
doors and windows around the facility must be closed but MUST REMAIN UNLOCKED. This includes all
internal fire doors. Portable oxygen may need to be available. This part of the building is the closest
access and egress point to Grasstree Court and aids in immediate evacuation by emergency
services. It is also shielded from potential radiant heat exposure which may develop at the rear of
the building.

Alternatively, on-foot evacuation from the community centre to Ben Lexcen Park on the opposite
side of Ben Lexcen Drive, adjacent to the shopping centre, could be undertaken if need arises. It
must be noted however that this option will expose residents to the effects of smoke and possibly
some measure of radiant heat and should only be considered if the community centre is no longer
a safe place to shelter.

A decision to shelter in place will always be the last resort option and should not be encouraged as
a ‘Plan A’ solution.

If part of the building ignites during shelter-in-place arrangements, contact 000 and seek immediate
emergency advice (only if emergency services are not on scene).




Status: Provisions                                                                            December 2018
Project No.: 18-030                                                                                Page 20