Creating a defendable house
There are 6 key steps that need to be considered when determining the defendability of your house.
None of the 6 steps should be used in isolation as they are integral to each other in creating a defendable house.
Assess
Identify, create and maintain the defendable space around your home. Without defendable space you and your house may not survive the passage of fire.
Decide
Leave early, well before a bushfire threatens.
Or
Stay and actively defend a well-prepared house.
Reduce
Reduce the risk of ember attack on your house.
85% of houses are lost due to ember attack; before, during and after a bushfire.
Go to Step 3
Develop
Develop your written Bushfire Survival Plan - Prepare, Act, Survive.
Go to Step 6
Determine
Are you physically and emotionally able to actively defend your house during a bushfire?
Go to Step 5
Consider
Do you have sufficient people, resources and equipment to enable you to stay and actively defend your house for extended periods of time?
Go to Step 4
Your Options
If you are unable or choose not to complete the Household Bushfire Self-Assessment Tool (HBSAT) then you should consider leaving early or seek further information by:
- Contacting the Household Bushfire Self-Assessment Tool helpline on
1800 068 611 - Reading information on the CFA website or bushfire publications
- Contacting the Victorian Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) on
1800 240 667 - Joining a Community Fireguard Group.
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) 10/30
CFA acknowledges the newly introduced Victorian Planning Provision Vegetation Management "10/30 right and fence line clearing", which enables owners on their own property to clear and manage vegetation from 10 metres to 30 metres around their home.
Residents need to be aware that the clearing of vegetation within the 30 metre zone (10/30 right) still may not provide them with adequate defendable space for their property.
The Household Bushfire Self-Assessment tool takes into consideration vegetation and the surrounding landscape for a 100 metre zone around your home.
Wildfire Management Overlay
For residents applying for a building or planning permit, the Household Bushfire Self-Assessment Tool is not a substitute for the Wildfire Management Overlay - Applicants Kit - pdf 855k.
If you need further information about completing the Wildfire Management Overlay application contact your local council or a CFA regional office.
