Heatwave fire tips (and giveaway)
I realise that (if you are an Aussie) the fact that we are currently experiencing a bit of a heatwave is not news to you.
For the rest of those visiting… it’s HOT baby.
Hot and sweaty and thirsty*!
Most of Oz is going to get very close (or over) the 40C mark and with not much rain for the last couple of months, fire danger is at an all-time high in many areas.
To help get everyone in the right frame of mind, and keep our most precious things safe and smiling in this heat…
I thought I’d share some tips on keeping your home fire-safe during this danger persiod, and also spice things up with a special giveaway.
The following FIRE PREVENTION TIPS are all common-sense things but it always pays to double-check these basic things are in place.
- Consider the placement of garden beds, trees and other flammable objects. You should aim to keep the area around your house and other structures free of plants that can easily catch fire and then ignite the buildings.
- Dense shrubs should be kept away from a house, especially windows. If these burn closely, they can cause windows to crack and embers can then enter the house. A hedge trimmer is useful for this task.
- Objects such as timber patio furniture and plant boxes burn quickly; store these away from the house.
- Many people believe that trees are the major threat during a bushfire; however, the fire front is carried by the undergrowth including grasses, leaf litter and shrubs. Make sure you clear out accumulated debris such as loose flaky bark, dead twigs, leaves or needles commonly found in gutters and roof areas, but also your wider backyard. Clear fallen leaves, grass trimmings and other debris around the property.
- Fine fuels that continue from the ground to the tree crown are known as ladder fuels because they help the fire climb up into the tree tops. To limit this happening, take note of what is growing under the trees and consider how easily fire might be able to climb upwards, and remove or chop back accordingly.
- Keep grass mowed to less than 10cm as fire can travel quickly through long grass. Regular mowing, weeding and raking are important to remove potential fuel.
- Use pebbles or rocks in your garden, not mulch, which is highly flammable.
- Keep wood piles away from the house, as embers can easily ignite these.
- Store flammable liquids away from the house. If possible, store in flame proof containers.
Here is the list as a printable page: BB of Oz Fire Prevention Tips from Stihl
To keep it interesting and informative here, I thought I’d do a relevent giveaway – Stihl have kindly offered some items for my readers…
And, just because I like to pack out a parcel properly (say that three times quickly) I thought I would throw in a set of BB of Oz postcards,
a 2013 BB calendar
and some Fleur McDonald stubbie coolers and bookmarks!
To win, simply share the hottest experience of your life in the comments section. I will select winner/s randomly tomorrow noon (Oz time). Enter as many times as you like.
If you have your own fire safety tip, feel free to add that too!!
Cheers and please stay safe,
🙂
BB
GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED – BUT FEEL FREE TO KEEP COMMENTING!!!
Loving your stories…
-00000-
NB 1: Backyard bushfire safetly tips, gloves and cap all kindly provided by Stihl. You can find products to suit each job listed above through this link.
NB2: I have to say, we have pretty much ALL these things in place here at Granite Glen. We have a minimum of trees close to the house and VERY large lawn which I keep as green as I dare to provide a barrier for any fire headed our way.
*Please note, Violet is not drinking beer in this photo! We re-use Mr I’s Grolsch stubbies for cold water – they are such great little bottles it’s a shame to waste them.
16 Comments
debby
My dad loved his Stihl chainsaws. How strange to wander over here and see a brand I so identify with him at your own far away place.
Tim’s fond of his trusty old-but-not-rusty Husky. (Huskqvarna).
Have a good day, and stay safe! I’ve been reading about your temperatures. Meanwhile, I sit here wrapped in an afghan.
debby´s last blog post ..Pamela Patchett, I think I have your kid.
S Armstrong
The hottest experience was camping as a child when I was about 10.
We swam in the river everyday all day for a week. We went with friends and thought we were using sunscreen, it was tanning oil.
Needless to say I cooked myself and was covered in a very painful sunburn and huge blisters.
Leenie
Our hot experience was last September when we were traveling to the Pacific Ocean and were turned back by police along the Columbia River because a big brush fire was blocking our path. We were told if we hurried we could get ahead of the flames and cross the river a few miles to the north. We could see the fire and smell the smoke as it burned up the canyon. We made it but it was too close for comfort. Wishing you rain. I also wish we could send our Arctic weather your way.
Leenie´s last blog post ..THE COLD TRUTH
Gabi Cumming
Needless to say our hottest experience – 48C on Black Saturday Feb 2009, with fires burning all around us.
We have all these things in place and more!
Bush Babe
Doubt anyone could top that Gabi… Kinda why I posted this. Please God we don’t want another Black Saturday.
jeanie
Leenie reminded me of driving back to Sydney in 1992 or 93 – there were many bushfires blocking the track so we had to stay an extra day in Byron Bay – oh, the humanity!
You inspired me to put up a post, though.
jeanie´s last blog post ..There is no HOT like the hot of a 1970s school day
Judith Maunders
One of the hottest experiences of my life was volunteering with the Penguin Research Group on Phillip Island on a 40 + degree day like today. I spent my day hatted and gloved up, removing penguins from their burrows (briefly), weighing them and recording their details. That night, I was a passenger in a van out on the road closed after dark, driving along ultra slowly, counting how many penguins would potentially be squashed if the road was open all hours. There would have been lots of squashed penguins … homebound penguins have no understanding of cars!
Penny Hannah
Wish we could drill down and drain off the surplus – the UK is sodden. Stay safe Australia.
Colin (HB)
I knew it would get to Brisbane eventually, Wednesday is “arrival” day.
So far we have been spared.
Imagine Hobart over 41 celsius today!!!
You certainly are well prepared in case of bushfires. A good lesson for others to take notice of.
Maybe that cyclone off the coastline will bring some rain????
Cheers
Colin
Scotty
Mine was an experience with fire (go figure) – during a controlled burn many years ago, my co-worker and I were back-burning from the top of a hill when another group had started at the bottom (not realising we were at the top) – we looked around to see a wall of flame coming at us. You can’t outrun a fire uphill so we we had to race down the hill and jump through the flames to the burnt-out section on the other side. A few singed hairs was the worst we suffered. Still, it’s a scary thing to have to do…
Scotty´s last blog post ..Happy Holidays, Everyone
Trish
41 predicted here today too in CEntral West NSW , it is so dry .Great tips BB.
We are surrounded by dry grass paddocks.
We had 45 deg here January 2 yrs ago a few days running – 10 of us in a brick room attached to a galvanized farm shed …one tiny air cond. and fans. We were melting . We live in that shed now but have a better air cond. Thank goodness .
Sally
One of the hottest experiences of my life was at my friend’s wedding a couple of years ago. She had a beautiful outdoor wedding but it was so stinking hot!
I felt a little woozy watching the ceremony but thought nothing of it, then it was time for the group photo. I stood in the front row and just as they were about the take the photo I passed out. Woke up on the ground surrounded by the wedding guests. Slightly embarrassing. Now I don’t go anywhere in the heat without a bottle of water, it is so easily to become dehydrated without even realising it.
jeanie
Sally – insert my niece Rose for you and my wedding for your friend’s, and you have her experience.
Another wedding I went to at the Sunshine Coast opened with the priest advising the men they were allowed to de-jacket – the relief was palpable.
jeanie´s last blog post ..There is no HOT like the hot of a 1970s school day
Cazzie
The hottest experience of my life was our farm being under threat from a massive and fast moving fire 14/1/13. A deliberately lit fire engulfed 350 Hectares of land, threatening our live stock and many homes in the area. My husband received phone calls from the CFA and the Department of Primary Industries to get to out farm stat as we needed to move our livestock. So many fire units responded and, thank goodness, so did the air wing (ELVIS). I have never been so scared in my life.
http://www.wyndhamweekly.com.au/story/1235771/little-river-fire-engulfs-350-hectares/?cs=1301
Cazzie
In addition, we have done everything we could to be prepared for Summer, and fires. We have cleared where we ought to and we also have a safe area for us to shift our animals to in case of fire. We have our own fire fighting equipment, which is tested and updated and kept in good working order as well. You can never be too prepared. 🙂
#
These valances are somewhat similar to the carriage design.
It can easily get these and such solutions in home improvement stores to initially check out
the doors, using the squeegee and washcloth.
#´s last blog post ..#