Bushfire Season Home Preparation Checklist for Australian Homeowners

Australia’s 2019-20 Black Summer burned 24 million hectares, destroyed over 3,000 homes, and caused 33 deaths. Since then, bushfire seasons have grown longer and more intense. The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC estimates that the number of days with dangerous fire weather has increased by 56 percent across southern Australia since the 1950s.

Most homes lost to bushfire are destroyed by ember attack, not direct flame contact. Embers travel up to 30 kilometres ahead of a fire front and lodge in gutters, gaps under eaves, broken roof tiles, and leaf litter against walls. The good news: the majority of ember entry points can be sealed, cleared, or screened by a licensed tradesperson in a day or two. The alternative is discovering those weak points during a Code Red fire danger day.

This bushfire season home preparation checklist covers what to check, what to fix, which trades to call, and what each job costs. Start working through it at least eight weeks before your region’s fire danger period begins.

1. Understand Your Bushfire Attack Level

Before spending money on preparation, find out your property’s Bushfire Attack Level (BAL). BAL ratings under AS 3959 classify properties from BAL-LOW (minimal risk) to BAL-FZ (Flame Zone, direct exposure to bushfire front). Your BAL determines what building materials, setbacks, and construction standards apply to your home.

The six BAL ratings:

How to find your BAL: Check your local council’s bushfire-prone area map. In NSW, use the RFS online tool. In Victoria, check the VBA bushfire overlay map. A formal BAL assessment by a certified assessor costs $500 to $1,500 and is required for new builds and major renovations in bushfire-prone areas.

Who to call: A licensed builder or building surveyor can arrange a BAL assessment and recommend construction upgrades for your rating.

2. Create and Maintain Defendable Space

Defendable space is the area around your home where vegetation and combustible materials are managed to reduce fire intensity and give you (or firefighters) room to defend the property. The CFA, RFS, and QFES all recommend maintaining defendable space as the single most effective bushfire preparation measure.

Inner zone (0 to 10 metres from the house):

• Mow grass to under 100mm height. Dead grass ignites at temperatures as low as 230°C.
• Remove all bark mulch, wood chips, and dry leaf litter within 2 metres of walls. Replace with gravel, pebbles, or stone.
• Move firewood stacks, timber piles, and other combustible materials at least 10 metres from the house.
• Cut back shrubs and overhanging branches so no vegetation touches or overhangs the walls or roof.
• Remove flammable items from decks and verandahs: doormats, hanging baskets, pot plants with bark mulch.

Outer zone (10 to 30 metres from the house):

• Thin trees so canopy separation is at least 2 metres between crowns. This prevents crown-to-crown fire spread.
• Remove lower branches to a height of 2 metres above ground (ladder fuel removal).
• Keep grass mowed and remove fallen branches, bark, and dead vegetation regularly.
• Break up continuous shrub beds with gravel paths, garden beds with low-flammability plants, or cleared areas.

Slopes: Fire travels faster uphill: a 10-degree slope doubles fire speed and 20 degrees quadruples it. The CFA recommends extending defendable space by 50 percent on slopes above 5 degrees.

Council permits: Most councils in bushfire-prone areas support vegetation clearing within your defendable space, but you may still need a permit for significant trees. Check your council’s tree management policy before removing any tree with a trunk diameter above 300mm.

Who to call: A licensed landscaper for vegetation management and ground cover replacement. For large tree removal, hire a qualified arborist (AQF Level 3 minimum). A licensed builder for enclosing subfloor areas.

3. Protect Your Roof and Gutters from Ember Attack

Your roof is the primary ember entry point. Embers land in gutters full of dry leaves, lodge in gaps between tiles, and enter through unscreened vents. In the 2009 Black Saturday fires, CSIRO research found that 89 percent of homes destroyed were ignited by ember attack, with gutters and roof gaps the most common ignition points.

Roof inspection:

• Check for cracked, broken, or displaced tiles. A single missing tile creates a direct ember path into the roof cavity.
• Inspect metal roofing for lifted sheets, loose screws, and corroded fixings. Replace any fixings with stripped or rusted heads.
• Check flashing around chimneys, vents, skylights, and roof penetrations. Degraded flashing allows embers into the cavity.
• Inspect ridge capping mortar. Crumbling mortar creates gaps embers can enter. Repointing costs $40 to $60 per linear metre.

Gutter protection:

• Clean all gutters and downpipes of leaves, twigs, and bark. Internal corners and valley gutters accumulate debris fastest.
• Install metal gutter guard mesh. Steel or aluminium mesh with apertures no larger than 2mm is recommended under AS 3959. Gutter guards cost $25 to $50 per metre installed.
• Check gutter falls. Water (and embers) should flow towards downpipes, not pool in sagging sections.

Roof cavity protection:

• Screen all roof vents, turbine ventilators, and eave vents with steel mesh no larger than 2mm aperture. This is a specific requirement under AS 3959 for BAL-12.5 and above.
• Seal gaps where the roof meets walls. Embers enter through gaps as small as 3mm.
• Replace any plastic or fibreglass skylights with tempered glass alternatives in BAL-19 and above areas.

Do not climb on the roof yourself. Falls from roofs account for 14 percent of workplace fatalities in Australia. A professional inspection costs $200 to $400.

Who to call: A licensed roofer for tile replacement, sheet repairs, flashing, ridge capping, and gutter guard installation. Find one on TradieVerify.

4. Seal Your Home Against Ember Entry

Ember-proofing your home means closing every gap that allows burning debris to enter wall cavities, subfloor spaces, and roof voids. Homes with sealed envelopes survive bushfires at significantly higher rates than those with gaps.

Windows and doors:

• Install steel wire mesh screens (2mm maximum aperture) on all windows and doors. This is mandatory for BAL-19 and above under AS 3959.
• Fit draught seals around all external doors and windows. Gaps under doors are a common ember entry point.
• Replace any single-glazed windows in BAL-29 and above areas with toughened glass or bushfire-rated systems.

Walls and subfloor:

• Seal gaps in external wall cladding, particularly around service penetrations (pipes, cables, air conditioning units).
• Enclose open subfloor areas with sheet metal or non-combustible board. Many older homes have open subfloors that trap embers and catch fire underneath the house.
• Cover weep holes in brick walls with steel mesh (2mm aperture).

Decks and pergolas:

• Timber decks within 10 metres of the house are a fire risk. In high-BAL areas, consider non-combustible decking alternatives.
• Enclose the gap between the deck surface and ground to prevent ember accumulation.
• Replace combustible lattice screens with metal alternatives.

Evaporative coolers: Cap or cover rooftop evaporative cooling units when not in use. The pads dry out during fire season and become an ignition source.

Who to call: A licensed builder or carpenter for wall sealing, subfloor enclosure, deck modifications, and window upgrades. A licensed electrician for sealing around cable penetrations.

5. Secure Your Water Supply

Mains water pressure often drops during major fires when multiple properties draw water simultaneously. In rural and semi-rural areas, mains water may not be available at all. Water supply is one of the most overlooked aspects of bushfire season home preparation.

Water storage:

• A dedicated firefighting water tank (minimum 5,000 litres, ideally 10,000+ litres) provides independent supply. Tanks cost $1,000 to $3,500 installed.
• Metal tanks are preferred over plastic, which melts in radiant heat. Position within 20 metres of the house but not against combustible walls.
• Install a Static Water Supply (SWS) sign at your property entrance so fire crews can locate your tank.
• Swimming pools are an additional water source with an independent petrol or diesel pump.

Firefighting pump and hoses:

• A dedicated fire-fighting pump ($1,200 to $4,000) connected to your water tank provides independent pressure during power outages.
• Keep at least 30 metres of 25mm fire-rated hose connected and ready. Garden hoses melt in radiant heat.
• Store the pump in a non-combustible shelter. Test monthly during fire season.

Who to call: A licensed plumber for water tank installation, pipework connections, and pump plumbing. A licensed electrician for pump wiring if using an electric backup pump. Find licensed tradespeople on TradieVerify.

6. Check Your Electrical System

Power lines brought down by fire or falling trees cause secondary ignitions. Switchboard failures leave you without water pumps or lighting when you need them most.

Pre-season electrical checks:

• Safety switch (RCD) testing. Press the test button on each RCD in your switchboard. If it does not trip immediately, call a licensed electrician. Replacement costs $150 to $250 per RCD.
• Overhead power lines. Check clearance from trees and vegetation. Report encroaching vegetation to your electricity distributor (Ausgrid in Sydney, AusNet in VIC, Energex in SE QLD). Do not trim near power lines yourself.
• Underground cable location. Know where underground cables run before any excavation for water tanks or fire breaks. Dial Before You Dig (1100) is free.
• Outdoor power points. Check that outdoor GPOs have weatherproof covers. Water and ember ingress is a shock and fire hazard.

Backup power:

• Portable generators (2 to 5kW, $800 to $3,000) can power water pumps, lights, and communication during outages. Never operate indoors due to carbon monoxide risk.
• Battery storage systems ($10,000 to $18,000 installed) provide automatic backup but require professional installation.
• Solar panels and battery systems must have an emergency shutdown procedure that firefighters can access. Discuss this with your installer.

Who to call: A licensed electrician for all switchboard, RCD, generator, and wiring work. For solar systems, a CEC-accredited installer.

7. Review Your Insurance Before Fire Season

Insurance review is free and prevents the worst financial outcome: losing your home and discovering you were underinsured. The Insurance Council of Australia reported $3.5 billion in extreme weather insured losses in 2025.

What to check in your policy:

• Sum insured. Building costs have increased 20 to 30 percent since 2020. If you have not updated in three years, you are likely underinsured.
• Bushfire-specific cover. Some policies exclude properties rated BAL-40 or BAL-FZ. Confirm your policy covers bushfire damage.
• Temporary accommodation. Check whether your policy covers alternative accommodation and what the cap is.
• Contents cover. Document contents with photos or video stored in cloud storage. This speeds claims.
• Outbuilding and fencing cover. Sheds, garages, and fences are often capped at lower amounts than the dwelling.

Actions to take now: Photograph every room and the exterior. Upload to cloud storage. Keep your policy number and insurer’s claims line in your emergency kit. Inform your insurer of fire-preparedness improvements (ember screens, gutter guards, water tanks) as these may reduce your premium.

8. Prepare Your Bushfire Survival Plan

Every Australian fire authority recommends a written bushfire survival plan. The CFA, RFS, and QFD all provide free templates. Complete your plan, share it with all household members, and practise it before fire season.

Your plan must answer:

• At what Fire Danger Rating will you leave? (The national advice: leaving early is always the safest option.)
• Where will you go? Identify two routes away from your property in case one is blocked.
• What will you take? Pack an emergency kit in advance.
• Who is responsible for pets, livestock, medications, and documents?
• How will you monitor warnings? Download the Fires Near Me (NSW), VicEmergency, or MyFireWatch apps.

Emergency kit essentials:

• Battery-powered or wind-up radio for fire authority updates
• Torch with fresh batteries and first aid kit
• Mobile phone with fully charged portable charger
• Waterproof bag: insurance policy, ID, property title, medical records
• 3-day water supply (3 litres per person per day for drinking)
• Wool blankets (wool is fire-resistant, synthetic melts)
• Protective clothing: long cotton or wool trousers, long-sleeved shirt, leather boots, hat, goggles

State fire authority contacts:

When to Book Your Bushfire Season Trades

Effective bushfire season home preparation means booking trades well before fire danger periods begin. In southern Australia, the bushfire season runs October to March. In northern Australia, it runs April to November. Book at least eight weeks before your local fire danger period for the best availability.

Before booking any tradesperson, verify their licence on TradieVerify to confirm it is current and covers the scope of work you need. For guidance on checking licences state by state, see our licence verification guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does bushfire season start in Australia?

It varies by region. In southern Australia (VIC, SA, TAS, southern NSW, southern WA), the highest risk period runs October to March. In northern Australia (QLD, NT, northern WA), grass fires peak April to November. Start your bushfire season home preparation at least eight weeks before your local fire danger period.

What BAL rating requires professional building work?

All properties rated BAL-12.5 and above benefit from professional assessment. BAL-19 requires steel mesh screens on all openings. BAL-29 and above requires retrofitting including window upgrades and wall sealing. BAL-FZ needs specialist construction assessment. A licensed builder can advise on requirements for your specific BAL.

How much does full bushfire preparation cost?

For a typical 3-bedroom home in a BAL-19 area, expect to spend $3,000 to $8,000 on professional preparation: roof inspection and repairs $200 to $600, gutter guards $500 to $1,500, ember screens $500 to $2,000, defendable space clearing $500 to $1,500, and electrical safety check $200 to $400. Homes in BAL-29 and above areas may need $10,000 to $25,000 for window upgrades, subfloor enclosure, and water tank installation. Insurance review is free and should not be skipped.

Do gutter guards really protect against bushfire?

Steel or aluminium gutter guards with a maximum 2mm aperture significantly reduce ember accumulation in gutters. CSIRO research following Black Saturday confirmed that homes with metal gutter guards had lower rates of gutter ignition. Gutter guards are specifically referenced in AS 3959 as a bushfire protection measure. They cost $25 to $50 per metre installed, and a licensed roofer can fit them in a day for an average home.

Can I clear vegetation without a council permit?

Most councils in bushfire-prone areas support vegetation management within your defendable space. However, significant trees (trunk diameter above 300mm) often require a permit. Some councils provide streamlined bushfire preparation clearing approvals. Contact your council before removing large trees. A licensed landscaper can advise on permitted clearing and manage the permit process.

What is the most common way homes catch fire during a bushfire?

Ember attack, not direct flame contact. CSIRO research found that 89 percent of homes destroyed in the 2009 Black Saturday fires were ignited by embers. Embers travel up to 30 kilometres ahead of the fire front and enter through gutters, gaps under eaves, broken tiles, and unscreened vents. Sealing these entry points is the most effective bushfire season home preparation measure.

Related Guides

• How to Hire a Licensed Roofer — Our roofer hiring guide
• How to Hire a Licensed Electrician — Our electrician hiring guide
• Storm Season Preparation Guide — Our storm season preparation guide

Sources

1. Country Fire Authority (VIC), “How to Prepare Your Property,” cfa.vic.gov.au, accessed February 2026.
2. NSW Rural Fire Service, “Prepare Your Property,” rfs.nsw.gov.au, accessed February 2026.
3. Queensland Fire Department, “Prepare for Bushfires,” fire.qld.gov.au, accessed February 2026.
4. CSIRO, “BAL Assessment: Bushfire Best Practice Guide,” research.csiro.au, accessed February 2026.
5. Insurance Council of Australia, “Preparing for Bushfire Season,” insurancecouncil.com.au, accessed February 2026.
6. Standards Australia, “AS 3959: Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-Prone Areas,” standards.org.au, accessed February 2026.
7. Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, “Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook,” bnhcrc.com.au, accessed February 2026.
8. Department of Fire and Emergency Services (WA), “Prepare for a Bushfire,” dfes.wa.gov.au, accessed February 2026.