Heading away for the holidays? Here’s how to plan for fires |
Christmas is the time when Australia’s population is on the move. Many travel to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, and enjoy a well-earned break. This means roads are busy, tourist hotspots are teeming and our focus shifts to gifts, meals and winding down.
Unfortunately, December and January are also the peak time for bushfires for much of the country. Already there have been damaging fires in the south-west and south-east of Australia at the start of December. There were 35 houses lost across New South Wales and Tasmania, and the tragic death of a fire fighter in Buladelah, NSW.
As summer heats up and vegetation dries out and becomes fuel, we can expect more fires across the southern half of the country.
Whether you are travelling or staying at home, you need to know where risks are greatest in order to prepare. The short answer is: anywhere there is vegetation – be it grass, forests or shrubland – there is a risk of fire.
The Australia and New Zealand Council for Fire and Emergency Services recently released their seasonal bushfire outlook for summer 2025, which points to a heightened risk in south-western Western Australia, central northern NSW and southern........