Agricultural Fire Management Guidelines - Guide to Rural ...

Section 3 Advice1. Personal safetyThe most important aspect of fi re management is the safetyof people.a. Bushfire survival planWhile all individuals have a responsibility for their ownsafety, landowners and managers have an additionalresponsibility for the safety of people living on, working onand visiting their property and are encouraged to develop abushfi re survival plan (see Stay and defend or leave early,page 12).During wildfi re, a signifi cant threat to personal safety isradiant heat. Radiant heat cannot penetrate through solidobjects, so the best way to avoid the dangers of radiant heatis to shelter inside a building as the fi re front passes. You arealso advised to wear appropriate protective clothing madeof natural fi bres.Radiant heat from fi re kills people who are caught out inthe open. Often the people most at risk are those whoundertake last-minute actions, such as moving livestock.When working in locations without easy access to buildingsor homes, people are encouraged to have a fi re blanket,suitable wire cutters, water and a simple plan about wherethey would shelter if they were caught in a wildfi re. Cars donot provide adequate shelter from radiant heat; however,sheltering in a car is better than being caught without anyshelter at all. Living in the Bush (CFA 2004) Radiant Heat (CFA 1998) The Complete Bushfi re Safety Book (Webster 2000) The Australian Bushfi re Safety Guide (Schauble 2004)b. Maintaining communicationFor safety reasons, it is important for those working on ruralproperties to stay in contact with others. Individuals areencouraged to carry communication equipment, such as aUHF radio or mobile phone, when undertaking any farmingactivities and to tune to ABC Radio or a relevant local radioon days of high fi re danger.c. Private firefightingPeople are advised to be well prepared when undertakingprivate fi refi ghting activities. Guidelines for Operating Private Equipment at Fires (CFA 2004)30 On the Land: Agricultural Fire Management Guidelines