Agricultural Fire Management Guidelines - Guide to Rural ...

Section 3 Advice15. Water supply accessAccess to water will assist in securing fi re safety.a. Property water supplyGenerally, water supplies should:• be obvious to or known to local fi re suppression services(signs or property plans may be necessary);• be located in an open and clear fl at area with a hardstandingarea allowing a fi re suppression pump to bewithin 4 m of the water supply;• have a turning circle loop or turn-around point;• where tanks are used, have couplings or adaptors thatenable farm fi refi ghting equipment and CFA brigades tofi ll from the tanks (see Figure 24 on page 53);• be available even when water levels are low duringsummer months; and• be independent of mains power supply.Water supplies could be from a dam, tank, mains watersystem, helicopter, or private water tanker. Bores andstandpipes may also be suitable if fl ow rates are suffi cient.Consider having a water supply and water distributionsystem that operates independently of mains power.A suitable water supply may be available from a nearbyproperty or water source with agreement from the relevantowner or manager. Firefi ghting Guidelines for Pipeline Schemes (CFA 2003) Minimum Firefi ghting Requirements for Pipeline Schemes(CFA 2003) Building in a Wildfi re Management Overlay Applicant’s Kit(CFA 2007)b. Buildings water supplyTo protect homes and sheds, landowners and managers areencouraged to have:• at least 10 000 litres of water supply available forfi refi ghting that is independent of the reticulated watersupply and mains power supply; options include havinga dam, tank or pool;• fl ame-resistant and heat-resistant or protected watersupply pipes; and• where tanks are used, couplings or adaptors that willallow CFA tankers to be fi lled (see Figure 24 on page53).Regularly maintain and annually check pumps andsprinklers to be used for fi re protection. Building in a Wildfi re Management Overlay Applicant’s Kit(CFA 2007)52 On the Land: Agricultural Fire Management Guidelines