Every year people die as a result of fires in their homes. Most fatal fires occur at night when people are asleep. Most fatal fires are accidental and preventable. Take precautions now to protect yourself, your family and your home.

Many fires in Queensland are caused by electrical faults or other problems with electrical equipment. View the Energy Safety site for information about efficiency of electrical appliances.  Find out more about safety for electricity, gas and other important home safety issues through this site.  Click here for links to electrical and gas safety regulators, regulatory bodies, electrical/gas licensing bodies, industry bodies, electricity network operators and gas suppliers.

What happens to a house in a bushfire?

If the house is directly in front of an approaching bushfire, the house may catch fire as a result of sparks and embers lodging themselves in wall vents, on window ledges, under the floor boards, in roof gutters, or on the roof.  If they are not put out as soon as the main fire front passes, the flying embers and sparks can start small fires that may spread to the whole building.  It is sometimes said that a home will 'explode into flames'.  This is not the case, as all fires start small and require a period of time to develop.  This developing period provides an opportunity for the fire to be extinguished.

However, some houses cannot be saved in a bushfire by the occupants alone.  This can depend on the house design, location, accessibility of your property, amount and type of surrounding vegetation, availability of water and condition and placement of buildings.  Every home is different.

While a house may burn down in the hours after the fire front has passed, it will often survive the passage of the fire front if the area around the house has been cleared.  By staying with the house, you may be able to put out any small fires after the fire front has passed and save your home.  Sheltering in your house is safer than being caught in the open in a motor vehicle or on foot.

Where am I most likely to be safe in a bushfire?

The decision to stay with or leave you house should be made well before a bushfire reaches your home.  If you have taken precautions to prepare in case of a bushfire and are physically able to protect your house once the fire has passed, you have the best chance of surviving by remaining in your home.  People who are sick or elderly should leave their homes early before the fire front approaches.