Stay safe when touring near bushfires

Australia’s recent bushfire crisis has highlighted the dangers of travelling in a car during an emergency fire event.

In a summer bushfire season that has already claimed at least 25 lives, thousands of properties, more than a million acres of bush and countless animals and wildlife in Australia, authorities are reminding all motorists to execute extreme caution in and around fire areas.

The golden rule, according to the NSW Rural Fire Service and Victorian Country Fire Authority, is to delay all non-urgent travel that could potentially put you in the vicinity of a bushfire zone.

Not only does abandoning non-urgent travel free up emergency services to focus on the work at hand, it also prevents gridlock scenarios such as the one that played out on the NSW South Coast earlier this year, in which thousands of motorists were holed up in small towns, exhausting fuel and food supplies.

To avoid this kind of situation altogether, the NSW RFS recommends checking fire danger ratings, road closures and bushfire alerts through your relevant state authority. You can also check conditions on the Bureau of Meteorology website.

Each state or territory offers a live-eye style of map that comprises individual road closures and potential obstacles for motorists in their vicinity of travel. They are listed here:

ACT: City Services ACT
New South Wales: Live Traffic NSW
Queensland: QLD Traffic
South Australia: Traffic SA
Tasmania: TAS Alert
Victoria: Vic Traffic
Western Australia: Mainroads Western Australia

Even if a fire only poses a minor risk in your area of travel, it is also recommended you carry an emergency survival kit through the summer, including a battery-operated radio, protective clothing, woollen blankets and water.

The CFA adds that it is important to leave plenty of time when evacuating during an emergency bushfire situation. If your circumstances require you to travel in a car: “Driving during a bushfire is extremely dangerous and can result in serious injury or death; always plan to leave early to avoid this situation.”

If the worst happens and you are encountering smoke or flames and you are not able to turn around and drive to safety, the CFA recommends you take the following actions:

“Position the car to minimise exposure to radiant heat: Park away from dense bush – try to find a clearing. If possible, park behind a barrier such as a wall or rocky outcrop.

“The car should ideally face towards the oncoming fire front. Park off the roadway and turn hazard lights on. Car crashes are common in bushfires due to poor visibility.”

The CFA continues that in order to increase your chances of survival: “Stay in the car, and tightly close windows and doors. Cover up with woollen blankets and get down below window level – this is your highest priority. Drink water to prevent dehydration.”

As soon as you become aware the fire front is close by, shut all vents and turn the engine and air-conditioning off.

Furthermore, the RFS adds to cover yourself with a woollen blanket, cover your mouth with a damp cloth and stay hydrated. It advises to stay down until the sound of the fire has passed, and carefully leave the car as the ground and surrounds will still be hot.

The RFS has advised motorists to take caution at all times, even in rural areas where there is no immediate bushland.

“Grasslands cover approximately 80 per cent of New South Wales,” the RFS warns.

“There is an increased risk of grass fires this summer. It is important that you understand grass fires and how to protect yourself, your family and your property from the threat of fire. Grass fires are unpredictable; they can start anywhere, spread rapidly and move three times as fast as a bush fire.”

Timely fire warning for caravanners

How to prevent a fire

Campfire safety tips