Preparing for the Bushfire Season: How to Protect Your Community

In 2019, many clubs across the east coast of Australia became evacuation centres for emergency services and families who became displaced during the bushfires. Additionally, many clubs themselves were also tragically affected by bushfires, having to close their doors, and spent months getting back to normal operations.  

Clubs are the heart of their communities in times of need. It is imperative that you are ready and prepared this bushfire season to protect your club, your people, and your community. 

According to the BBC and Australian Parliament House, in the 2019 Black Summer Bushfires, there were 33 lives tragically lost (including nine fire fighters), 2439 homes destroyed, 11,264 bush or grass fires, 5.4 million hectares of land burnt, and 24 million litres of fire retardant used. The impact of this devastation was felt far and wide throughout families, workplaces, emergency services, community groups, sporting associations and clubs.  

The outlook for the upcoming bushfire season is extremely concerning. Australia's climate influences have shifted significantly since last spring, with above average temperatures and below average rainfall expected for almost the entire country for the coming season. In addition to these changes, many regions have also seen increased fuel growth due to above average rainfall throughout recent La Niña years, which is contributing to increased risk of bushfires during the spring of 2023. Increased risk is expected for regions in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, SA and NT (AFAC, Spring 2023). 

Bushfires are a common occurrence in the Australian climate. We must understand the climatic conditions which expose our environment to additional risks and implement strategies to mitigate the risk and impact on our local communities. Therefore, planning for potential emergencies is critical to ensuring your club and community is prepared to face risks and challenges head on.  

Barringtons have been providing services to the club industry for over 30 years and can assist with providing customised Fire Safety Plans tailored to the unique risks of your club. These plans assist in identifying potential hazards and vulnerabilities and provide recommendations of control measures to mitigate risk.  

In addition to Fire Safety Plans, Emergency Preparedness Training is an annual mandatory workplace requirement under Safe Work Australia's Code of Practice on Managing the Work Environment and Facilities. Our training is compliant with Australian Standard AS3705-2010, the WHS Act 2011 and can cover the mechanics of fire, the effects of fire on human behaviour and how to navigate evacuations.  

It is highly recommended that clubs are proactive in mitigating risk and prepare their staff and club for a range of emergencies. Barringtons can also facilitate Fire Extinguisher Training which aims to equip your staff with the skills to use Fire Extinguishers, Fire Hose Reels and Fire Blankets. This training consists of theory and practical elements to ensure staff can safely respond to a small fire. In an emergency situation, it is the split-second decisions we make that have a critical impact on the outcome achieved.  

For more information on our Work, Health, and Safety Support Services, please contact [email protected] or call 02 9899 0600.