Get the right equipment

THE Country Fire Authority is warning people who intend to stay and defend their homes during bush fires to be prepared with the right equipment.
Although a resident may need to purchase some equipment specifically for fire fighting purposes, many of the items are commonly found around the home.
Each person who is involved in defending the home will need long trousers, or overalls made from natural fibre such as jeans or cotton. Long sleeved shirts or jumpers made of cotton or wool, a broad brimmed hat, sturdy leather boots or shoes, goggles, gloves, and a face mask or handkerchief to cover the mouth and nose are all important items to help fight fires.
There are many items around the home that can be useful when fighting a bush fire including, mops, ladders, blankets and towels.
Buckets are light, easily portable and an effective way to move water, using an old-fashioned cotton mop is also effective as they can hold a lot of water.
Anyone fighting a fire will need a ladder to provide access to the ceiling to spray water through the manhole.
The CFA advises residents to have a ladder outside to provide access to the roof in case any embers land there.
Wet blankets and towels can also be used to seal any gaps under doors to prevent embers and smoke from entering the house.
Fire fighting backpacks can also be purchased, but many of the weed sprayers sold in hardware stores would also be suitable, with some smaller sprayers holding up to five litres of water.
People staying to defend their homes should also ideally install a water tank specifically for fire fighting purposes, or alternatively place 44 gallon drums strategically around the home, use rubbish bins, wheel barrows, troughs or ponds to store water.
For further information on how to protect you home from bush fires this season call the CFA Region 13 on 9735 0511.