Get Bushfire-Ready
The Queensland Fire Department's home-preparation checklist, arranged highest-impact first — tick off what you've done before the season starts around August.
Fire season on this side of the range starts with the dry season, around the beginning of August. This is the Queensland Fire Department's own preparation list for homes near bush, arranged so the highest-impact steps come first. Tick off what you've already done and the list shows what's next.
One road down the range
Your home, zone by zone
Start here
You've done 0 of 6 highest-impact steps.
These are the highest-impact steps first. Tick off what you've already done and the list updates.
- Clear the gutters and roof of leaves, twigs and bark, and consider gutter guards. — Dry litter in the gutter line is where wind-blown embers land first.
- Fit steel wire mesh screens on windows, doors, vents and weep holes. — Mesh keeps embers out of the roof space and wall cavities.
- Seal gaps in the external roof and cladding.
- Enclose open areas under decks and floors. — Embers collect under open decks — a classic Queenslander weak point.
- Move flammable things well away from the house — woodpiles, mulch, boxes, hanging baskets, outdoor furniture — and downslope if possible. — Anything that catches beside a wall gives fire a way in.
Your home, zone by zone
The house itself
Around 90% of homes destroyed in bushfire are lost to burning embers, not the fire front — so the openings embers can enter decide the most.
Dry litter in the gutter line is where wind-blown embers land first.
Mesh keeps embers out of the roof space and wall cavities.
Embers collect under open decks — a classic Queenslander weak point.
The garden and grounds
The aim is less fine fuel close to the house — grass, leaf litter and anything that burns fast.
Anything that catches beside a wall gives fire a way in.
Low branches let a grass fire climb into the canopy.
Help getting in
A fire crew may not be available for every home — and one that comes needs to find you and fit down your drive.
Much of the range is beyond hydrants — your tank may be the water on hand.
Your plan, before the season
The paperwork matters as much as the rake: households with a written plan act earlier and argue less on the day.
Leaving early is the safest option, and deciding that now beats deciding it in smoke.
Nothing here is saved or sent — it's just for you, on this page.