What to do immediately after a bushfire

Ensure you, your family, neighbours and pets are safe. If people are missing, or if you're in a life-threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000).

Use the Red Cross Register.Find.Reunite service to let people know you're safe and to find other people who have registered as safe.

Stay calm. Attend to physical injuries and emotional distress. Seek emergency medical help and other services, if required.

• Find doctors and other health services near you.
• If you are isolated and require essential items such as food, fuel or medicine, call NSW SES on 132 500.
• After a crisis it is often easier to talk to someone who is not involved and is trained to listen. Reach out for mental health support and resources.
• For advice on how to access medications, prescriptions, Medicare or concession cards that have been lost or destroyed during the bushfires, visit the NSW Health website.
• If you're an NDIS participant in a disaster-affected region, call 1800 800 110 for priority support
• If you need an interpreter, call the Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS) on 131 450.

Houses, sheds and other structures burnt in a bushfire can leave potential health hazards. Find out more about returning safely to your property after a bushfire.

Do not go back to your property if the emergency is still active.

Don't enter a damaged building or structure, unless authorities tell you it is safe.

When you can enter your home, make sure you:

• take care around electricity, gas and water
• shut off damaged utilities if it is safe to do so.

Try to locate your essential documents and identification.

If they've been lost or destroyed, you can apply to have ID and personal documents replaced for free.

Lock up your home and secure all entry points if possible.

If you're a tenant, contact your property manager or landlord.

If you live in a Department of Housing residence, call the 24/7 helpline on 1800 422 322.

If you can't stay at your home because it is unsafe:

• secure it and inform local police that the property will be vacant
• call Service NSW on 13 77 88 to organise temporary accommodation
• contact your insurance company to see if it can provide any immediate help with money for essentials and accommodation.

If you can still live in your property but critical repairs are required:

• take photos of the damage
• secure your valuables
• reach out for legal and insurance support.

If your local area is declared as impacted by a disaster, you may be able to get financial assistance from the government. 

Learn more about grants and other support.

You should also:

• save receipts related to anything you spend on property repairs
• watch out for home repair scams
• contact your insurer about your policy and to submit a claim, if applicable
• check financial support available for your circumstances.

For assistance with pets, livestock (including horses) and wildlife, call the RSPCA on 1300 278 358 or the Agricultural and Animal Services Hotline on 1800 814 647.

For advice about assisting injured wildlife, visit WIRES Emergency Advice or call 1300 094 737.