Prepare your rural property for bushfire

How Local Land Services can help

Local Land Services offers practical, on-the-ground support to help landholders and farmers reduce bushfire risk and recover after a fire.

Our teams can:

• provide advice on fire preparedness and hazard reduction
• help you develop or update your Farm Fire Plan
• connect you with local services and agencies
• support recovery after bushfire events.

To speak with your local team, call 1300 795 299

You can also follow your Local Land Services team on Facebook. To find your local page, see Local Land Services regions.

Plan ahead for bushfire season

Bushfires are a natural part of the Australian landscape. Planning early can protect your life, your family, animals and property.

If you manage or own land, you are legally responsible for reducing fire risks. Under the Rural Fires Act 1997, landholders must carry out hazard reduction to protect homes, buildings and key assets.

Create a bushfire survival plan before the fire season. You can to get started with NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) My Fire Plan tool.

Download and complete a Farm Fire Plan from NSW RFS.

The NSW RFS and NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) also provide step-by-step advice for creating your plan.

Reduce the risk on your property

Keep grass low and remove excess vegetation to reduce fire fuel.

Check local weather conditions using the Bureau of Meteorology website. Conditions can change quickly.

Create firebreaks

Effective firebreaks help stop fires entering or leaving your property. You can mow, graze, brush-cut or plough around:

• buildings
• crops
• pastures
• key fence lines.

Avoid removing trees unless necessary. Where possible, add firebreaks around timbered areas.

Plan for livestock safety

Know where to safely move your stock in a fire. Choose low-risk areas by considering:

• local terrain and wind direction
• fire history and likely direction of approach
• proximity to trees, gullies and dams.

Low-risk areas may include:

• bared-out paddocks (heavily grazed in spring or early summer)
• irrigated paddocks or green crops
• paddocks with gullies and dams
• well-cleared yards away from large trees.

Keep these areas well maintained.

Prepare livestock for bushfire

Move vulnerable animals like young sheep early, as they are harder to shift under stress.

Maintain low grass around working dog kennels.

Set up a safe area for stock

Prepare a designated stock containment area with:

• access to food and water
• multiple entry points
• minimal fire fuel.

This area could be:

• a heavily grazed paddock
• a ploughed paddock
• a large, clear yard with a 3 to 6 metre firebreak.

Fill all troughs and water containers in advance. Do not rely on automatic systems.

For more advice, see Stock containment areas.

Have a relocation plan

If you plan to move livestock:

• decide when you will put the plan into action
• move early to avoid delays or stress on animals
• know how and where you will relocate them
• arrange suitable transport in advance.

Do not attempt to drive, ride or walk through active fire zones. Read more about assessing if animals are fit to load.

Prepare an emergency kit

Include:

• human and animal first aid kits
• medications and applicators
• wire cutters and a sharp knife
• emergency contact list including your vet and ag supplier.

More emergency kit advice is available on the Farm Safe website.

Stay informed

For life-threatening emergencies, call 000.

For bushfire updates:

• call NSW RFS on 1800 679 737
• download the Hazards Near Me app (iOS or Android)
• visit the NSW RFS website.

Check local fire bans and permit requirements before burning.