RFS tips for minimising bushfire risk on your property

Published on 04 August 2023

As the Bureau of Meteorology last month moved from El Niño WATCH to El Niño ALERT, meaning that there is around a 70% chance of an El Niño developing this year, The RFS is recommending that residents start getting prepared early to minimise the risk of bushfires on their property this summer.

During El Niño, there is a higher chance of drier weather in eastern Australia and it’s more likely to be warmer than usual for the southern two-thirds of Australia.

It’s never too soon to start preparing your property for the increased bushfire risk. The RFS has some great tips on preparing your home for bushfires on its website. You can also check if your property is on bushfire-prone land on the RFS website.

Keep in mind, fuel loads that increased after the heavy rains of 2022 are now drying out and creating conditions for future fires. If you have a lot of garden organic waste left over in winter, now is the time to do a bit of a clean-up and safety do away with extra garden green waste. You can use your green curbside bin that is taken to the Resource Recovery Centre (RRC) for processing, or drop in any excess to the RRC directly. All green organics received at the RRC are processed into organic compost.