Now that we’re right in the middle of winter, most of us have started dreaming about the warmer weather. We’re again longing for the beaches, the backyard BBQs, pool parties and gorgeous tans. But when it comes to summer in Australia, the warm weather can quickly turn very hot and very dry, raising the chances of bushfires.
At the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, we saw some of the worst bushfires in the country with over 12 million hectares of land burned and over 2000 homes destroyed just in NSW. If you are living in a bushfire prone area, it is important to start preparing early to protect your home from bushfires. And while it is important to build a fire fighting water storage tank on your property, here are a few more things you can do for maximum protection:
Install fencing and decks made from non-combustible materials
While wood may be the most popular material for fencing and decks around the house, wood is also highly combustible and may act as fuel in the event of a fire. Choose non-combustible materials such as concrete, metal and fire-retardant timber when erecting fences or building decks. In case the deck or fence is already in place when you bought the house, place non-combustible material, such as rocks or pebbles, metal framing or sheet glass between the main house and the fence or deck to prevent a fire from spreading.
Remove dead vegetation
Dead leaves, branches, twigs, overgrown grass and weeds, overhanging shrubs, trees with low hanging branches are all fire dangers and can send embers flying towards your house in case of a bushfire. Keep your gardens well raked, grass mowed, and remove any branches hanging over or near your house and keep shrubs and bushes at least 2 metres away from the house.
Install metal fly wire screens or shutters on windows
Prevent embers and flames from coming inside the house in the event of a bushfire by installing wire mesh screens with 1.5 millimetre holes on all windows. These will absorb the heat from a flame and prevent it from touching the glass or wood of a window. It is equally as important to seal any gaps around window frames with a fire-retardant product.
Similarly, place metal screen doors over your existing door and seal any gaps with a fire-retardant product to prevent flames from entering the house or setting the door on fire.
Install a fire fighting water storage tank
Water storage requirements vary from council to council and state to state, but typically range from 2500 litres for small properties to 20,000 litres for rural properties larger than 1 hectare.
Installing a fire fighting water storage tank not only helps you protect your home in the event of a bushfire, but may also be used by firefighters to douse fires on other houses in your neighbourhood or control large bushfires.
Get in touch with The Versatile Tanks Company to install your non-combustible fire fighting water storage tank. Our water tanks are made of high strength concrete and Australian structural steel to ensure no cracks appear in the structure and prevent leaks.