8 Camden Haven Courier, Wednesday, October 15, 2014 w: www.camdencourier.com.au

ACT NOW - PREPAREYOURSELF, FAMILYAND PROPERTY ONTHE 18-19 OCTOBER.

It’s never too early toget ready for bush fires -but time is running out.

Use the Get ReadyWeekend on Saturday18 and Sunday 19

October to make yourBush Fire Survival Planand prepare your home.

Download the digitalGet Ready Kit fromwww.rfs.nsw.gov.au (orcontact your local RuralFire Service) foreverything you need toget involved. It includeshandy tools such as

graphics and photos forsocial media, invites foryour event, posters forprinting, and an eventguide.

GET TOGETHERWork with your

neighbours and talkabout the fire risk inyour area - and whatyou plan to do if thereis a fire.

You can even havesome fun - likeorganising a streetparty or get-together.Ask people to bring aplate or even thenumber one thing theywould grab if there wasa bush fire in yourneighbourhood.

GET PREPAREDGetting ready for the

bush fire season couldbe easier than you think.Even the little things canmake a differenceduring a bush fire. Hereare the RFS top tips:n Prepare your BushFire Survival Plann Clear leaves, sticksand other things thatcould burn from yourgutters. Gutter guardsare a good idea n Prune shrubs andtrees so they’re notoverhanging the homen Rake up leaves andlitter from your proper-tyn Move firewood awayfrom your homen Keep your lawnsmowed and your gar-den well maintainedn Keep things that canburn like flammableliquids in an enclosedarea and not out in theopenn Make sure you’vegot a good hose thatwill reach all cornersof your home n If you’ve got a watertank, pool or dam, geta Static Water Supplysign from your localNSW RFS so firefight-ers know there isanother water sourceon the property n Enclose underfloorareas and make surethere are no gaps orbroken tiles in the roof- they can let in burn-ing embers.

It doesn’t take long,but these simple stepscan make all thedifference.

GET READYThe Get Ready

Weekend is a good startto being better prepared

for bush fires. The nextstep is action.

Download your BushFire Survival Plan or getthe MyFirePlan apptoday. Complete it, anddiscuss it with yourfamily.

WHAT IS A BUSHFIRESURVIVAL PLAN?

A Bush Fire SurvivalPlan can help you makeimportant decisionsabout what to do duringa fire - like when toleave, what to take andwhat to do with animals.

Fact is many peoplehave died during bushfires because they’veleft their decisions to thelast moment.

Ask yourself thesequestions:n Do you live within afew streets of thebush?

You don’t need to liveright on the bush to beat risk from bush fires.Burning embers cantravel some distance,setting to fire to homesthat are well away fromthe bush. In fact, themajority of homesdestroyed in bush firesare because of what‘scalled “ember attack”.n Does your areahave a history of bushfires?

Think about the areayou live in. If fires havehappened there before,they will almost certainlyhappen again. Know thefire risk in your area andprepare for it.n Do you have manytrees or shrubsaround your home?

It’s a fact that a wellprepared property ismore likely to survive abush fire. A wellprepared propertyincludes trees andshrubs that have beentrimmed, and a clearedarea where you andfirefighters can protectyour home if needed.n If you need to leave your home, would you

need to travel throughbushland?

If you need to travelthrough bushland areas to leave your home,you’re at risk of beingcaught in a fire.

Being caught in theopen or in a car areamong the mostdangerous placesduring a bush fire.n Is your Bush FireSurvival Plan morethan one year old?

Even if you’ve madea Plan before, check itand update it if needed.

Sit down and talkabout your plan withyour family. That way,everyone will know whatto do if a fire starts.

If you answered yesto any of thesequestions, you need aBush Fire Survival Plan.Planning to make a planis not a plan.

Making your BushFire Survival Plan isprobably easier than youthink. Sit down and talkabout it with your familyso everyone knows whatto do if a fire happens.

10/50 VEGETATIONCLEARING

New laws are now inplace which help peopleprepare their homes forbush fires in NSW.

The new laws allowpeople in a designated10/50 VegetationClearing EntitlementArea to:

Clear trees on theirproperty within 10metres of a home,without seekingapproval; and

Clear underlyingvegetation such asshrubs (but not trees) ontheir property within 50metres of a home,without seekingapproval.

It is not permissible toclear any land or landadjoining your property,without the owner’sconsent.

BBuusshh FFiirree AAwwaarreenneessss

The Camden Haven has already felt theheat of bushfire season this year.But are you prepared for future bushfires?It’s Get Ready Weekend. Here’s your guideto being prepared. Information from theNSW Rural Fire Service.

GGeett rreeaaddyy.. BBee pprreeppaarreeddwwwwww..rrffss..nnssww..ggoovv..aauu

Honest and Reliable Service

FULLY INSURED FOR PEACE OF MIND

CAMDEN HAVENEXCAVATIONS

SERVICING CAMDEN HAVEN & SURROUNDING AREASA/H: 6559 4662 CALL PAUL SMITH

44 Albert St, Kendall 0413 362 819TA1497525

RUBBISH REMOVAL

VEGETATION CLEARING

PREPARATION FOR WATER TANKS

Camden Haven Excavations, helping you get ready for the

Summer season.

TA

14

97

52

6

AGENT FOR RAPIDPLAS TANKS

We have rain water tanks to suit the farm, home or any business.

Plus all your hoses, pipes, plumbing fi ttings andirrigation equipment

OPEN 6 DAYSMonday to Friday 7am-5pm

Saturday 8am-1pm

GENT FOR RAPIDPLGENNT FFORR RAPPIDPPL

PHONE : 6559 9339 455 Ocean Drive, Laurieton

w: www.camdencourier.com.au Camden Haven Courier, Wednesday, October 15, 2014 9

CONDITIONS APPLY

Protect your home against fi re and fl ooding

TA1497025