Source: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/prepare-your-property Fetched: 2026-11-03 22:08 AEDT Prepare your home - NSW Rural Fire Service - Header - Main Navigation - Main Content - Footer NSW Rural Fire Service - Facebook - Twitter - RSS - Youtube - Contact us Toolbar Links: - Contact us - Print this page - Accessibility - Emergency information - Home - Fire information - Fires Near Me - Alerts and Warnings - Hazard Reductions - Fire Danger Ratings and Total Fire Bans - Bush Fire Danger Period and Fire Permits - Prevent bush fire arson - Report a cigarette butt tosser - Emergency information - Plan and prepare - Bush fire survival plan - Know your risk - Prepare your home - Prepare yourself and family - Fire Danger Ratings - Alert Levels - Neighbourhood Safer Places - Building on bush fire prone land - Travelling in a bush fire area - Managing bush fire risk - AIDER - Home fire safety - Information for Social and Health Services - Information for workers in bush fire areas - 10/50 vegetation clearing - Rural Boundary Clearing Tool - Farm fire safety - Fire Trails - Static Water Supply (SWS) - Volunteer - Join the RFS - Training - Awards - Supportive employer - Youth in the NSW RFS - Support your local brigade - Support for RFS members and their families - News and media - General news - Media releases - Ministerial media releases - Information for the media - Stay up to date - Film and photo requests - Advertising - Have your say - PFAS environmental investigations - Get Ready Weekend 2026 - St Florian's Day 2026 - Fire Danger Ratings have changed - NSW Emergency Services Volunteers Memorial 2026 - Resources - Bush fire survival plan - Fact sheets - Publications and documents - Bush Fire Bulletin - Access to information - Library - Research - Schools - NSW RFS Insignia and name - About us - Contact us - Fast facts - History - Structure - Our Commissioner - Our Districts - Our Strategic Direction - Doing business with the NSW RFS - NSW RFS and Brigades Donations Fund - RFS Benevolent Fund - Fundraising and sponsorship - Bush Fire Risk Mitigation and Resilience Support Program - Careers at the RFS - One NSW RFS - Coffee4Kids - Fire Control Centres - RFS Glossary Open Main Navigation Menu Page breadcrumbs: - Home - NSW RFS - Plan and prepare - Prepare your home ## Prepare your home A well prepared home is more likely to survive a bush fire. Even if your plan is to leave early, the more you prepare your home, the more likely it will survive a bush fire or ember attack. A well prepared home can also be easier for you or firefighters to defend, and is less likely to put your neighbours' homes at risk. A well prepared home will also give you more protection if a fire threatens suddenly and you cannot leave. Here are some basic maintenance tips to prepare your property: - Clean your gutters of leaves and twigs - Install metal gutter guards - Repair damaged or missing tiles on the roof - Install fine metal mesh screens on windows and doors - Fit seals around doors and windows to eliminate gaps - Enclose the areas under the house - Repair or cover gaps in external walls - Attach a fire sprinkler system to gutters - Keep lawns short and gardens well maintained - Cut back trees and shrubs overhanging buildings - Clean up fallen leaves, twigs and debris around the property - Have hoses long enough to reach around your house - If you have a pool, tank or dam, put a Static Water Supply (SWS) sign on your property entrance, so firefighters know where they can get water - Check and maintain adequate levels of home and contents insurance. Ensure it is up to date. These tips are also available in our Prepare Your Home fact sheet. You can assess your risk using the bush fire household assessment tool. Check if you live on Bush Fire Prone Land. Sub Navigation for Plan and prepare - Bush fire survival plan - Know your risk - Prepare your home - Hotspots - Prepare yourself and family - Fire Danger Ratings - Alert Levels - Neighbourhood Safer Places - Building on bush fire prone land - Travelling in a bush fire area - Managing bush fire risk - AIDER - Home fire safety - Information for Social and Health Services - Information for workers in bush fire areas - 10/50 vegetation clearing - Rural Boundary Clearing Tool - Farm fire safety - Fire Trails - Static Water Supply (SWS) - Facebook - Twitter - RSS - Youtube - Home - Fire information - Fires Near Me - Alerts and Warnings - Hazard Reductions - Fire Danger Ratings and Total Fire Bans - Bush Fire Danger Period and Fire Permits - Prevent bush fire arson - Report a cigarette butt tosser - Emergency information - Plan and prepare - Bush fire survival plan - Know your risk - Prepare your home - Prepare yourself and family - Fire Danger Ratings - Alert Levels - Neighbourhood Safer Places - Building on bush fire prone land - Travelling in a bush fire area - Managing bush fire risk - AIDER - Home fire safety - Information for Social and Health Services - Information for workers in bush fire areas - 10/50 vegetation clearing - Rural Boundary Clearing Tool - Farm fire safety - Fire Trails - Static Water Supply (SWS) - Volunteer - Join the RFS - Training - Awards - Supportive employer - Youth in the NSW RFS - Support your local brigade - Support for RFS members and their families - News and media - General news - Media releases - Ministerial media releases - Information for the media - Stay up to date - Film and photo requests - Advertising - Have your say - PFAS environmental investigations - Get Ready Weekend 2026 - St Florian's Day 2026 - Fire Danger Ratings have changed - NSW Emergency Services Volunteers Memorial 2026 - Resources - Bush fire survival plan - Fact sheets - Publications and documents - Bush Fire Bulletin - Access to information - Library - Research - Schools - NSW RFS Insignia and name - About us - Contact us - Fast facts - History - Structure - Our Commissioner - Our Districts - Our Strategic Direction - Doing business with the NSW RFS - NSW RFS and Brigades Donations Fund - RFS Benevolent Fund - Fundraising and sponsorship - Bush Fire Risk Mitigation and Resilience Support Program - Careers at the RFS - One NSW RFS - Coffee4Kids - Fire Control Centres - RFS Glossary - Feedback - Resources - Contact - Sitemap - Copyright/Privacy - Resilience NSW - FRNSW - Right to information Back to top of the page