Prepare as above, unless you have decided to leave early or are ordered to do so. Stay in the house after taking these precautions:

• Phone 000 – don’t assume the fire service knows.
• Turn off gas. Put door mats inside. Close vents, windows, doors, and block gaps from the inside with wet towels.
• Fill baths, sinks, buckets and bins with reserve water.
• Plug downpipes with rags and fill gutters with water.
• Remove light or synthetic curtains, cross-tape windows and move furniture clear.
• Wear long, woollen or heavy cotton clothing, solid boots or shoes, a hat or helmet, goggles, and gloves.
• Hose down all walls, garden etc on sides facing the fire and watch for spot fires from flying sparks or embers.
• As the main fire-front arrives, go inside with hoses, away from windows, while it passes (usually 5 to 15 minutes).
• Quickly extinguish any fires which may have started in, near, or under the house or roof. Check inside roof too. And patrol all areas for at least the next hour
• If the house is alight and can’t be extinguished, move to burnt ground. Don’t go – wait for help. Listen to battery radio for updates.