Bushfire Readiness for Australian Travellers and Campers

Check Ratings and Bans Each Day

Before departure and each day of travel, identify the responsible fire authority for every place on the route. In South Australia use the CFS Fire Ban District; elsewhere use the terminology and planning tool specified by the responsible authority. Check the current rating, ban status and restrictions directly with that authority.

South Australia's CFS advises travellers to avoid Catastrophic-rated districts. Modify, reroute or postpone the trip rather than treating that advice as a challenge. Confirm actual restrictions separately with the responsible authority.

• Identify the responsible authority and its local planning area
• Check the current rating, ban status and restrictions each day
• Avoid travel to Catastrophic-rated districts under the CFS traveller guidance

Plan the Route and Exit Points

Use the current fire authority's traveller planning tool for the proposed route and overnight places. Modify or postpone travel when the official plan cannot be completed confidently.

CFS guidance is South Australian. In another jurisdiction, use the terminology, planning tool and current directions supplied by the responsible fire authority.

• Complete the responsible authority's pre-trip plan
• Check closures and route information through official channels
• Modify or postpone the trip when the plan is uncertain

Tell Contacts and Pack Essentials

Follow the fire authority's direction on telling a responsible contact the route and expected timing. Use the authority's current emergency-kit checklist and adapt it to the trip rather than relying on a fixed list here.

Heat illness is a separate risk. Use current Healthdirect information and professional medical advice for prevention and response.

• Tell a responsible contact in the way the fire authority recommends
• Use the current official emergency-kit checklist
• Use Healthdirect and medical professionals for heat-health information

Read Warnings and Leave Early

Make travel decisions early under the pre-trip plan and current authority advice. Monitor the official channels named by the responsible fire authority.

During an incident, follow the warning's exact actions and current authority directions, because travel may no longer be safe once roads or fire conditions are affected.

• Make go or no-go decisions before an incident
• Use the responsible authority's official warning channels
• During an incident, follow the warning's exact actions and current directions

Emergencies, Limits and Local Advice

Call 000 for immediate life-threatening danger. Use the relevant state or territory fire authority for non-emergency fire information and Healthdirect or a clinician for health concerns.

For jurisdiction-specific planning and incident actions, use the relevant fire authority and its current warning channels.

• Call 000 for immediate life-threatening danger
• Use the responsible fire authority for fire information and directions
• Use Healthdirect or a clinician for health concerns

The field standard

Check the responsible fire authority every day, use its traveller plan and emergency-kit guidance, avoid Catastrophic-rated districts under the CFS advice, and tell a responsible contact. Make decisions before an incident. During an incident, follow the warning's exact actions and current authority directions.