Bushfires - Emergency information for communities
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Significant bushfires are burning across Victoria and impacting communities across the state. In the event of bushfires, the information below contains critical information to help you prepare, keep you safe as well as information for after the fires have passed.
The Health.vic website has a number of bushfire factsheets for communities, some of which are listed below in addition to the other links.
Before a bushfire
- - practical advice for how to physically and mentally prepare for bushfires, including how to make a survival plan.
- - protect your private drinking water supply to ensure it is not affected by a bushfire.
During a bushfire
- Download the Vic Emergency app from or the . Set up a 'watch zone' for your location to make sure you're notified of the risk of an emergency event occurring. You can also visit the on your computer for the same information.
- - Emergencies can impact community services and public places, find out what services are impacted via the VicEmergency website.
- - Smoke from fires can reduce air quality in rural and urban areas and exposure to smoke can affect you and your family's health. Find out more about how smoke can affect your health and the actions you can take to avoid or reduce potential health effects.
- - Information on what to take with you if you need to evacuate with a baby that is breastfeeding or on infant formula.
- - Information about choosing an appropriate P2 or N95 mask and how to fit and check the mask.
- - Information about what portable air cleaners are, and what to consider when buying and operating a portable indoor air cleaner.
- - Information for health professionals regarding the health impact of the bushfires.
- - how you can contribute via volunteering or donations.
- - Information about risky foods and how to avoid food poisoning
- - tips for managing perishable food in the event of a power outage.
- - information on safely generating power with alternative power sources.
- - Tips around personal hygiene to protect ourselves and others from many illnesses.
Safety and clean up after a bushfire
- - When returning to your property, make sure you are aware of the dangers and take steps to protect your health and safety.
- - Protective kits are for people returning to properties affected by fire. They are available from your local council or an emergency recovery centre, along with additional masks, disposable coveralls and sturdy gloves.
- - Factsheet from the EPA about ash and how to safely deal with it.
- - Information to protect your water tank from contamination before and after a bushfire.
- - Information about how to treat food after a fire and prevent contamination.
- - Information from the EPA for steps to take if your house smells of smoke
- - EPA Factsheet providing information about the effects of fire retardants, and how to protect your health around fire retardants.
- - Information from EPA about firewater run-off and the potential contamination of water sources.
- - Information from the EPA about waste management of various waste types on farms
- -safety precautions for cleaning up CCA treated timber
- - Asbestos may be present in debris to be cleaned up. This fact sheet provides information about the health risks of asbestos and safe disposal of asbestos after a fire.
- - After an emergency it's important to protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases.
- - Poster showing how to wash your hands to prevent the spread of diseases.
- - Emergency financial assistance is available to eligible fire-affected community members in Ararat, Alpine, Ballarat, East Gippsland, Glenelg, Golden Plains, Indigo, Mansfield, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, South Gippsland, Southern Grampians, Towong, Wangaratta, Wellington and Wodonga council areas. More information available via the VicEmergency website.
After the Emergency pack
Emergencies put a lot of additional stress on close relationships and families as they struggle to deal with the aftermath. Our After the Emergency pack provides helpful information about financial assistance and your health and wellbeing.
Mental health and recovery after a bushfire
- - Information and links to factsheets about understanding the natural reactions following a traumatic event, coping mechanisms and where to find help
- - factsheet translated into multiple languages via the Health Translations website.
- - Family members may have different reactions to the same trauma. Includes information about coping and what to expect over time.
- -Trauma information about reactions commonly experienced by teenagers.
- - Trauma can affect babies and toddlers the same as people of any other age. What to look out for and what you can do to help.
- - Preschool age children can be seriously affected by trauma, just like older children and adults.
- - Information about understanding how young school aged children process traumatic events and how you can help them.
- - Information and guidance for parents on how to talk to children about traumatic events.
- - Lists reactions that can occur after surviving a traumatic event, even if you weren't physically harmed.
- - Information about the condition that can occur following a traumatic event.
- - Near-misses are situations where you think you may die or be badly hurt, but you are not.
- - Things you can do to help family or friends that have experienced a traumatic event or show signs of trauma.
- - provides suggestions about how to talk to children about bushfires without compromising their sense of safety and security.
Where to get help
Information about fires and air quality
- VicEmergency Hotline Tel.
- – for fire incident and safety information.
- Your local council’s Environmental Health Section
- – for current fire information. (Twitter – @CFA_Updates and Facebook – CFA )
- – for information about air quality
- for information on bushfires and your health
- for information about planned burns scheduled for the next 10 days.