Posts Tagged ‘fire shelters’

Every summer brings with it the threat of wild fire and thoughts of a fire shelter – fire bunker. Anybody living in close proximity to a bushland setting should start reviewing their fire safety plans.

In my home state of Victoria, a place with an unfortunate bush fire history, these plans can be formulated with the local fire brigade who not only hold town meetings on fire safety but will send a representative around to your property to advise on specific things you as a home owner can do to safe guard your possessions and loved ones.

Planning for wildfire would include things like fitting sprinklers and shutters to your home, setting up a communication network or phone tree, removing flammable materials and planting an evergreen fire break.

Only consider fighting a major fire if you are both a physically and mentally strong person. Anyone who doubts their fire fighting abilities should plan to evacuate at the first sign of danger.

The stay or go policy as it is known has been developed in the belief that a well defended home offers the best protection from the radiant heat of a fire front while early evacuation allows people to leave the affected area without hindering emergency vehicles.

Up until the devastating Black Saturday fire of last summer this stay or go policy was considered to be adequate but the devastating effect of that fire has called the adequacy of this policy into question.

The Black Saturday fire is considered to be unique in its ferocity, coming as it did on a forty-five degree plus day after a decade of drought and being driven by a hundred kilometer an hour wind but experts warn that we will see conditions like this more often with the advent of global warming. In light of this current bush fire planning measures are being reviewed by our planning authorities.

One measure being re- examined is the use of bush fire shelters. Many Australians whose homes border bush land are now thinking about putting in their own shelters.

The debate surrounding these shelters is still going on and should be evaluated before going ahead and building one. Commercial shelters can vary widely because there is no established construction standard. The make shift log and dirt bunkers of the past were often considered adequate but there have been many instances unfortunately were this was not the case.

In comparison the most expensive shelters today are manufactured using reinforced concrete with fire rated steel doors and fitted with independent power sources, air filtering systems and comprehensive first aid kits which are then buried after being tested to determine their weight carrying capacity in case a fire truck accidentally parks on top of it. These sorts of shelters do not come cheaply but for some people cannot put a price on their family’s safety.

The cost of shelters will vary of course depending on the level of safety and sophistication provided. Modified water tanks and shipping containers for example have recently appeared on the market which may be suitable for some residences.

The two things to consider before investing in a shelter is the level of threat you will face and whether it can comfortably shelter everyone who might need it. The differing threat levels mentioned could be that between a grass fire burning across farmland and that generated by a fire burning in a dense forest environment.

Regardless of the shelter debate I am certain that many of us will install shelters for our own piece of mind. In closing I would just like to advise anybody thinking about putting in a fire shelter – fire bunker, to do all their home work first and buy the best that you can afford.

Parents really must to keep the family unit from a bushfire and preserve heaps of lives here in Australia as well If you have been seeking for info concerning “bush fire bunkers” We plan to guide you in your exploration.