Bushfires - Emergency information for communities
In the event of bushfires, this information helps you to prepare and keep safe, and know what to do after the fires have passed.
The Health.vic has a number of bushfire factsheets for communities, some of which are listed below in addition to the other links.
Before a bushfire
- Bushfire preparation advice – Practical advice for how to physically and mentally prepare for bushfires, including how to make a survival plan.
- Bushfires and your private drinking water supply – Protect your private drinking water supply to ensure it is not affected by a bushfire.
During a bushfire
- Download the VicEmergency app from Google or the App . 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 VicEmergency on your computer for the same information.
- Impacts to – Emergencies can impact community services and public places, find out what services are impacted via the VicEmergency website.
- Bushfire smoke – 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.
- Evacuating with an infant – Information on what to take with you if you need to evacuate with a baby that is breastfeeding or on infant formula.
- Face masks for environmental – Information about choosing an appropriate mask and how to fit and check the mask.
- Smoke and portable indoor air – Information about what portable air cleaners are, and what to consider when buying and operating a portable indoor air cleaner.
- Chief Health Officer alerts and – Information for health professionals regarding the health impact of the bushfires.
- Donating food to emergency – How you can contribute via volunteering or donations.
- Food poisoning prevention – Information about risky foods and how to avoid food poisoning.
- Power outages and food – Tips for managing perishable food in the event of a power outage.
- Power outages and alternative fuel and electricity – Information on safely generating power with alternative power sources.
- Personal hygiene – Tips around personal hygiene to protect ourselves and others from many illnesses.
Safety and clean up after a bushfire
- After a fire: returning home safely – When returning to your property, make sure you are aware of the dangers and take steps to protect your health and safety.
- Personal protective – 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.
- Ash – health risks and cleaning up of – Factsheet from the EPA about ash and how to safely deal with it.
- Bushfires and your private drinking water supply – Information to protect your water tank from contamination before and after a bushfire.
- Food safety after a fire – Information about how to treat food after a fire and prevent contamination.
- Cleaning up a smoke affected – Information from the EPA for steps to take if your house smells of smoke.
- Fire retardants and – EPA factsheet providing information about the effects of fire retardants, and how to protect your health around fire retardants.
- Firewater – Information from EPA about firewater run-off and the potential contamination of water sources.
- Farm waste management, including dead – Information from the EPA about waste management of various waste types on farms.
- Ash from CCA treated – Safety precautions for cleaning up CCA treated timber.
- Asbestos hazards after a – 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.
- Mosquitoes can carry diseases – After an emergency it's important to protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases.
- Wash your hands – Poster showing how to wash your hands to prevent the spread of diseases.
Mental health and recovery after a bushfire
- Trauma – reaction and recovery – Information about understanding the natural reactions following a traumatic event, coping mechanisms and where to find help. Translated into multiple languages.
- Trauma and families – Family members may have different reactions to the same trauma. Includes information about coping and what to expect over time.
- Trauma and teenagers – Trauma information about reactions commonly experienced by teenagers.
- Trauma and children – newborns to 2 years – Trauma can affect babies and toddlers the same as people of any other age. Includes what to look out for and what you can do to help.
- Trauma and children – 2 to 5 years – Preschool age children can be seriously affected by trauma, just like older children and adults.
- Trauma and children – primary school ages – Information about understanding how young school aged children process traumatic events and how you can help them.
- Trauma and children – tips for parents – Information and guidance for parents on how to talk to children about traumatic events.
- Survivor reactions to traumatic events – Lists reactions that can occur after surviving a traumatic event, even if you weren't physically harmed.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – Information about the condition that can occur following a traumatic event.
- Near-miss experiences and traumatic events – Near-misses are situations where you think you may die or be badly hurt, but you are not.
- Trauma – helping family or friends – Things you can do to help family or friends that have experienced a traumatic event or show signs of trauma.
- Talking to children about bushfires – Suggestions about how to talk to children about bushfires without compromising their sense of safety and security.
Information about fires and air quality
- Tel. 1800 226 226
- VicEmergency smartphone – For fire incident and safety information.
- Your local Environmental Health section.
- Country Fire Authority – For current fire information (Twitter – @CFA_Updates and Facebook – CFA ).
- Environment Protection Authority – For information about air quality.
- Environmental , Department of Health, Victorian Government – For information on bushfires and your health.
- Planned , Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Victorian Government – For information about planned burns.
Where to get help
Reviewed on: 08-12-2022