Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Feb 08, 2009 9:55 pm I know that the bushfires are in everyones thoughts atm. But one aspect interests me about this tragic event. Some famillies remained to fight and some others fled and others parted ways and wife and kids left and the husband stayed behind??? Personally i'd leave it all and go. No personal material posession (IMO) is worth your life......
I wonder how many famillies had fire plans in action??? I know my 11yo son did one at school about a year ago, but we have not even considered we'd need it here and even thought about drawing one up? Maybe in light of this it may be something people might want to consider? (just in case)....Just thinking out aloud and thought i'd ask the qtn...... Does your family have a fire plan????? If we wanted to make one up, does anyone have any ideas as to what would go into such a plan???? Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 2Feb 08, 2009 10:07 pm No we don't have a plan but I think it's a very good idea.
Do you have any fire blankets or extinguishers in the house?? We have 2 extinguishers, 1 huge one and a smaller one plus about 4 fire fighting jackets, fire fighting pants (old ones of dh's) a blanket and a few helmets (again old helmets of dh's) My husband is an Auxillary Firefighter, I will ask him tomorrow for you about how to draw up a plan. Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 3Feb 08, 2009 10:11 pm We live in a townhouse in Footscray. Yes we have one. We know how to get ourselves and the dogs out from upstairs if the stairs are blocked by fire. And where we would go and meet. (the park)
As I said in the other thread... all homes should have a fire plan. And depending on where you live, a bushfire plan as well. All people building in areas such as Mernda have to think of their bushfire plan. As for what goes into the plan. Decide, what you will and will not take. Decide who is responsible for who and what. Make sure the kids know how to get out of their rooms. How to check for heat on the other side of the door, how to smash a window, if the exit isn't safe. (sometimes kids won't smash a window because they are scared they'll get in trouble ) Different routes out of the house, depending on where the fire is. A meeting place. So no-one goes back in to get someone that is already out and safe. Nic, do you have a fire blanket and extinguisher in the house? These are vital in the kitchen, along with a CPR chart. Stuff like that. I'm a bit frazzled at the moment. The MFB does have packs I believe to organise a fire plan. I just went by my school one I learnt years ago. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 4Feb 08, 2009 10:13 pm When I was working in child care, I use to do a fire drill once a month with my staff & children. At the start of every year we would do them weekly for about 6 weeks so the children got use to the plan, then monthly. We could be out of the building, & at a safety point in 20 to 30 seconds.. And that was 2 to 3 year olds..
I agree Phoenix, nothing in your house is worth loosing your life for.. I backed up all our wedding photos years ago & have a copy at both parents for safe keeping, favorite photos are also backed up, so we dont need to worry.. Grab the baby & cat & we are out! nesspop Why am I covered in feathers Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 5Feb 08, 2009 10:17 pm Thanks Loulabelle!
We do have a fire blanket in the kitchen, we DID also have a small kitchen extinguisher, but i used it in the last house when my darling son, then about 9, microwaved some macca's chips for 30 mins instead of 30 sec's and had the microwave alight! I learned how to use a extinguisher REAL QUICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have larger extinguishers in the garage now too but not in the cars, which our very own Mattwalker recently reminded me of that requirement! We havent got them checked regularly though - which is naughty hey??? I'm sure that many of us dont have a fire evacuation plan and its probably something we think we'll never need. (And i hope we never do!) But last night when we could see the smoke billowing up in neighbouring Narre Warren, i started thinking, we are vulnerable with all the farmland around us too....so maybe i had better pull out my finger and organise something? Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 6Feb 08, 2009 10:25 pm WOW Jo!!!!
Thats excellent information!!! Thanks so much! And Nesspop, 2-3yr olds, thats great to hear....is that info passed onto the families for follow up action too? It would be great if they could learn the skills too. But the idea of backing up photos etc is a great idea. Thanks...should do that. Hmmmm..... What about a fire proof safe? For important doc's? Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 7Feb 08, 2009 10:25 pm I ahve a fireplan in my head but haven't talked about it with the kids. It's just about how I would get them out with a fire in the house blocking access to their rooms.
We have friends in the UK who had a house fire a few years ago. The mother and two of her children made it out alive but her husband and eldest child (6) died. I ahve been haunted by it ever since and lie awake at night thinking of scenarios and how I would act. I should really put something formal into place and talk to the kids. Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 8Feb 08, 2009 10:26 pm Nic, you probably need two plans considering your location. A housefire plan, and a bushfire plan.
Obviously there's a big difference between evacuating a house and evacuating an area. I don't know why, but fire is something I'm really prepared for. I think possibly because so many deaths both during bushfires and housefires, can be avoided with a good plan. Of course a good plan won't always help ( we have seen that this weekend), but it can never hurt. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 9Feb 08, 2009 10:40 pm Since we are living in the bush at the moment our plan is to grab the important papers and just get out of here. The papers are handy. In regards to just a house fire I do have a fire blanket in the kitchen as well as a small extinguisher.
In case of a bushfire what else we grab (apart from kids, cat) would depend on the time we have - lots of time would mean grabbing the camping gear, computer, photos and food (to get us through). As far as I'm concerned a house is a house, it's the people in it that make it a home. There is no way on earth I'd leave Hubby behind to fight a fire on his own. We certainly do want to get a better plan in place, yes we have our important papers close by but I think something like they do in the top end would be a good idea - make something similar to a "cyclone box", with battery operated radio, torch etc etc, because it seems the power goes off when you would be in most need of it!! I generally have a mobile phone charger in the car so at least that's covered. Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 10Feb 08, 2009 10:46 pm If this thread means that even SOME of us can make up a fire evac plan for their families, then i'd be wrapped.
I'm diligent with smoke detectors too, Well done Jo!!!! You sound so organised though.... But ok, heres a scenario..... What happens say, if you cant get out the front of the house, and you have to go out the back way, but you're surrounded by fences? Do you go over the neighbours property to get out? I dont know what they have in their yard, if we would then be trapped there??? And how do you ensure the kids etc get out if you cant get to them....I'd go absolutely NUTS if i couldn't see or hold them in a predicament like that????? I wouldn't care if i burned myself to a crisp as long as they are safe..... There are so many scenarios i suppose - you can't plan for everything???? Can you??? Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 11Feb 08, 2009 10:57 pm My DS is 10 so he knows how to get himself out of his bedroom. If we have to go out the back, over our back fence is the front yard of a house and a lane. In this place, we are very confined. We live on top of each other, so we all know where we are.
You can get to your kids. If you can't get to their bedroom door because it is blocked by fire, go outside and get to their windows. This is where them checking for heat comes into it. If they know to feel for heat outside their bedroom door, then you know they won't go out and be trapped in the hallway. You know they'll be at the window. This is the point of the plan. If it is drilled into everyone, it is more predictable what everyone will do. Just a another simple point. We all have smoke detectors.... BUT does everyone's kids actually know what they sound like???? Do drills like you did in school... set off your smoke detector and test your fire plan. For everyone in a two storey, Bunnings sells little compact ladders, a must have upstairs just in case the staircase is blocked by fire. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 12Feb 08, 2009 11:10 pm You're a legend Jo!!!
DH was saying he has some friends who have a house in Bright in VIC. They have rebuilt after a fire and they put in water pumps around the house and pipes underground and through the house to protect it. They know they can leave the house and keep their "system" running and it would theoretically be safe? So thats good to know. We also know someone who was caught up in the Ash Wed fires. He had a sort of bomb shelter built into their house. The house was ravaged by fire but they were safe in the shelter. They keep essential items down there and when the fire came through, the steel door to the shelter was red hot! But they survived...lol...drinking their stash of wine while down there! Silly i know, but other things to consider if you wanted to protect the house or build something into it for protection? LOL, i cant wait to see how a builder would quote for a BOMB/FIRE SHELTER!!!! We have enough issues as it is, with our builders on here!!! Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 13Feb 09, 2009 7:20 am For anyone interesting in formulating their own fire plan, here's a link for a home fire plan, and alink for a bushfire plan:
http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/residents/home/escape.htm http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/residents/liv ... replan.htm I might also post this in the Safer Living section. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 14Feb 09, 2009 7:27 am A few other things to consider for a bushfire plan...
-have a hose attachment on an internal tap (we have one on our laundry tap) as you most probably won't be able to access your outside taps, and make sure you have a spare hose inside too (hoses melt!) -have something to block the down pipes...tennis balls in a stocking, or we have old plastic bags stuffed into a stocking. Use these to block the down pipes so that when you're hosing the roof down, the water stays there. The stocking is so you can get it back out easily afterwards! -if you have a water tank, consider getting a petrol/diesel pump (chances are you won't have electricity). You might not be able to rely on reticulated water either...we had a fire through here 12 yrs ago, and even though we have unbelievably high water pressure most of the time, the water only came out of the hose at a trickle...not enough pressure to hose the house down. I suppose that happens when everyone on the street is trying to hose their houses down at the same time and when the firies are using their appliances too! -consider not getting a poly plastic tank...how many stories have been on the news about melted water tanks Fire Tas sent out a DVD to all homes in fire prone areas a couple of years ago, and as part of our planning approval for the house we had to have a Bushfire hazard management plan drawn up and approved by Fire Tas. We have always said that we would stay and defend the house, I would take the kids somewhere safe (my parents) and then come back to help. Not so sure now...they say that a properly prepared and defended house is the safest place to be during the fire front, but with so many dead in this tragedy...it makes you question this One thing's for sure, if you are going to leave, then leave early. 'chelle We have a hand-over date...15/10...but I won't hold my breath! http://people-in-glass-houses.blogspot.com/ Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 15Feb 09, 2009 10:35 am Someone on the radio yesterday was saying that in light of what's happened this weekend, they may well reconsider their standing assertion that a properly prepared and defended house is the safest place to be.
We don't have a fire plan at our place, save for knowing what we'd grab, how we'd get out, and where we'd go. My standing assumption is that with a grassland reserve down the back of our current house, any fire that started there would be quick, but would also burn itself out reasonably quickly, and that with colorbond fences and a garden hose we'd be right. Happy to be told I'm wrong, though. When we move to Mernda, I will certainly be establishing a formal fire plan and bushfire plan should the worst happen, and was planning to do so even before this weekend's events. All the last couple of days have done is reinforce my desire to fireproof our lives as much as I can--the house itself means nothing in the context of escaping with lives intact. --Mike Everything I know, I learned from SBS. LATEST: Frame Complete http://metricon-mercer.livejournal.com Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 16Feb 09, 2009 10:46 am 'chelle A few other things to consider for a bushfire plan... -have a hose attachment on an internal tap (we have one on our laundry tap) as you most probably won't be able to access your outside taps, and make sure you have a spare hose inside too (hoses melt!) I noticed that our cheap plastic hose connector (connecting 2 segments of hose kept popping off. If that had happened during a fire, it could cost lives. I am thinking of getting a quality hose with brass connectors. 'chelle -if you have a water tank, consider getting a petrol/diesel pump (chances are you won't have electricity). Or maybe a generator to connect your electric pump to. That way you have the generator for other emergencies. 'chelle -consider not getting a poly plastic tank...how many stories have been on the news about melted water tanks Stainless steel are good but we would need to get a crane to lift it in whereas poly can be rolled in. A sprinkler above the tank to keep it cool and wet may be enough. 'chelle We have always said that we would stay and defend the house, I would take the kids somewhere safe (my parents) and then come back to help. Not so sure now...they say that a properly prepared and defended house is the safest place to be during the fire front, but with so many dead in this tragedy...it makes you question this One thing's for sure, if you are going to leave, then leave early. I think without an underground shelter to retreat to, this can be more of a suicide mission than most people realise. What is your plan for a 100 foot wall of fire racing towards you. A hosepipe starts to look pitiful. You need to know that you can retreat to a safe sealed underground shelter if that happens. A typical bushfire may not be too much of a problem but on a day like this sad Saturday, fire burns differently with trees exploding into flame instantly. Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 17Feb 09, 2009 11:04 am Its interesting how people think so differently, on Saturday all I wanted to do was leave, their was no indication a fire front was going to come through our area only warnings to prepare for ember attack, but I just wanted to be gone. We have a small file full of important documents and a box of photos, DS, DH and Roxy our dog, that was all I needed and I wanted out of there.
DH on the other hand wanted to put us in the car to leave and stay to put out any spot fires - to me that is utterly ridiculous and I was so very angry with him for even suggesting it. Re: Does anyone have a fire plan??? 18Feb 09, 2009 11:37 am 3timesbuilda 'chelle -if you have a water tank, consider getting a petrol/diesel pump (chances are you won't have electricity). Or maybe a generator to connect your electric pump to. That way you have the generator for other emergencies. Good idea, we'll look into it. 3timesbuilda 'chelle -consider not getting a poly plastic tank...how many stories have been on the news about melted water tanks Stainless steel are good but we would need to get a crane to lift it in whereas poly can be rolled in. A sprinkler above the tank to keep it cool and wet may be enough. Or like our neighbours have done, bury the poly tank in the ground (but make sure it is one that can be buried) We have too much rock to bury ours. 3timesbuilda 'chelle We have always said that we would stay and defend the house, I would take the kids somewhere safe (my parents) and then come back to help. Not so sure now...they say that a properly prepared and defended house is the safest place to be during the fire front, but with so many dead in this tragedy...it makes you question this One thing's for sure, if you are going to leave, then leave early. I think without an underground shelter to retreat to, this can be more of a suicide mission than most people realise. What is your plan for a 100 foot wall of fire racing towards you. A hosepipe starts to look pitiful. You need to know that you can retreat to a safe sealed underground shelter if that happens. A typical bushfire may not be too much of a problem but on a day like this sad Saturday, fire burns differently with trees exploding into flame instantly. That's why I said "not so sure now". Like you said, by all accounts this was no ordinary fire. I have heard that normally it takes 10-20min for the fire front to pass, but some people have reported the fire front lasting over 40min in this case. Don't think many houses could stand a chance in those sort of conditions. I'll be really interested in the investigations into this fire, how those that survived did so and how those that managed to save their houses did so as well. Do others that live in fire prone areas have to have a certain distance from the house clear. We have to have a "Building protection zone" (where there is little or no potential fuel for the fire) for the first 20m around the house and then the next 15m is the "Fuel management zone" (vegetation selectively removed). Just curious 'chelle We have a hand-over date...15/10...but I won't hold my breath! http://people-in-glass-houses.blogspot.com/ We are tossing up between a Jarrahdale radiant wood fire (the Pioneer) and a convection wood fire (Innovator or Countryman) but cannot decide on which type of wood fire is… 0 5249 Need some advice. Living in a townhouse with one common wall, recently we have discovered that the fire separation wall is incomplete and on further investigation, support… 0 3855 Not back peddling at all. You seem to have issues with comprehension my friend. Guy fcked up, he's considering being dishonest with his bank and hiding it. It will end… 21 14252 |