10 steps to prepare for bushfire season this summer

In recent months bushfires have dominated headlines around the world, from Canada and the Greek Islands to Spain and Hawaii. These fires have brought about significant social and financial hardship, emphasising the critical need for preparedness. This blog sets out to explain the different types of fire, general causes of fire, propagation, aftermath, and impact with a suggested checklist to prepare for the fire season.

What’s the difference between a wildfire and a bushfire?
A wildfire encompasses all uncontrolled fires, whilst a bushfire specifically refers to fires rapidly spreading across vast scrublands, particularly in regions like Australia and parts of Africa.

What are the causes?
For a bushfire (or any fire) to start, three elements are required – fuel, oxygen, and heat (the fire triangle). The heat can be a natural event, such as lightning strikes or spontaneous ignition, or it can be directly linked to human activities, such as vehicle fires, arc power lines, cigarette butts or campfires. From there, the risk of a fire developing is driven by four main factors:
• dry fuel such as needles and leaves
• grass, and branches
• high temperatures
• strong winds and dry air
As global warming drives extreme heat waves and prolonged droughts, experts predict bushfire events will become more widespread.

Propagation
Where and how quickly a fire moves depends on the terrain, weather, and types of fuel. Fires burn faster up hillsides than they do on flat ground. The heat rising from the flames preheats the grasses, shrubs, or trees upslope. Like sheets of paper, grass burns quickly, up to several miles per hour under extreme conditions. Larger fuels, such as logs, may take hours or even days to burn completely. Although windswept flames can leap into the crowns of trees and burn entire trees in seconds, many fires merely creep along the ground slowly burning brush and forest litter.

Aftermath and Impact Wildfires can affect the quality of rivers, lakes and streams in both the short and long term. The soil becomes hydrophobic after vegetation loss, preventing water-absorption. This in turn encourages debris and silt to be transported into larger bodies of water, further contaminating the environment. A large bushfire can have a direct effect on life and property, wildlife population survival, water supplies and an indirect impact on government finances and insurance costs. The impact of bushfires does not only affect the immediate area. Smoke deriving from the fires can travel great distances and, in the case of the 2019 Australian bushfires, it reached Antarctic, New Zealand, and some countries in South America such as Argentina and Chile, compromising air quality and increasing fears of health issues related to air pollution, such as reduced lung function, bronchitis, exacerbated asthma, and even premature death.

Here are 10 steps to prepare for bushfires:
1. Develop a bushfire survival plan – different situations should be considered as bushfires conditions can change rapidly.
2. Identify safe areas close to the property to be used as a last resort if the bushfire survival plan cannot be implemented.
3. Clear leaves from gutters, roofs, and down pipes. Mow the lawn and trim low-lying branches away from properties.
4. Seal gaps in external cladding on roofs and walls.
5. Close off areas under decks and floors.
6. Remove flammable material such as wood, paper, boxes, crates, and garden furniture away from the house.
7. Help fire fighters with water supply.
8. Be ember safe – embers can travel large distances, install mesh screens over windows, doors and other openings.
9. Plant trees and shrubs that have a lower oil content in their leaves – which are less likely to catch fire.
10. Leave early – do not wait until it is too late particularly if you are prepared for a bushfire.

Finally remember, not all fire is bad. Whilst wildfires and bushfires can be devastating, they also serve as a natural and essential element in many ecosystems stimulating seed germination and bringing benefits to biodiversity. Periodic low intensity fires speed up the process of forest decomposition, creating open patches for new plants to grow, improving habitat and food for animals and freeing plants that survive the fire from competition from invasive weeds and insects that may have been causing damage to the old plant growth.

Author: Andrew Towers, Assistant Vice President, APAC Risk Management Group

This information is provided as a risk management resource and should not be construed as legal, technical or clinical advice. Consult your professional advisors or legal counsel for guidance on issues specific to you. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without the express, written permission of Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd (“Allied World”), a Fairfax company. Risk management services are provided by or arranged through the Australia, Hong Kong or Singapore branches of Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd, a member company of Allied World incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability. © 2023 Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd. All rights reserved.