The Fire Shelter design and quality is crucial to how safe and effective it will be in the event of a bushfire. The intense heat generated by many bushfires creates a dangerous situation that only a properly designed built fire bunker using all the right fire proof components will guarantee your safety.

Fire has an insatiable appetite for oxygen and fuel and will devour all available air from anywhere it can, not only that, smoke also presents an immediate threat of suffocation. Therefore the Fire Shelter must be airtight and smoke sealed to prevent any loss of oxygen and any chance of smoke entering. However tempting it may be to try and make something yourself to actas a fire shelter; whatever you do DON’T! You are literally risking you and your family’s life if you don’t have professionally designed shelter with proven Fire Safety components.

Fire Shelter size – is bigger better?

Depending on the number of people in your family, you will want to make sure that the Fire Shelter you choose offers enough room with plenty of air capacity for all occupants. Fire Proof Shelters are a large capacity fire bunker with standart the size having internal dimensions of 2,5 m high by 2,4 m width, the extra large size provides much more breathable air than the small shelters and greatly reduces the anxiety that many people experience in closed space.

What is 36 days countdown to the fire season?

The next fire season is fast approaching. CFA is introducing the 36 days countdown to the fire season to assist every person in every environment to understand how to protect themselves form bushfire.

Why should man be concerned?

Victoria is an extremely fire prone area of Australia. Whether you live, work or play here, almost any part of Victoria could come under threat from bushfire at some time. The suburbs, the beach, the forest, the countryside, the mountains – every Victorian resident or visitor in every environment has a role to play in personally protecting themselves from bushfire. Bushfire is not only a threat to those in the bush. If you live in an urban fringe or semi-rural area, you could also be at risk. If you own a holiday house, caravan or shack in a bushfire risk area, you need to be prepared there as well. Every summer brings several high bushfire risk days when temperatures climb, often accompaniened by a hot north wind. These days may be declared as a Total Fire Ban. If your decision is to stay and defend your property, then you need to put your bushfire plan into action. If you have decided to leave the area, then leave before a fire threatens and road travel becomes hazardous.

If you live in a high fire risk area, you need to develop a practical bushfire survival plan and be prepared. Each summer CFA takes it to the streets with a community safety education program targeted to residents in high fire risk areas across Victoria. Interactive community meetings in local halls and street corner meetings are planned across the state with the aim of raising people’s awareness of their bushfire risk, and to work with residents to turn awareness into action.

The use of fire shelters or bunkers is certainly not a new idea. As our country was developed, forestry was a major industry which employed many people who lived with their families scattered through out the forests. Fire shelters comprised a major component of their fire safety plans. These shelters were located near townships or timber mills and their location was known to all the people of the district. Over time these shelters fell into disrepair or were removed by government as the focus of bush fire survival centered on preparing individual properties to cope with fire attack.

There are many types of fire shelters nowadays. These shelters vary widely in both price and sophistication, ranging from a hole in the ground lined withtimber or sandbags, converted shipping containers to purpose built shelters constructed from reinforced concrete and fire rated steel. In the past it was commonly held that a shelter was only required during the initial passing of the fire front, a period of about fifteen minutes during which the radiant heat reached it’s peak.

Experts studying the effects of Black Saturday however estimate that in some areas this radiant heat effect would have remained fatal for up to two hours. Bearing this in mind anyone considering purchasing a shelter should be certain that their shelter can withstand prolonged exposure to intense heat and also provide an adequate supply of clean air. Some shelters come with air tanks while others use an air filtering system but any using oxygen tanks should probably be avoided as oxygen is highly explosive when exposed to flame.

For many people the choice of shelter will depend on a number of factors, these being cost, level of threat and the number of peoplewho might use it. The cost of the shelter might be defrayed amongst a number of neighbors which would allow for a more sophisticated unit.

The federal MP representing some of the bushfire-affected areas says the Victoria Government had a plan to put fire shelters in schools 20 years ago, but only one was ever built.

The Liberal Member for McEwan, Fran Bailey, says each school needs to have a fire shelter to protect students and residents during future blazes. “Back in 1988, I have discovered, that the Victorian Education Department had a plan to build 72 of …what I call a community and school safe shelter”, she said. “Only one has ever been built. We’ve got to do better than that.” Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the Government will examine the issue. Ms Bailey also asked the Government to ensure the state governments and local councils reduce the fuel load in the bush. Ms Bailey told Mr Rudd he should put conditions on the millions of dollars that goes to the state and local governments for roads. ” I’m going to suggest here today that we tie that funding to fuel reduction programs because unless we do something, nothing will be done,” she said. Mr Rudd told Ms Bailey that he will work with her on all the issues she raised.

Here are some essential items you should look at having as part of your bush fire plans and fire preparedness, along with the most essential safety item, a Fire Shelter or Fire Bunker. Smoke-filtering mask: Ideally, you should have a …


Fire Proof Shelters – http://www.fireproofshelters.com.au/