The natural ecological conditions make Australia a bushfire prone country. For most of the southern Australia the danger bushfire period is summer and autumn. In New South Wales and southern Queensland the season occurs during spring and early summer. The northern Australia experience fire during winter and spring. Main vegetations in Australia are grassland and eucalyptus. The grass grows abundantly during rainfall and the plants dry during hot seasons. Some of the causes for Australian bushfires can be human or other technical reasons.

What Causes the Bushfires?

• Heavy lightning sometimes occurs during which the dry vegetations caught fire.
• Collision in the electric power lines.
• The eucalyptus plant is rich in oil which when dried easily burn during a fire.
• The wind speed accelerates the fire.
• The slop of the forest area spread the fire easily.
• Arsonists deliberately making such anti social crimes.
• Careless human actions like throwing cigarette ends, fire works, explosives etc.

The threat of fire is extremely dangerous to humans and other living beings. Some parts of the world are prone to bushfires during a particular season. Australian south eastern parts are prone to bushfires which always result in significant loss to life and property. Often the fire comes as a result of human error or collision of power lines or electric short circuit. Once the fire broke out in a bushfire area, it lasts for several days in adjacent places and spreading the radiant heat to surroundings. Therefore those living, working or travelling in bushfire areas need to take extreme caution in the event of a bushfire.

What Can You Do While You Are Travelling In a Vehicle?

Sheltering in a vehicle is not recommended during a bushfire. If there is extreme or catastrophic fire warnings, travelling in a vehicle should be avoided for safety. If you smell presence of fire or if you see distant smoke of fire, you should avoid travelling in that direction. Take a u turn and drive your vehicle to a safe place away from trees and buildings. Taking shelter in your vehicle is at your own risk, but in that case also ensure the following safety tips to get out of danger.

1. Turn off the engine of your vehicle.

2. Put the headlights and hazard lights on.

3. Close the doors and windows tightly.

4. Wear cotton blankets to protect from heat.

5. Take shelter below the windows

6. Keep drinking water inside the vehicle and drink it frequently.

The Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), the apex professional body of Architects in Australia has urged to standardize the safety of fire bunkers in Australia. The architects especially in Victoria are seeking drastic steps in this regard because those people who lost homes and properties during the last Victorian fire are taking steps to rebuild their homes with adequate safety measures. Many people are thinking about installing fire bunkers in their homes, but at present there are no standards or adequate performance data on the quality and safety of these fire bunkers.

“The issue is that there needs to be some real testing of these products, not just their components, to ensure they conform to appropriate performance standards in real fire situations.”SaysMr. Robert Caulfield, Managing Director, Archicenter, building advisory service wing of Australian Institute of Architects. It is certain that the materials used in the design and manufacture of fire bunkers will not likely burn, but the intensity of the fire that felt during the Black Saturday may cause the temperature inside the bunker fatal to human life. According to the most reputed fire bunker manufacturers, such intense heat is not likely to enter inside a bunker due to its firm design and construction.

The Black Saturday was terrible for Australians. It was a Saturday for them when the bushfire started and the worst disaster happened during the bushfire More than hundred people died and many injured in the bushfire. Bevan Gobbett was a survivor who escaped the bushfire when he took shelter in a fire bunker along with his wife and six year old daughter. The fire bunker he received at the time of buying the property was an old shipping container. He modified it with respirators, fire extinguishers and water to use it as a good fire bunker.

It was his wife who alerted him the roaring bushfire in the sky. The fire was heading towards their surroundings.Mr. Bevan ran to the backside only to see another fire approaching from that side too. There was no alternative before him other than to take shelter in the fire bunker. He took shelter in the fire bunker along with his wife and daughter. They had to stay until midnight because of the intense heat but came out later after everything was normal.