Preparing for a Bushfire

Protecting the things that matter most is a key part of any strong financial plan. For many of us, that means looking after our home and the people we care about. Depending on where you live, there may also be a higher risk of natural hazards that can impact your property. These can include bushfires, floods, severe storms and cyclones. In these articles, we’ll walk through some of the most common risks and share practical steps to help you prepare your home and support your safety before a major event.

Before you begin, it’s important to keep these essentials in mind:
1.    Have an emergency evacuation plan ready and be prepared to leave early if advised.
2.    Always follow the advice of local authorities and emergency services.
3.    If you plan to stay and defend your property, ensure you have a well-prepared and safe plan in place.
4.    Review your insurance policy regularly so you understand what’s covered and any exclusions that may apply.

Preparing early can help reduce the impact a bushfire may have on your home and property. It’s also important to review your insurance regularly. Check that your level of cover reflects the current replacement value of your home and belongings, and that you understand what is included in your policy.

Here are some practical steps you can take too:

Prepare your home

  • Check official government and emergency services guidance relevant to your local area to understand your level of risk and recommended preparation actions.
  • Draw up a Home Emergency Plan that includes where you and your family will go if you must evacuate your home and how you will contact each other if separated.
  • Prepare an emergency pack containing tinned food, a tin-opener, water, a first-aid kit, blankets, warm clothing, spare batteries, matches, a battery-powered radio and gloves.
  • Note down any sentimental, important and valuable items, documents and photos that you should take with you should you need to evacuate.
  • Clear leaves from gutters, roofs and downpipes, mow your lawn and trim low-lying branches around your home.
  • Fit quality metal leaf guards on gutters.
  • Equip your premises with enough fire extinguishers.
  • Tidy your back yard and move flammable material such as piles of wood, paper, boxes, crates and garden furniture away from your home.

During a bushfire

  • Contact 000 or your local SES in any emergency.
  • If you can, safely evacuate. Before you leave the premises turn off gas and power.
  • If you stay, use a battery-powered radio to monitor and follow the advice of emergency officials,
  • Check your local radio station for updates on the weather, power supply, emergency warnings and evacuation alerts.
  • Close all windows, shutters and doors. Plug any gaps with wet towels.
  • Wear protective clothing.

After a bushfire

  • If there is any danger, contact 000 or your Local SES.
  • Stay away from fallen power lines and anything that they may be touching. Also avoid damaged gas lines.
  • Check for small spot fires on your premises and extinguish them if possible.
  • Once the danger has passed, take photos of damaged or destroyed items before disposing of them to assist in any insurance claims.

We’re here to help

If you need help with your insurance, please visit bankvic.com.au/insurance or contact us on 13 63 73 for a free no-obligation quote.


References: A waiting period may apply to cyclone, grassfire or bushfire claims. Please refer to your PDS, KFS, policy schedule, and Certificate of Insurance for full details, terms and conditions and to check whether this applies to you. Please note the information in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any decisions based on this article. This article has been prepared by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFSL 234708 (“Allianz”). Information contained in this article is accurate as at June 2026 and may be subject to change. In some cases information has been provided to us by third parties and while that information is believed to be accurate and reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed in any way. Any opinions expressed constitute our views at the time of issue and are subject to change. Neither Allianz, nor its employees or directors give any warranty of accuracy or accept responsibility for any loss or liability incurred by you in respect of any error, omission or misrepresentation in this article. Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFSL 234708 10 Carrington Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
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