Bushfires

Find information here on what to do before, during and after a fire, places of last resort and more.

Before a bushfire

Before a bushfire or grassfire:

Attend a CFA Fire Preparation meeting or Bushfire Planning workshop.
Understand your fire risk: bushfire, grassfire, hilly, in town?
Write a Bushfire Survival Plan.
Leave early or decide if and who will stay and actively defend your property.
Plan for those most at risk: children, frail elderly, those with special needs.
Prepare your property and have an emergency kit ready.

The following documents may be useful in preparing your bushfire plan:

Fire prevention

Landowners and occupiers are responsible for fire prevention on their properties, and there are steps you can take now to prepare your home for the summer fire season each year and give it the best chance of surviving a bushfire.

Fire hazard inspections are conducted across the Shire by the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer every year throughout October and November. If you have received a fire prevention notice, your property has been identified as a fire hazard and you will be required to clean up your property by the completion date on the notice. Non-compliance with directions will result in work being carried out by Council at the expense of the owners.

Fire Prevention Notices - Frequently Asked Questions(PDF, 106KB)

It's essential for everyone to have their own plan that meets their individual needs and takes into account the geography of where you live and the level of risk to your home and life.

You can do things now to prepare your property for bushfires, including:

Removal of fire hazards and potential fire hazards from properties
Cleaning out gutters, mowing the lawn and management or removing vegetation
Reducing the number of flammable items within a 30m radius of your house
Regular testing and maintenance of extinguishers and hose reels
Maintenance of clear exits
Practicing emergency evacuation procedures from your Bushfire Survival Plan

Anyone wishing to conduct a private burn in an urban area will need to apply for a Permit to Burn. For more details on fire restrictions during the Fire Danger Period, please visit the CFA website.

All permits issued by Municipal Fire Prevention Officer are suspended for the duration of any Total Fire Ban Day. Also strict guidelines may apply during the Fire Danger Period.

You will find more detailed information on fire prevention in CFA’s Your Guide to Property Preparation.

During a bushfire

Check warnings and information
Wear protective clothing
Protect people from radiant heat
Drink plenty of water.

Click here for information on Emergency Relief Centres

Neighbourhood Safer Place/Bushfire Place of Last Resort

Neighbourhood Safer Place/Bushfire Place of Last Resort (NSP) is not a community fire refuge or emergency relief centre. NSPs are places of last resort during the passage of a bushfire, and are intended to be used only when your primary bushfire survival plan has failed.

NSPs do not guarantee the survival of those who assemble there. There may also be serious risks to safety encountered in travelling to NSPs during a bushfire and there may be no services or facilities and some sites offer minimum protection from radiant heat and embers.

Depending on the position and direction of a bushfire, a designated NSP may not be safer than other locations within the area.

We have designated several sites across the shire as NSPs, but not all our towns have one.

We encourage every resident to have a Bushfire Survival Plan and to practice it. If you live in a high-risk area, plan to leave the night before on days of code red fire danger. On days of severe or extreme fire danger, plan to leave early in the morning and plan ahead about where you can go.

Do not go to an NSP if you are leaving the area early during a bushfire emergency. More information on NSPs can be found on the CFA website.

NSP locations:

Beechworth: Memorial Hall, Ford Street
Beechworth: Police Paddocks, High Street
Yackandandah: Senior Citizens, Wellsford Street
Yackandandah: Memorial Gardens, High Street
Chiltern: Memorial Hall, Conness Street
Tangambalanga: Community Centre, 29 Kiewa East Road
Stanley: Recreation Reserve Pavilion, Pioneer Road
Rutherglen: Showgrounds Reserve Open Space, High Street
Barnawartha: Recreation Reserve Pavilion, Havelock Street
Sandy Creek: Recreation Reserve Pavilion, Lockharts Gap Road

See VicEmergency's interactive NSPs map.

Fire plugs

Fire plugs are essential for fighting fires. They sit on the water main and are accessed by the CFA in the event of a fire. The plugs are generally located on people's nature strips, with little blue cat's eyes on the road and marker poles to help point fire fighters to where the plugs are.

We conduct annual checks on fire plugs as it is essential they are obvious and accessible. Residents are not to obscure fire plugs or plant bushes, shrubs or trees that make the location of fire plugs difficult to find or access.

Why not have a look around and see where the fire plug that protects your property is located?

If you would like further information on fire plugs and their locations, or wish to lodge a maintenance report, please contact us.

Stand pipes

Indigo Shire has a number of stand pipes located throughout the Shire to provide water for stock during times of drought.

The water from these stand pipes is NOT suitable for human consumption.

North East Water also has stand pipes throughout the Shire and you can find out more on its website.

You can also view a map here:

Standpipe location map.

Information about locations and access to both Council and North East Water standpipes:

Location	Details	Fee	Responsible Authority
Sandy Creek Recreation Reserve, Sandy Creek	Standpipe to provide access to stock water	No charge	Indigo Shire Council
Kiewa East Road, Kiewa	Standpipe	Contact North East Water	North East Water
Allan’s Flat Water Hole, Allan’s Flat	Standpipe to provide access to stock water	No charge	Indigo Shire Council
Twist Creek Road, Yackandandah	Standpipe	Contact North East Water	North East Water
CFA, Indigo Creek Road, Indigo Valley	Standpipe to provide access to stock water	No charge	Indigo Shire Council
Lake Sambell, Beechworth	Standpipe to provide access to stock water	Standpipe currently unlocked until end of Summer period. No charge for water - no key or deposit required for access. Please strictly please strictly follow pump start-up directions and close shed door after use. *Note: Council reserves the right to open & close this stand-pipe subject to prevailing conditions or misuse.	Indigo Shire Council
Harper Avenue, Beechworth	Standpipe	Contact North East Water	North East Water
Crawford Street, Chiltern	Standpipe	Contact North East Water	North East Water
Racecourse Road, Chiltern	Standpipe to provide access to stock water	No charge	Indigo Shire Council
Audley Street, Rutherglen	Standpipe	Contact North East Water	North East Water
Victoria Street, Wahgunyah	Standpipe	Contact North East Water	North East Water
Barnawartha-Howlong Road, Gooramadda	Standpipe to provide access to stock water	No charge	Indigo Shire Council

After a bushfire

Check information updates
Keep wearing protective clothing
Keep checking for embers after the fire front as passed
Take care around trees, branches and trees can fall without warning.
Visit the VicEmergency website for relief and recovery information.

You can find more information by phoning the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.

Australian Fire Danger Rating System

Australia's fire danger rating has been improved and simplified to make it easier for you to make decisions to stay safe on days of fire danger risk. For more information visit the Australian Fire Danger Rating System website.