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Bushfire Season Preparation – Checklist for Businesses & Homes

  • Adroit Insurance and Risk
  • January 8, 2026

Bushfire season is almost here, if you live in a bushfire-prone area it’s time to dust off your Emergency Plans and think about preparing your home and business.

Radiant heat, heavy smoke and toxic fumes from bushfires can cause serious injuries or loss of life, as well as loss or damage to your property.

Homes & Businesses located in bushland or in rural areas are generally at higher risk of bushfire than those living in cities or major towns. Understanding the threat and peak bushfire seasons in your area means you can be better prepared and take the stress out of reacting to an actual bushfire, if it happens.

Step 1: Plan

There is lots of free information available, such as this from Business Queensland.

  1. Develop your Bushfire Survival Plan, including how to evacuate and when to leave or defend.

  2. Learn about the risks of bushfire smoke and how to manage them.

  3. If you plan to stay and defend your property, activate your plan and ensure you have a water supply of at least 10,000 litres (independent of mains supply).

  4. Plan alternatives for loss of power, access, communications and operations

  5. Review insurance cover, are the sums insured up to date, have there been any changes to your circumstances or operations, talk to your insurance adviser. know

  6. Backup data and secure documents, especially insurance and finance documents.

Practical tips

  • Follow your local fire brigade or government warning websites, apps or social media pages to get up to date information.

  • Clear vegetation, gutters and loose equipment around buildings and access points.

  • Form a firebreak around your buildings.

  • Limit or stop farm machinery activity on Severe, Extreme or Catastrophic days.

  • Refuel and identify where to relocate equipment and vehicles.

  • Fit metal or wire (not plastic) screens or shutters to doors, windows and vents, and enclose all gaps (if applicable).

  • Make sure there are no gaps between shed cladding and the ground or slab to prevent embers getting inside.

  • Store flammable materials (e.g. wood, gas, petrol and paint) well clear of buildings.

  • Keep ladders available for roof access (inside and out).

  • Fit hoses to reach all parts of the building and gardens (if mains pressure water not connected, get a high-pressure pump).

  • Prepare crops for a bushfire

  • Prepare livestock for a bushfire

Step 2: Bushfire Emergency pack

Have an emergency pack ready to go – Pack an Emergency Kit. Items usually include:

  • Water & non-perishable food for three days (including can-opener);

  • Radio, torch & power packs to recharge phones and laptops;

  • Plastic sheeting & waterproof bag for documents and electronic items;

  • Facemasks to protect against smoke and soot, as well as toiletries.

  • Names and contact details of key organisations, suppliers and staff members for your business.

Mental health and wellbeing resources, Looking after your own and family’s mental health and wellbeing is important. Pay attention to any red flags that indicate your mental health, or the health of your employees, needs to be prioritised. 

Preparing for the Business fire season

Homes & Businesses located in bushland or in rural areas are generally at higher risk of bushfire than those living in cities or major towns. Understanding the threat and peak bushfire seasons in your area means you can be better prepared and take the stress out of reacting to an actual bushfire, if it happens.

Preparation includes planning and putting together an Emergency Pack.

Talk to your Risk Adviser about any changes to your circumstances and check the type and amount of insurance is still adequate, to ensure that your key financial risks are managed.