Bushfire safety information
Essential bushfire safety information for schools and early childhood services on the Bushfire at-Risk Register (BARR) and Category 4 ahead of the summer fire season.
Fire behaviour in Victoria is classified by 7 different fire behaviour models, which refer to the different types of fire fuels available across the Victorian landscape. These fire fuels include forest, grassland, grassy woodland, spinifex, shrubland, mallee heath, pine and non-combustible fuels. Whilst the term bushfire is used broadly to refer to all fires across these different fuel types, it is important to understand that fire can behave differently in different landscapes and with different fuels.
To understand more about fire risks for your school, visit the CFA’s Resources for Schools at Risk of .
Communication resources
To assist with informing your families about your school or early childhood services relocating or closing on forecast days of elevated fire danger, the department has produced standardised posters, newsletter articles, letter templates and other communication tools that you may choose to adapt and use as appropriate. These can be found on the Resources tab.
Emergency and critical incident management planning
Schools have access to an online emergency management planning (staff login required). Plans need to be reviewed and updated by 1 September annually. Refer to the Emergency and Critical Incident Management Planning Policy for further information.
Schools and early childhood services should continue to review and update their risk assessments and response procedures, so they are site-specific and provide the appropriate level of guidance in the event that the procedures need to be activated.
Ensuring your school and early childhood service’s building, safety equipment and surrounds are fire ready is critical to reducing the consequences of a bushfire. Consider using the bushfire/grassfire readiness checklist schools or bushfire/grassfire readiness checklist early childhood ahead of the fire season.
Student participation in bushfire readiness
Research indicates that when students have access to accurate knowledge and information about bushfires and are provided with opportunities to actively participate in bushfire planning activities, they can make a valuable contribution to risk reduction at home, at school, and in the broader school community. By actively involving your students in the school’s emergency planning, they will also be better equipped to follow the necessary procedures in the event of a bushfire emergency.
The CFA website has lesson that teachers can utilise in the classroom to enhance students’ understanding of bushfire planning and support student participation in the planning process.
The website has a dedicated section to support schools with information regarding the communication of fire related to students, families and the broader school community.
Essential resources for schools
CFA has a variety of information, programs and tools, which can assist people to plan and prepare for bushfire and .
This includes Your Guide to , which provides essential information for anyone who lives, works or travels throughout Victoria this summer.
To assist community members residing in high fire risk areas to prepare their properties and plans, the Fire Ready provides more detailed information on summer fire safety.
Additionally, here are some activities that you can undertake to support your school community to prepare for bushfire and grassfire:
- Talk to your local CFA Brigade and help promote any scheduled community meetings.
- Talk to parents and children about school or early childhood service’s emergency management planning arrangements.
- Contact your local CFA District Community Education Coordinator to arrange a bushfire planning workshop for staff and/or families.
Reviewed 10 January 2024