A bushfire survival kit gives you easy access to things that will help save your life in a bushfire. Kept together in one place, the kit will save you time whether you're packing to leave or preparing to stay and defend.
The safest thing you can do when there's a bushfire is leave early.
Write your bushfire survival plan before you pack your kit and, most importantly, keep your plan with your bushfire kit so it's easy to find in an emergency.
And remember, early preparation is essential. Grassfires can move three times faster than a bushfire and are very hot, so they can be extremely dangerous and hard to escape.
You might not have time to pack and your decision-making could suffer if you wait for a warning to be issued.
If you plan to leave early, you should pack:
- Driver's licence, passport, photo ID, will, jewellery, insurance information, medical prescriptions, cash (ATMs might not be working)
- USB with scanned copies of important documents and photos
- Battery-powered radio
- Powerful torch
- Spare batteries
- Medicines and an up-to-date first-aid kit
- Mobile phone chargers
- Overnight bag with change of clothes, toiletries, sanitary items
- Enough water and non-perishable canned and dried food for your family for several days
- Can opener and basic utensils
- Protective clothing — long-sleeved shirts and pants in natural fibres, sturdy shoes and a P2 mask for each person
- 100 per cent woollen blankets to protect you from the radiant heat of a fire in case you need to shelter in your car
- Hard-copy maps with your safest route marked, as well as alternative routes and petrol stations
- Contact details for friends and family you've arranged to stay with
- Contact details for neighbours so you can stay up to date
- A spare mobile phone fully charged with important contact numbers including friends, family members and your state or territory emergency service information number as well as your power company, doctor and local council
Pack items to suit your family's needs
- People with disability may need to have more detailed plans and pack items like medications, aids and provide for service animals.
- Consider packing noise-cancelling earphones for neurodivergent family members. If you're staying with other people, there may be extra noise and chaos. Think about what you will need to feel calm and help you regulate emotions.
- Infants will need food, extra nappies, clothes and water for cleaning bottles and making formula (you may not have access to clean water). The Australian Breastfeeding Association has a list of resources for bottle and breastfed babies and toddlers.
Don't forget to pack for your pets
- Cages, crates and other carriers as well as leads and harnesses
- Pet food and water to last several days
- Bowls and bedding
- Proof of vaccination
- Medications and vet contact numbers
- Favourite toy or comfort item
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If you plan to stay and defend, you'll need:
- Protective clothing for everyone in the family — long-sleeved shirt and long pants in sturdy natural fibres like wool, cotton and denim
- Sturdy boots/shoes and woollen socks
- Wide-brimmed hat to protect you from embers
- Thick cotton or leather gloves
- Eye protection
- P2 mask to prevent smoke inhalation
- Plenty of water to keep you hydrated
- High-energy foods like dried fruit, nuts, muesli bars and energy drinks
- First-aid kit — keep it fully stocked
- Battery-powered radio, torch and spare batteries
- Fire extinguishers — make sure it's well-maintained and you know how to use them
- Hoses and spare hose fittings
- Backpack/knapsack sprayer, large water guns
- Buckets and mops
- Shovel
- Ladder
- Towels
- Woollen blankets
- Gutter bungs or other items to block downpipes so gutters can be filled with water