Summary
- Never wait and see what will happen on Extreme or Catastrophic days.
- Leaving early is always the safest option.
- If a bushfire starts unexpectedly and you haven't activated your main bushfire plan, backup plans may help you survive.
- Make several backup plans, especially if you are planning to stay and defend your property.
- Think about how weekends, school holidays, work days, trips, illnesses and injuries may impact your main plan and backup plans.
- Know what last resort options are available to you.
- Be ready to quickly change plans in a bushfire.
What are backup plans?
Backup plans are a key part of your bushfire plan. They give you different options for handling various situations in your daily life or as things change. Your backup plans should be easy to use and flexible, so you can adjust them for different circumstances. It's a good idea to have several backup plans included in your bushfire plan.
Why do I need backup plans?
Fires can start suddenly and without warning. They can spread rapidly, making it hard to respond in time. Even if you have a bushfire plan, you could get caught off guard.
Weather conditions can change quickly, causing fires to move in different directions and grow more intense. You may face problems like service disruptions, falling trees, or low visibility that can lead to traffic accidents and blocked roads. Plans don’t always work, so it's important to be ready for different situations to stay safe
We recommend having several backup plans so that in a bushfire, where things are out of your control, you'll have options you've already thought about. It's important for everyone in your home to know and understand all the options they have, including what to do as a last resort.
Having backup plans could save your life if:
- you delay your decision to leave
- you take too long to get ready and can't leave early
- your car doesn't work or doesn't have enough fuel
- a road is blocked, jammed, or too dangerous to use
- you decide to stay and defend your property
- your home catches fire and you need to actively shelter
- you get injured and need to actively shelter
- your firefighting equipment fails to work.
If you are planning to leave early
Get ready for an Extreme or Catastrophic fire risk day by having a clear plan to leave early. Decide where you will go, how you will get there, what you will take with you, and who you will tell that you have left. Think about what you will do if any part of this plan doesn't work out.
Also, consider how changes in your daily routine might change your plan. For example, your plan to leave early might look different on weekends, during school holidays, on workdays, if you are travelling, or if someone in your home is sick or injured. Make backup plans for these different scenarios.
Even if you plan to leave early, know what you can do as a last resort in case you get caught out.
If a fire has started nearby
When a fire starts, you need to make quick decisions and be ready to leave fast. If a fire starts nearby, your options will be limited. Having backup plans can help keep you safe if your bushfire plan doesn’t work anymore.
There are different reasons you might get caught out. If the fire danger rating wasn't Extreme or Catastrophic, you might have felt safe at home. You might have thought the risk was low enough to 'wait and see.' But fires are unpredictable, and waiting can be dangerous.
Plan different ways to leave your area before bushfire season—it may help you survive. If you can't leave home because it's no longer safe, use your last resort options.
If you are planning to stay and defend
Make a plan for how to survive and decide where you will actively shelter if things go wrong. Have multiple backup plans, as defending your property during a bushfire is extremely dangerous.
At some point while defending, you may need to actively shelter in your home. Think about what your safest options will be if your house catches fire and you are unable to stay in your home.
Leaving the area once a fire has arrived can be deadly. If leaving safely is no longer an option, there may be last resort options nearby that can provide protection. Add these to your plan.
Shelter and last resort options
Last resort options are what you use when you get caught out—when your main plan doesn't work and you have no other choices.
Last resort options could include sheltering in a:
Travelling to or using these options comes with a high risk of trauma, injury or death. There is no guarantee that you will be safe. Not all options will be available and they won't all offer the same level of protection. Your personal situation and the local conditions during a fire will affect how safe these options are and if they work for you.
When you might use last resort options
If you can’t leave your area during a bushfire, you will need to figure out how to protect yourself from radiant heat, flames and smoke. This might mean using last resort options.
You will need to decide which option gives you the best chance to stay alive. Be ready to switch between different options if the situation changes and it is safer to move than to stay in one place.
Last resort options are just that—a last resort. Leaving early is ALWAYS the safest option. Make your bushfire plan today so you'll have more choices when it really counts.
Resources
Your guide to survival
This guide provides essential information for anyone who lives, works or travels in Victoria so that they are prepared for the summer fire season.
You'll learn why you should leave early on fire risk days, how to plan for fire season, what to expect during a bushfire and how to stay informed of fires across your area and more.
Fire ready kit
A comprehensive guide to help you plan and prepare for bushfire season. It provides helpful information about how bushfires behave and why Fire Danger ratings matter, practical steps to get your home and garden ready, and provides clear instructions about what to do when there's a fire.
Page last updated: Monday, 7 September 2026 7:15:51 PM