Property access for emergency services

7 min read

If there's a fire at or near your property, CFA fire crews need to be able to get access. They also need to be able to turn around and pass each other safely. It's also helpful if they can find and use your water supplies.

fire-truck-entering-long-driveway-1600x650px

Summary

  • CFA fire trucks need to be able to enter your property during emergencies.
  • Planning regulations require your gates and driveways to be wide enough for a fire truck to fit through.
  • If your driveways and internal roads are longer than 200 metres you need to provide opportunities for trucks to pass each other and to turn around.
  • Water on your property, in tanks, dams or pools, needs to be accessible for firefighters to use during an emergency.

Accessing your property

In an emergency every second counts. This video explains how you can ensure firefighters can access your property and water supply.

Will our truck fit?

Driveways must be wide enough

The Victorian Planning Scheme requires your gates and driveways to be wide enough for a fire truck to fit through and its doors to be opened safely.

At a minimum, your gate and driveway needs to be 3.5 metres wide, plus another 0.5 metres on either side of the driveway clear of obstructions.

They also need to be clear of obstructions for 4 metres above. Obstructions may be things like gates, posts, fences or shrubs.

Diagram showing minimum width and height clearance requirements for gates and driveways.
At a minimum, the driveway needs to be 3.5m wide plus 0.5m clear of obstructions either side. It also needs to be clear of obstructions for 4m above. Obstructions may be things like gates, posts, fences or shrubs.

If your driveways and internal roads are longer than 100 metres, you need to provide a place where trucks can turn around. If longer than 200 metres, you need to provide opportunities for trucks to pass each other along the driveway.

Driveways longer than 100m

A diagram showing a T or Y-shaped road where fire trucks can turn around
The road must be at least 4 metres wide and the arms of the T or Y must measure at least 8 metres from the centre of the intersection 

If your driveway or road is longer than 100 metres, you need to provide a place where fire trucks can turn around.

This could be a turning circle with a radius of at least 8 metres, or it could be a T or Y-shaped turning area. The road must be at least 4 metres wide and the arms of the T or the Y must measure at least 8 metres from the centre of the intersection, as shown in the diagram.

Driveways longer than 200 metres

A diagram of a 200 metre-long driveway that meets Victorian Planning Scheme requirements and regulations
The access road is 200 metres long. The driveway is 3.5 metres wide, plus has a further 0.5 metres either side without obstructions to allow the doors to open. There's also a passing bay with a length of 20 metres along the driveway, making the road width 6 metres in total at that point. there is also a turning circle with a radius of 8 metres at the end of the driveway..

If your driveway is longer than 200 metres, it needs to be 6 metres wide, so that fire trucks can pass each other. If the road isn't 6 metres wide along its full length, every 200 metres, there needs to be a 20 metre-long passing bay where the road is 6 metres wide.

Crossings

All bridges, culverts and creek crossings need to have at least a 15 tonne load-bearing capacity.

Access tracks

Keep access tracks on your property clear of trees and branches.

It's a good idea to create access tracks which can also function as fire breaks. Learn how to create an effective fire break.

Access tracks should follow the same requirements for minimum width, passing opportunities and turning circles as described for driveways above.

Tracks can't be too steep, and need to be able to bear a load of at least 15 tonnes. Dead ends also need to be sign-posted and a turning point for trucks provided.

Property identification

Your property needs to be easy to find in an emergency. Have a name or number at the front of your property so fire crews can easily identify it.

Access to water supplies

CFA greatly appreciate farmers and landowners making their water supplies (tanks, dams and pools) available and accessible to emergency services, especially during the summer months.

You can help by making your water supplies clear to fire crews through signage or property plans.

Ideally, water supplies are located in an open, flat area with a hard area for a pump to stand on within 4 metres of the water supply. It also helps to have a turning circle or turn-around point nearby.

CFA fittings for tanks

An interactive illustration of a pipe diagram showing different fittings to suit domestic and CFA firefighting connections. Red hotspots indicate further information about the illustration.

Hover over the hotspots to see the labels. Click on them for more information. All sizes shown are minimum (except the CFA connection which must be exact). BSP means British Standard Pipe.

CFA trucks use a special fitting to connect to tanks. There needs to be at least one 64 millimetre, 3 thread per inch, CFA male coupling. Consider using a ‘tee’ to allow the CFA fitting on one side of the branch and personal firefighting fittings on the other side of the pipe, as shown in the diagram.

If your fences are damaged during firefighting

Sometimes fences are damaged by firefighting equipment during a bushfire. Visit Forest Fire Management Victoria for information about compensation.

Narrow suburban streets

In built-up areas, narrow streets can make it difficult for fire trucks and emergency vehicles to get to homes quickly. Especially during a fire. To ensure access to properties and fire hydrants is always available:

  • Try to leave about 4 metres clearance between parked cars on either side of the road.
  • Be mindful when parking opposite other vehicles, especially on narrow roads. Blocking access could delay emergency services and put lives and property at risk.
  • Consider parking on the same side of the road as other parked cars, leaving one side clear.

Fire hydrant access

Fire hydrants are found throughout built-up areas. Never park within 1 metre of hydrants or their markers.

A white post with a red top standing in short grass next to a fence and some bushes.
Fire hydrants are marked by a white post with a red top.
A blue catseye reflective marker embedded in the road surface next to a white painted triangle.
They're also marked by a blue cat's eye reflector and sometimes a white painted arrow on the road.
 

Page last updated: Tuesday, 8 September 2026 12:18:07 PM

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