Summary
- CFA does not recommend defending your home during a bushfire.
- Defending your property is extremely demanding—both physically and mentally.
- If you decide to stay and defend, make a detailed plan for how you will prepare your property before bushfire season starts.
- Get ready mentally and physically to work hard in extreme conditions.
- Know what equipment you need to defend your property and how to use it.
- Make backup plans so that if things get out of control, you have options to stay safe.
- Never plan to defend your property on days of Catastrophic fire danger.
If you decide to stay and defend you must do extra preparation
Staying to defend your property during a bushfire is very dangerous and can lead to serious injury or death.
If you choose to stay and defend your property, it's important to start getting ready well before bushfire season begins. You will need to do a lot more preparation than people who plan to leave early. Your life will depend on it.
This section will guide you through:
It will also help you get mentally and physically ready for the intense stress and effort involved in defending your home during a bushfire.
Make sure you read all the information in this section, understand how bushfires behave and carefully and think about your choices. Being well-informed could save your life.
Don't stay and defend when the Fire Danger Rating is Catastrophic
Homes are not designed to withstand Catastrophic conditions. Never plan to stay and defend your property on Catastrophic fire danger days—even homes built to a high Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) are unlikely to survive in these conditions.
When there is a Moderate or High Fire Danger Rating, a well-prepared property may be defendable if you follow the advice in this section. However, in cases of an Extreme Fire Danger Rating, people living in high fire risk areas should strongly consider leaving early.
Defending your property under any conditions will always involve some level of risk. It's important to have different plans for different fire conditions.
CFA does not recommend staying to defend your property
CFA strongly advises that you do not stay to defend your property. Even people who are extremely well-prepared can die while trying to fight fires at home.
CFA understands that some people may still choose to stay and defend, despite the risks. This section offers practical advice on how to actively defend your home to improve your chances of survival.
Remember, the best way to survive a bushfire is to be away from the threat. Your life is more important than your property. CFA and the Victorian Government both recommend leaving early on days when the fire danger rating is Extreme or Catastrophic.
Prepare your property and have backup plans if it's not safe to stay
Preparing your property for bushfires is a year-round job. It takes a lot of time and money. If you plan to stay and defend, you’ll need to do extra work around your house and garden before bushfire season starts and continue this work throughout summer.
Use the information in this section to learn how to get your property ready for bushfire. We also recommend downloading our Fire Ready Kit (PDF 3.3MB) and using our Defending your property: Bushfire survival planning template (PDF, 2.5 MB) to make your bushfire plan.
Don't forget to make backup plans. Fire conditions can change fast, and knowing your last resort options could save your life.
People get hurt and die in bushfires. Preparing your property and planning for different situations can help you, your household, and your home survive.
Explore what you need to know about defending your property:
Resources
CFA Fire Ready Kit
Our Fire Ready Kit is an essential resource to help you plan for survival. It covers the basics—how fire behaves and how Fire Danger Ratings work—through to the practical steps needed to prepare your property before bushfire season.
The kit also explains what to do if a fire is in your area and you can’t leave. Downloading this resource is an important first step in getting prepared.
Defending your property - Bushfire survival planning template
This template is designed for people living in bushfire-prone areas. This template helps you make a clear bushfire plan, prepare different plans based on Fire Danger Ratings, and check off important tasks to get your property ready throughout the year.
If you choose to stay and defend, the template also guides you through the actions needed to actively defend your home and helps you understand the serious risks and unexpected problems that can arise, even if you are well-prepared.
Page last updated: Monday, 7 September 2026 7:21:34 PM