Why are bushfires becoming more frequent?
In recent years, bushfires have become more regular during the summer months. They’re catastrophic and decimate land and property. Lives are also put at risk, and tragically, people have died during bushfire events. In 2019/20, during the bushfires known as Black Summer, 35 people lost their lives when the country was encapsulated in smoke and flames. Nearly 19 million hectares was burnt, and almost 3 billion animals were affected – according to WWF Australia.
As the climate crisis worsens, the Climate Council say scientists predict bushfires will become a year-on-year staple of Australia’s summer. They are projected to worsen before they get better unless radical action is taken to curb climate change. In fact, a 2019 research paper by the Climate Council found that:
- There’s an increased risk to people and property due to bushfire conditions.
- Bushfire seasons are now longer.
- The cost associated with fighting a fire is increasing.
- Climate change has been proven to exacerbate bushfire conditions.
Credit: Climate Council
How you can prepare for the bushfire season
When we need to ready ourselves for the bushfire season, think PAR: Plan, Act, and Recover. That means preparing yourself for a bushfire, knowing what you should do when a bushfire hits, and knowing how to recover after the bushfire is tamed and extinguished. Here’s some helpful tips you can use provided by the ABC:
Plan
- Make an action plan including what you’ll do if a bushfire hits, your place of refuge, and what will trigger you to leave (for example, the fire danger rating is extreme). Also, have a backup plan in case things don’t go as expected.
- Frequently monitor fire danger ratings, research what each rating means, and understand which rating indicates you need to leave.
- Keep an eye on Australia’s Warning System. There are three levels: Advice: there’s a hazard in your area that you need to watch. However, you’re not in immediate danger. Watch & Act: Your life and property are at risk, and you need to take action. Emergency Warning: When the threat level is at this stage, you are in danger and need to act promptly and immediately without delay.
- Prepare a survival kit that includes medical supplies and necessities. Store it in an easily accessible place.
- Some areas may be at more risk than others, especially in regional settings, so know where your ‘safe place’ is. That being your local meeting or evacuation points.
Credit: CFA
Act
If a bushfire has impacted your local area, you may need to act. Here are some tips for when you’re in the act phase of PAR:
- Follow your action plan.
- Leave early if you can.
- Actively listen to advice from local authorities or stay informed by listening to local radio for warnings or checking emergency services websites.
- If there isn’t enough time to leave and you must stay, seek shelter. Wear protective clothing, stay in a bunker or well-prepared sheltered area, and have a clear exit point if you need to evacuate quickly.
- Never seek shelter in a bathroom; if you need to evacuate your shelter, head to burnt ground away from the fire.
- Click here to learn more about what you should do when you need to act.
Protecting your mental wellbeing
Bushfires are deeply traumatic. Some people may lose their houses, and others may experience extreme loss, like the death of a friend, neighbour, or family member. As part of people’s grief and traumatic responses to these events, any future exposure to bushfires can be triggering; for example, information about bushfires in the news, even if the fires won’t directly affect them. If a bushfire has impacted you:
- Reach out for psychological support from a GP or psychologist.
- Seek out your workplace EAP, such as Converge.
- Acknowledge that you have been through a highly stressful experience. Things will be different for a while, and you will have strong reactions. Awareness and acknowledgement are the first stages of recovery.
- Participate in an individual or group debrief, which can sometimes support the processing of the event.
- If you’re comfortable doing so, talk to people you trust. Talking can help to defuse feelings, make sense of things and build bridges with others.
Seeking support from Converge
When a significantly challenging event has impacted your mental wellbeing, we can support you. Reach out to your HR team to see if we’re your workplace wellbeing provider and how you can access our services. Once you’re ready, you can book an appointment with our expert team via our online booking engine or the Converge App. If you need urgent support, contact us on 1300 687 327 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, always call 000. We’ll always be there for you – anytime, anywhere!
