A bushfire can burns in grass, bush or woodland and can threaten the environment, life and property. 

There are several factors that affect a bushfire which are;

• Fuel - Anything that burns is fuel. Leaves, twigs, bark, rubbish, trees and other vegetation, structures etc. Where there are fuels, fire can burn. 
• Weather - Weather plays a significant role in the severity of a bushfire. The hotter and dryer the weather is, the more likely it is for a bushfire to start and spread quickly.
• Wind speed & humidity - Wind speed can push a fire forward. The stronger the wind, the faster the bushfire can spread. Wind can reduce the moisture and dry the air causing low humidity. Low humidity can also increase the danger of dry lightning.
• Topography / slope - Topography is the slope of the land. This plays a major role in bushfire behaviour. Fire moves faster up a slope and slow down when travelling downhill. A fire will double the rate at which it spreads for every 10 degrees that the slope increases.

Be Bushfire Ready

Bushfire prevention is a year round responsibility and necessity. Making a choice on whether to stay and defend or leave once a bushfire threatens, is too late. Don't wait until the last moment, be pre-emptive and prepare you, your family and your home in the instance of a bushfire.

Simple steps can be taken to protect you, your family, your pets and property in the event of a bushfire.

• Having a Bushfire Survival Plan will help you take action and avoid making last minute decisions that could be deadly if a bushfire is to attack. Even the best prepared home isn’t always designed or constructed to withstand fires under catastrophic conditions. A written Bushfire Survival Plan must be practised and reviewed regularly, the CFS website has a simple 5 Minute Bushfire Plan - Act Now tool to assist with preparing your Bushfire Survival Plan.

• Keeping your home and property well prepared throughout the year is essential to ensure you survive a bushfire. The CFS website has a Prepare your home and property page to assist you. 

• The following image shows easy, simple and quick steps to prepare your property from the risk of fire. Also adding that trees should be pruned to provide a vertical clear distance from buildings is essential.

The SA CFS website has many resources to assist and educating you and your loved ones:

• Household self assessment tool
• Your Guide to Bushfire Safety - includes a blank Bushfire Survival Plan. Hard copies are available at the Kadina Council Office, Libraries and Visitor Information Centre.

Where to go in the event of a Bushfire?

If you live, work or travel in an area where bushfires can occur, you need to be aware of where you can relocate to if you are threatened by a bushfire or extreme weather days. The CFS have identified places that can offer relative safety from a bushfire in two categories:

• Bushfire Safer Places
• Bushfire Last Resort Refuge  

Bushfire Safer Places

A Bushfire Safer Place, is a place of relative safety where people can go during a bushfire or extreme weather days. These area/locations are decided by the CFS. Properties on the edge of locations generally face a higher level of risk compared with those nearer to the centre. The relative safety of these properties can be improved by property owners undertaking appropriate bushfire safety measures to ensure they don't place themselves and the greater community at risk. Below are the Bushfire Safer Places within the Copper Coast.

• Bushfire Safer Place - Kadina
  
• Bushfire Safer Place - North Beach
  
• Bushfire Safer Place - Wallaroo
  
• Bushfire Safer Place - Moonta
  
• Bushfire Safer Place - Moonta Bay
  
• Bushfire Safer Place - Port Hughes
  

Ensure that your Bushfire Survival Plan includes a Bushfire Safer Place and how and when you would relocate to there as last minute decisions to relocate in the face of fire are extremely dangerous.

Last Resort Refuge

Bushfire Last Resort Refuges are your last choice of location for shelter from a bushfire. It is a space, building or area where you can go and remain in during a bushfire occurring in your area. This location provides a level of protection from direct flame and radiant heat but may not suitable for extended length of time.

There is no guarantee that you will be safe from a bushfire when travelling or sheltering at a Bushfire last Resort Refuge.

• The Bushfire Last Resort Refuge within the Copper Coast is Paskeville Football Oval.  

Further Information

• For more information, please visit the CFS Website for information on Safer Places and Last Resort Refuge