Travelling During Bushfire Season: How to Prepare a Bushfire Plan Before You Hit the Road

Australia is home to some of the most beautiful places in the world to explore.

From remote country roads and national parks to coastal camping destinations and rural towns, millions of Australians travel through bushfire-prone areas every year.

But when travelling during the warmer months, bushfire preparedness should be part of your journey.

Unlike being at home, travellers may be unfamiliar with the area, local roads, weather conditions and available emergency services. A bushfire can also change conditions quickly, potentially affecting roads, accommodation, campsites and planned travel routes.

That is why it is important to have a bushfire plan before you leave.

Study your route

When planning a trip away, make sure you know:

• Which areas are at risk
• What Fire Danger Rating applies
• Whether a Total Fire Ban is in place
• Which roads may be affected by fire
• Where the nearest town or safe location is
• How to receive local emergency warnings
• What alternative routes are available

Tell someone where you are going

Before travelling, let a family member or friend know:

• Your planned route
• Where you are staying
• When you expect to arrive
• When you expect to return

This can be particularly important when travelling through remote areas with limited mobile phone coverage.

If your plans change significantly, update someone where possible.

Prepare a bushfire emergency kit for your vehicle

Having essential supplies ready in your vehicle can help you prepare for unexpected delays or changing conditions.

Your travel emergency kit should include:

Food and water

• Emergency water supplies
• Non-perishable food
• High-energy snacks

First aid and medication

• A well-stocked first aid kit
• Essential medications
• Basic medical supplies

Communication and lighting

• A fully charged mobile phone
• Charging cables
• A power bank
• A battery-powered radio
• A waterproof torch
• Spare batteries

Important information

• Identification (licence, passport)
• Vehicle and insurance information
• Emergency contact numbers
• Relevant medical information

A personal bushfire blanket for your vehicle emergency kit

When preparing a bushfire emergency kit for travelling, personal bushfire protection is another important consideration.

The Supertherm® Lite Personal Fire Burnover Blanket is designed to be stored and carried as part of a broader emergency preparedness strategy.

Our Blankets are trusted and used by our Firefighting Heroes across the country. They exceed the specification for personal fire protection blankets set by the Australian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC), while also passing the relevant tests to Australian Standards AS/NZS 4824 and AS/NZS 4967.

When traveling space is usually at a premium, our compact blankets are 50% more compact than others on the market allowing you to maximise your space usage while maintaining our larger than competition 2m x 2m size for full adult coverage.

A personal bushfire blanket should never be considered a replacement for avoiding dangerous areas, leaving early or following official emergency advice.

Instead, it can form part of a broader emergency preparedness plan for people who live, work or travel through bushfire-prone areas.