It's important to have a plan for your animals in case of a bushfire this season.
Photo by
Searsie
This year, the good season has resulted in a lot of grass growth in the district.
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This high fuel load could be a fire risk especially as the weather gets drier and warmer.
So, it is important to ask how fireproof your animal emergency and/or farm fire plans are.
It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to bushfires, and being fully prepared can help you protect yourself, your family, your pets, your livestock and your property.
There are a range of measures you can undertake to make sure you minimise the threats and impacts of fire on your property and your livestock.
The first step is always to discuss, as a household, what you will do in the event of a fire.
Steps that you can take to prepare your property for the bushfire season include:
• Creating or reviewing your animal emergency plan and farm fire plan
• Preparing adequate low risk paddocks where stock can access water and where the potential bushfire fuel is minimal. These paddocks should be large enough to allow stock to move away from the fire and ideally be protected by a road or a 3-6m ploughed fire break.
• Consider keeping hay stored at multiple locations to minimise risk of loss. Ensure sheds are protected with a fire break or that fuel levels around them are minimised.
• Ensure all your livestock are identified with National Livestock Identification System ear tags, and that all your horses, cats and dogs are microchipped.
• Creating an emergency kit for your animals that includes a list of emergency phone numbers, any medications, animal first aid supplies, wire cutters and a sharp knife.
In the event of a bushfire emergency, Local Land Services - as part of Agriculture and Animal Services Functional Area (AASFA) - will coordinate evacuation centres, assessment of livestock, and emergency care for animals.
You can access further information about preparing your property for bushfires by visiting www.nsw.gov.au and searching ‘prepare your rural property for bushfire’.
You can also contact Local Land Service directly on 1300 795 299.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) and NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) websites also have a range of resources that can help.
The resources can help you develop your Animal Emergency Plan or Farm Fire Plans to be bushfire ready.
You can access these resources by searching ‘animal safety’ at www.ses.nsw.gov.au or ‘farm fire safety’ at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au.
• Katelyn Braine is a district veterinarian with Murray Local Land Services, based in Deniliquin.
Katelyn Braine, district veterinarian with Murray Local Land Services.
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