Kangaroo Island
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Visitor Information
Important information on bushfire prevention on Kangaroo Island

Important information on bushfire prevention on Kangaroo Island

The South Australian Country Fire Service, or CFS as most know it; serves the community through dedicated, incredible volunteers who deliver professional fire and rescue services across South Australia.

The CFS works tirelessly throughout the year, especially during bushfire season, to ensure lives and livelihoods are not lost. Not only tending to bushfires, throughout the year the CFS responds to building fires, road crash rescues, and hazardous material spills.

The ‘Black Summer’ of 2019-20 saw widespread fires across Australia, with fires on the Island being the largest recorded in history. We reached out to the CFS for this informative blog to highlight preventative measures, what to do in a bushfire, how to know when there’s a threat, what SeaLink can do to assist, and how you can be bushfire ready.

The Fire Danger Season for Kangaroo Island began on 15 November 2023 and will finish 30 April 2024. During these dates, there are restrictions and some prohibitions on the use of certain cooking appliances and the types of fires you can have, and where. The CFS website provides information on what you can and cannot do during Fire Danger Season and on Total Fire Ban Days, which can be found here. At some public facilities (e.g. campgrounds and picnic areas), there may be signs with information to help guide you. Look for signs, and contact the local council, or the CFS Information Hotline (1800 362 361), for more information.

Important information for locals and those visiting Kangaroo Island

Fire Danger Ratings

The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) is a system that indicates the level of risk posed if a fire were to start and what you need to do to stay safe in the forecasted conditions. These ratings indicate how dangerous a bushfire would be if it broke out and are published after 4.30 pm daily. Fire Danger Rating updates can be found on the CFS website here.

When you see a Fire Danger Rating of High, Extreme or Catastrophic there are key areas on the Island that you must avoid travelling through. This is due to access issues and materials in the area that are termed ‘conductors’, which have a higher and faster rate of spreading the fire.

Fire danger ratings

Moderate

Most fires can be controlled

Controlled burning may occur in these conditions if it is safe – check to see if permits apply

Plan and prepare

Stay up to date
Be ready to act if there is a fire

High

Fires can be dangerous

There's a heightened risk
If a fire starts, your life and property may be at risk

Be ready to act

Be alert for fires in your area
Decide what you will do if a fire starts

Extreme

Total fire ban (fires will spread quickly and be extremely dangerous)

These are dangerous fire conditions
You must be physically and mentally prepared to defend in these conditions

Take action now to protect your life and property

Check your Bushfire Survival Plan and that your property is fire-ready
If a fire starts, take immediate action. If you and your property are not prepared to the highest level, go to a safer location well before the fire impacts
Reconsider travel through bushfire risk areas

Catastrophic

Total fire ban (if a fire starts and takes hold, lives are likely to be lost)

These are the worst conditions for a bush or grass fire
Homes are not designed or constructed to withstand fires in these conditions
The safest place to be is away from high-risk bushfire areas

For your survival, leave bushfire risk areas

Stay safe by leaving high-risk bushfire areas the night before or early in the day – do not wait and see
Your life may depend on the decisions you make even before there is a fire:
- When you will leave
- Where you will go
- How you will get there
- When you will return
- What you will do if you cannot leave

Bushfire warnings

Bushfire warnings are issued when immediate action is needed to be taken. One should never wait for an official warning before they take action, as fires can spread quickly. Bushfire warnings are available on the CFS Incidents & Warnings page, which is updated every five minutes. Bushfire warnings and incident updates are also available on the free AlertSA app.

Bushfire warnings
Bushfire advice message	A Bushfire Advice Message will be issued when bushfires pose a threat to property or public safety, or when: a bushfire has been reported and we are attending but no further information is available (incident notification); a bushfire is producing smoke in an area that may cause concern to the public; and/or there is a need to advise of a specific event.
Bushfire Watch and Act Message	A Bushfire Watch and Act Message is regularly issued for bushfires that pose a localised threat to property or public safety where: a bushfire is threatening or is a potential threat to public safety in the immediate area of a fire; or a bushfire is producing smoke in an area that may cause concern to the public on a day of elevated fire danger; and/or there is a need to advise of a specific event.
Bushfire Emergency Warning Message	Bushfire Emergency Warning Messages will be issued for wide area community affect when: an uncontrolled bushfire is burning under Extreme to Catastrophic Fire Weather conditions; and the risk of loss of life or threat to properties is almost certain or has occurred; or where special circumstances exist, for example when a life or house has been lost.

Where can you get the most up to date information?

We encourage you to be alert and check for conditions and updates when on the Island. The following pages are the best websites for current information.

Country Fire Service (CFS)
Traffic SA Road Closures
The Bureau of Meteorology

When in an emergency, phone 000 for Police/Ambulance/Fire services.

For the CFS Information Hotline phone 1800 362 361.

Important information for locals

Bushfire plan

The CFS website has a 5-Minute Bushfire Plan to help you begin your preparations for a fire, with 3 key steps: preventative measures before, what to do during, and after. This plan can then be downloaded, saved and shared. The CFS 5 Minute Bushfire Plan can be found here.

Step 1: My plan to leave early
CFS recommend to plan to leave early on days that are forecast as Catastrophic or are of high fire danger. Discuss your plan with members of your household and agree to it.
The plan will include your triggers, what you will take, plans for pets and livestock and where to go once evacuated.

Step 2: My plan to stay and defend
Planning to stay and defend is a big decision. Most homes in high-risk bushfire areas are not defendable on Catastrophic days. Only stay and defend on days of high fire danger if you are well prepared and your home is properly constructed and prepared to the highest level.
Your plan will include, what to do before the fire arrives, what to do when the fire arrives, after the fire passes.

Step 3: Important information
Your Bushfire Plan outlines what actions each member of your family/household will take on fire risk days and if the bushfire threatens. Having phone numbers and details of key contacts is an important part of bushfire planning.
Your plan will include, essential phone numbers, local ABC Radio frequency, information on the Fire Ban District.

Farm fire safety & prevention

To limit the risk of a bushfire starting and spreading, farms need their own bushfire plans. This includes:

Burning off
Smoke management
Engine & vehicle exhausts
Mowers and slashers
Grinders and welders
Maintenance of machinery
LP Gas
Haystack fires
Grain harvesting

We would like to thank the CFS for their continued service to the community. For more information, go to the Country Fire Service (CFS) website.