Bushfire preparation and recovery

In the event of a bushfire

For emergencies call Triple Zero (000) or TTY – 106.

Get updates on major incidents and threats to the community at Alerts and warnings — NSW Rural Fire Service.

Find out what to do if there is fire on your property at Emergency information — NSW Rural Fire Service NSW.

Get current updates on bushfires

View on mobile

For updated information about local emergencies, use the Hazards Near Me app for iPhone or Android.

View on desktop

To view fire alerts and warnings, visit the Current fires and incidents map—NSW Rural Fire Service.

Follow emergency warnings and advice

For updates on fire emergencies in your area:

listen to your local ABC radio station or stream radio with the ABC listen app.
call the Rural Fire Service (RFS) Bushfire Information Line on 1800 679 737. If you are d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, follow these instructions for the National Relay Service.
track weather warnings at Warnings and alerts — Bureau of Meteorology.

Traffic, road closures and public transport

For information on road closures, traffic accidents or roadworks:

visit the Live Traffic NSW website
use the Live Traffic NSW app for iPhone or Android
call the traffic information line on 132 701.

For changes to public transport, visit Travel alerts — Transport for NSW.

Check phone and internet access

Optus

Telstra

Vodafone

Find somewhere to stay

If you need to evacuate, you should find an evacuation centre.

If you cannot get to an evacuation centre, you may be able to find temporary emergency accommodation by accessing community support services or calling 13 77 88.

Care for animals

For assistance with pets, livestock (including horses) and wildlife:

visit RSPCA NSW
call 1300 278 358.

For advice about how to help injured wildlife:

report a rescue to WIRES
for urgent support, call 1300 094 737.

During major emergencies, call the Agricultural and Animal Services Hotline on 1800 814 647 for:

up to 3 days of emergency fodder
emergency stock water
livestock feeding and management advice
aerial support for isolated or stranded livestock
euthanasia of animals on welfare grounds.

Find health advice and support

Stay up to date on important health advice related to bushfire events:

check air quality in your area at Air Quality NSW
find out how to protect yourself from bushfire smoke

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

If you're an NDIS participant and need urgent assistive technology (AT) repairs, you can:

call 1800 800 110 for priority support
find out more at Urgent AT repairs — NDIS.

Mental health support

Lifeline — 13 11 14
Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636
Mensline Australia — 1300 78 99 78
Kids Helpline — 1800 55 1800
NSW Mental Health Line — 1800 011 511
Suicide Call Back Service — 1300 659 467
13YARN — 13 92 76 (to talk to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander crisis supporter)

Find more mental wellbeing resources.

Get ready for bushfire season

Prepare your property

Things you can do to prepare your property for bushfire season include:

check if your home is built on bushfire-prone land
check your access to water
find out if your property is in a 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Entitlement Area
monitor fire danger ratings and total fire bans in your area.

Prepare your family and personal belongings

Things you can do to prepare your family and personal belongings for bushfire season include:

create a bushfire survival plan
prepare your documents before an emergency
plan for the impacts of bushfire on your health
protect your pets by registering for an RSPCA NSW Ready Pet Go Emergency Pack
contact your insurance provider to check your level of cover, exclusions and the assessment process.

Register with the Red Cross

To let people know you're safe or reconnect with people after a bushfire, register with the Red Cross service Register. Find. Reunite.

Recover after bushfire

Service NSW customer care

Service NSW is here to help when you have been impacted by bushfire.

Call us on 13 77 88
Visit a Service NSW location
Go to a recovery centre (if available).

For free help in your language, call Translating and Interpreting Services on 13 14 50 and ask them to contact us on 13 77 88.

Return home safely

For advice on returning home safely after a bushfire or fire, such as wearing protective clothing, handling waste and managing food and water supplies, visit Health advice for returning home safely.

For what to do with your rainwater supply after a bushfire, visit Rainwater and bushfires.

Electricity, gas and water service connections

If your gas, electricity or water supply is disconnected, do not attempt to reconnect the service yourself.

To check a builder, tradesperson or related licence, see Check a builder or tradesperson licence.

Secure damaged property

If you are able to access your home after a fire, Fire and Rescue NSW provides advice on what to do. \

Clean-up support

If your property has been severely damaged or you cannot live in it because of a bushfire, contact your local council to ask about help with clean up. Support is also available for business premises.

Find accommodation support

Emergency accommodation

Temporary emergency accommodation for people who have no other options is available by visiting a recovery centre or calling 13 77 88.

Social housing

If you need private rental assistance, social housing or help with understanding your rights as a tenant:

find out about support services for affordable housing
find your nearest housing office.

Replace documents

To apply for financial support after a disaster, you'll be asked to prove your identity. If your documents have been damaged or destroyed, some can be replaced free of charge, including. Visit identification, licences and personal documents.

Access financial support

Payments and grants

Find out about disaster recovery payments, grants and financial assistance for:

For more information about disaster assistance, visit Rural Assistance Authority.

Contact your bank

Banks offer help to customers affected by a natural disaster. This could include financial assistance packages, deferred loans, waived fees or grants.

For more information, visit the Australian Banking Association financial assistance hub.

Transport refunds, fee waivers and concessions

You may be eligible for reduced fees if your vehicle has been lost, destroyed or written off as a result of a declared natural disaster.

Fines, taxes and duties

You may be eligible for a payment extension, hardship assistance or other allowances from Revenue NSW. Find out more about Revenue NSW natural disaster relief.

Australian Taxation Office (ATO)

The ATO will generally stop sending correspondence to people in areas affected by major disasters and can help you sort out your tax affairs once the crisis has passed.

To find out more:

visit Bushfire support—Australian Taxation Office
call the ATO Emergency Support Infoline on 1800 806 218
follow the steps for reporting disaster payments and grants in your tax return.

Financial counselling services

MoneySmart – ASIC: Urgent help with money
National Debt Helpline: Find a financial counsellor
Services Australia: Financial Information Service

Get insurance and legal advice

Support

Financial Rights Legal Centre: Fact sheets for insurance coverage and claims
Legal Aid NSW: Disaster response legal service
Tenants' Union: Disaster damage factsheet for tenants
Moneysmart — ASIC: Storm, flood and fire insurance

Insurance Council of Australia

When the Insurance Council makes a catastrophe declaration, additional resources are made available to speed up insurance claims processing. To find what to do during and after a disaster, go to the Insurance Council of Australia.

This is a separate process from a disaster declaration made by the government. These declarations have no effect on your insurance, your excess or what is covered by your insurance policy.

Disaster Response Legal Service

If you need legal advice after a natural disaster, you may be eligible for free services to help you with:

insurance claims and disputes
employment
financial hardship such as loans, mortgages and credit cards
housing and renting
coronial inquests
Centrelink payments.

For free legal help you can:

visit Disaster Response Legal Service NSW
call 1800 801 529 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Legal assistance services

For legal support and other free legal assistance services in your area:

learn more about community legal centres
go to the Aboriginal Legal Service.

Change your address

Find out how to change your address with:

Transport for NSW (driver licence, car and boat registration)
NSW Government
electoral enrolment (voting)
building and construction industry licences.

Free mail redirection

Australia Post offers free mail redirection for up to 12 months to individuals and small businesses affected by natural disasters. For more information, visit the Australia Post website.

Rebuild after a fire

If you plan to rebuild on land that is designated as bushfire prone, you have a legal obligation to consider the potential of bushfire and meet the requirements of Planning for Bush Fire Protection (PBP) and AS3959.

The NSW Rural Fire Service provides advice on building after bushfire.

Rebuilding rules

Learn more about rebuilding rules, including: