ACT residents are the most concerned in Australia about bushfires this season, but are also the least likely to have taken steps to prepare, according to the NRMA.

The winter edition of the NRMA Insurance report, Wild Weather Tracker, revealed that 74 per cent of ACT residents worry about being impacted by bushfires or grassfires this spring and summer, but only 32 per cent knew what to do if a bushfire threatened their home (still the highest percentage in the country), and only 20 per cent had taken steps to prepare and protect their homes in the past six months.

The ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) said it was concerning so few people had prepared. “However, the ACT is largely an urban area. The immediate threat of bushfire is not imminent to much of the population. Regardless, the community cannot be complacent.”

NRMA Insurance received 4,184 claims for wild weather damage to homes and vehicles nationally during winter. In the ACT, 66 wild weather claims were made (compared to 228 in autumn): 53 home claims and 13 motor claims. Just over one in eight home claims were caused by wild weather this winter. The suburbs hit hardest were Gungahlin, Monash, Conder, Isabella Plains, and Kaleen.

Two-thirds of ACT residents (66 per cent) said recent extreme weather overseas had made them more concerned about fires closer to home over the coming months.

Earlier this month, the Bureau of Meteorology declared both an El Nino event in the Pacific Ocean, to Australia’s east, and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), to the west. Together, they could create drier conditions, above-average temperatures, and less rainfall than average – increasing fire danger and extreme heat risk. Bushfire season begins later this week, on 1 October.

“Southeast Australia faces increased fire danger,” an ACT ESA spokesperson said.

“Living in the ‘bush capital’ of Australia, bush and grass fires are a risk for ACT residents. It is crucial that every ACT resident understands this risk, and takes necessary preparedness actions.”

NRMA Insurance meteorologist Dr Bruce Buckley said that despite a mild winter, residents of the ACT should be prepared for all types of weather extremes this spring. In addition to bushfire and grassfire risk, eastern Australia is forecast to experience hail-producing thunderstorms in the lead up to summer.

“Some of the extreme weather drivers experienced in the Northern Hemisphere, such as widespread and increased sea temperatures and El Niño also apply to Australia, escalating the risks associated with higher temperatures this spring,” Dr Buckley said.

“With parts of the ACT on alert for grassfires, we’re encouraging people to prepare now, particularly as grasslands are drying up quickly as we head into El Niño conditions.

“On top of fire risk, severe storms can develop quickly and strike at any time, so it’s critical people understand their local risks and stay alert for storms that can emerge quickly.”

Fortunately, 58 per cent of ACT residents plan to prepare for wild weather between now and summer, compared to only 26 per cent who took steps to prepare during winter.

Dr Buckley said that while this was great to see, this needed to be followed up with action.

“Now is the time to minimise fire risks around the home, before temperatures reach extremes,” he said.

“You can reduce your risk by cutting back tree branches, cleaning your gutters, moving things away from your home, and making sure you have a hose that can reach all around.”

The ACT ESA urged local residents to:

• Regularly mow their grass and rake up leaves.
• Remove weeds, and prune bushes.
• Clear leaves from their gutters, roofs, and downpipes.
• Update their survival plans with a focus on grass fire risk.
• Prepare a home emergency kit.

“We’re ready when Canberra prepares together,” an ACT ESA spokesperson said.

“The ACT Rural Fire Service (ACTRFS) is always working with their government partners to increase the ACT’s resilience and preparedness against bushfire. The fantastic volunteers of the ACTRFS are active year round, and are prepared to protect their community if fire risk increases as the weather changes.”

For additional emergency and preparedness information, or to download a bushfire survival plan and access other tips on how to Be Emergency Ready, visit www.esa.gov.au.

Download the Fires Near Me Australia app on iOS or Android devices to receive bushfire warnings and incident information.