Preparing for Bushfire Season in Perth

For homeowners in Perth and the surrounding hills, preparing for bushfire season is a critical part of our yearly routine. While we often focus on clearing shrubs and creating a fire break, two of the most overlooked—and most vital—preparation steps are cleaning your gutters and your windows.

These simple maintenance tasks can dramatically improve your home's chances of surviving an ember attack, which is the most common way homes are lost during a bushfire. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Clean Gutters are Your First Line of Defence

Throughout the year, your gutters accumulate a huge amount of flammable material: dry leaves, twigs, and bark. In the heat of a Perth summer, this debris becomes a perfect line of tinder waiting for a spark.

During a bushfire, thousands of burning embers can travel kilometres ahead of the fire front. If one of these embers lands in a gutter filled with dry leaves, it can ignite the material and spread fire directly to your roof structure and eaves. A clean, clear gutter provides no fuel for embers to ignite, significantly reducing the risk of your roof catching fire.

The Hidden Danger of Dirty Windows

The primary threat to windows during a bushfire is not direct flame contact, but intense **radiant heat**. This heat can cause glass to shatter, allowing embers and flames to enter your home.

Dirty windows pose a greater risk. A layer of grime, salt, and dust on the glass can absorb more radiant heat than clean glass. This increases the surface temperature of the pane, making it more likely to crack or shatter under the extreme heat of a nearby fire. Clean windows reflect more heat, offering a small but crucial layer of extra protection.

Your Pre-Bushfire Season Checklist

Before the start of the fire season, it's essential to have your property professionally prepared. This isn't just cleaning; it's a critical safety measure.

• Professional Gutter Cleaning: Ensure all leaves, twigs, and debris are completely removed from your gutters and downpipes.
• Professional Window Cleaning: A thorough clean of all exterior glass will help reflect radiant heat and improve visibility.
• General Property Tidy-Up: Remove any flammable materials from around your home, such as wood piles, dry grass, and overhanging branches.