Bushfire Action Week 2011

Understand Your Bushfire Risk

The Country Fire Service (CFS) has launched this year's Bushfire Action Week by announcing it will run a series of TV advertisements and new technologies to encourage more South Australians to know their bushfire risk and to develop a Survival Plan.

CFS Director of Operations Andrew Lawson said the campaign has been made more direct compared to previous years in an effort to combat complacency after a mild bushfire season last summer.

"Bushfire safety is a shared responsibility and people need to be proactive in assessing their own bushfire risk and taking action ahead of the next Fire Danger Season," Mr Lawson said,

The CFS TV adverts will begin airing on commercial television throughout South Australia from next Sunday October 30, while the CFS's new smartphone app will be available through the Apple iTunes store and Android Marketplace from Wednesday 26 October.

The CFS has also begun communicating public safety messages via an official Twitter and Facebook account as a means of using more avenues than ever before to further spread community safety updates and warnings.

"New technologies aren't replacing what the CFS already does with mainstream media, it simply helps us to reach more people and enables them to ask us questions about preparing a Bushfire Survival Plan," Mr Lawson said.

"It's everyone's responsibility to prepare for bushfires and the best way to do that is by having a Bushfire Survival Plan and rehearsing it with family, friends or neighbours.

"The CFS is made up of thousands of volunteers and they put their lives on the line when they respond to incidents. Property owners need to take responsibility to clear potential fuel loads and ensure their property is defendable."

Bushfire Action Week runs from Sunday 23 October to Sunday 30 October.