Bushfire Advice and Warnings to the Community

The Police and Emergency Services are committed to providing timely and accurate information to the community during emergencies - including bushfires.

To achieve this, South Australia has adopted the National Framework for Advice and Warnings to the Community.  The new system has been developed to alert the community to bushfires and to provide advice on what to do when threatened by a bushfire.

The system is based on three types of alert messages, distributed by multiple means of communication:

• EMERGENCY WARNING - You are in danger and you need to take action immediately. You will be impacted by fire. This message will usually be preceded by the Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS) (click here to listen to the sound).
• WATCH & ACT - A fire is approaching you, conditions are changing; you need to take action now to protect your life and your family.
• ADVICE - A fire has started - there is no immediate danger; general information to keep you up to date with developments.

Bushfire Emergency Warning, Watch and Act and Advice Messages will be issued when there is a potential threat to public safety in the immediate area of a bushfire.

Bushfire Emergency Warning Messages will be issued when a bushfire burning out of control under severe to catastrophic weather conditions requires an immediate response from the public to ensure their safety and survival. Bushfire Emergency Warning messages will be preceded by a distinctive siren-like sound of SEWS. 

Bushfire Emergency Warning, Watch and Act and Advice Messages will be issued via multiple media communication channels including local ABC AM and FIVEaa radio stations.

Bushfire Emergency Warning, Watch and Act and Advice Messages are likely to include the following information:

• The location of the fire;
• Where it is expected to move next;
• The risks faced by people in the area;
• What the public is advised to do about those risks;
• Where the public can find additional information.

While the Police and Emergency Services will provide as much information as possible during a bushfire, it must be remembered that all people have a responsibility to ensure they are adequately prepared for bushfires and know what to do.  To read more about the new framework, click here.