With the risk of wild fire very real, taking action to stay as safe as possible should be one of the most important aspects of your [FURL=https://obangroup.com.au/]strata services[/FURL] . Here are a few things you should keep in mind when preparing for bushfires.

Keep up on landscaping

No matter where your strata property is, keeping the outside of the building neat and tidy is essential to protecting it. Brush should be kept trimmed back, and dry vegetation should be removed. In hot, dry weather, that pile of leaves raked around a tree could ignite with even the tiniest spark.

Clearing away dry materials and having a wide fire break can make the difference between your property being burned or spared.

Have a plan

If a fire does threaten your building, what do the property owners plan to do? A clear plan for evacuation can help save the lives of the owners. A concrete plan can help you decide when to leave, what to take, and where to go.

Some people choose to stay on their strata property and fight the fire in hopes of preserving the property. If this is a choice your community chooses to make, you'll need a sound action plan and great organisation in order to pull it off.

This is something you'll want to talk about and prepare for in advance, including training days and the purchase of appropriate tools for defending the property.

If your community isn't organised or does not have the right tools readily available for fire fighting, evacuation is the best step. A building can be replaced, but the lives of the people who live inside it can't.

Understand your building's unique risks

Older buildings may have outdated materials that make them more prone to fire damage. In 2009, laws for new buildings were changed so that properties in fire prone areas were made with more fire resistance exteriors.

Although it is not required for older buildings to retrofit their property for fire safety, with today's intense wildfires, it's a good idea. If you're not sure about what sort of exterior your strata building has, a contractor can help you make the best decision for the safety of the property.

Doublecheck your insurance

If the worst happens and the strata property is destroyed or damaged, does your insurance cover the cost of repairs? Fire damage can cost a surprising amount of money. At the minimum, your insurance should cover the worst case scenario—a property completely destroyed by fire. If it doesn't and a bushfire damages or destroys the building, the insurance may not cover replacing it.

Your strata services provider can help you get the correct insurance for the property, so that your building is protected no matter what happens.