NSW Rural Fire Service

The NSW Rural Fire Service, the world's largest fire service. Our 70,000 volunteer members provide emergency services to over 95 percent of NSW.

Major Fire Updates

Latest News

Bush Fire Household Assessment Tool

The Bush Fire Household Assessment Tool is provided by the NSW Rural Fire Service to help you to assess your household's level of risk from a bush fire and make informed decisions about the safety of your household.

Fire Danger Rating

The Fire Danger Rating warns of the level of bush fire threat on any given day, based on the forecast weather conditions. It is an early indicator of the potential danger, should a bush fire start.

Bush Fire Survival Plan

Every home must have a Bush Fire Survival Plan encompassing the decision to either "Leave Early" or to "Stay and Defend" to ensure that you are prepared and know what to do in the event of a bush fire.

Everyone's Bush Fire Survival Plan will be different and needs to reflect individuals situations and circumstances.

Remember once you have completed your plan you need to ensure your property is properly prepared regardless of your decision to "Leave Early" or to "Stay and Defend".

It is your responsibility to prepare yourself, your family and your home for the threat of bush fire. You need to act decisively in accordance with your Bush Fire Survival Plan when bush fires threaten. Your survival depends on your preparations, and the decisions you make.

Prepare well, act decisively – and survive.

Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSP)

Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSP) is a new concept that has evolved out of the tragic Victorian ‘Black Saturday’ bush fires in February 2009.

The NSW Rural Fire Service has now received recommended NSPs data from LEMCs for the majority of NSW. This data is currently being subject to a validation process to confirm that recommended NSPs satisfy the necessary criteria.

Visit our Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSP) page to view the designated NSP locations for local government areas across the State that have been subject to the validation process and have been deemed acceptable as a place of last resort.

Please note that the NSW Rural Fire Service has not yet received NSP locations for all local government areas of NSW. In addition, some recommended NSP locations will require further investigation to confirm that they are suitable as place of shelter to be used as a place of last resort during a bush fire emergency.

The NSW Rural Fire Service will continue to update the NSP locations as new data is received and validated. You should return to this site regularly for updates on the progress of the NSP program and to find a NSP close to you.

Remember to complete your Bush Fire Survival Plan to ensure that you and your family are prepared and know what to do in the event of a bush fire. If there is a suitable NSP nearby your home, you should note it in you Bush Fire Survival Plan. However, the NSP should only be considered as a place of last resort during a bush fire emergency.

You will find more safety videos on our YouTube site.

Prepare Your Home. Prepare Yourself

FireWise communities experience fewer fires and fewer fire-related deaths, injuries and property losses. For those people living in bush fire prone areas, it is imperative to understand the risks of bush fire, make preparations accordingly, and be Bush FireWise. Deciding to Stay and Defend, or Leave Early is a critical decision as most people who die in bush fires die as a result of unplanned last-minute relocations or evacuations.

Film and TV Requests

Film and Television Requests The NSW Rural Fire Service can provide assistance with photographic, film and television requests. You will find information about the application process and form in the News and Media section of this website.

Coffee4Kids Victorian Children's Bush Fire Appeal Fund

The Service’s sponsored charity, Coffee4Kids is running a special Bushfire appeal for the Victorian children in need called "The Coffee4Kids Victorian Children's Bush Fire Appeal Fund". To start the appeal the Rural Fire Service Association has very generously donated $10,000. For more information visit our Coffee4Kids page.

Australasian Education and Fire Awareness Conference 2010

The 2010 Australasian Education & Fire Awareness (AEFA) Conference is an annual event recognised by fire agencies and stakeholders throughout Australasia as one of the most prominent conferences on community fire safety and delivery of personal and property preparedness messages for the general public.

AEFA will be held at the Newcastle Civic Centre on the weekend of 14 - 15 May 2010. With more than 450 delegates, this event will provide an excellent opportunity for community engagement practitioners to network and exchange knowledge of strategies and best practise initiatives.

If you wish to present at the AE&FA Conference 2010, please email an Expression of Interest with a brief description of your proposed presentation by 18th December 2009 to conference@rfs.nsw.gov.au.

For further information relating to the event please email the community engagement team at RFS headquarters on: conference@rfs.nsw.gov.au or download the AEFA brochure.