What to wear during bush fires

Before you can confront an oncoming bush fire, you must protect yourself and all others with you from radiant heat. You should wear:

sturdy leather footwear with woollen or cotton socks;
long pants and a long sleeved shirt or jumper (pure wool or cotton offers the best protection from sparks and embers);
a broad brimmed hat or hard hat if one is available;
wet towels to drape over neck (leave the ears uncovered, they warn you of heat levels);
goggles for eye protection;
handkerchiefs to tie over nose and mouth to prevent inhalation of smoke and embers;
gloves, if your hands are not used to working with tools;
bottles of drinking water;
Do not wear synthetics – wear wool, cotton or denim.

For more information on what to wear during bush fires, see our Bush Fire Survival Plan.