Your Pre-Fire Season Checklist: Getting Your Property Ready Before Summer

Don't Wait for a Total Fire Ban to Find Out Your Unit Won't Start

Every year, rural landowners across Australia head into summer with firefighting equipment they haven't tested since last season. Pumps that sat dry for nine months. Hoses that cracked in the heat. Tanks that weren't refilled after the last dust-up.

The good news: a few hours of preparation now, before the days get long and conditions deteriorate, can make an enormous difference to how ready your property actually is. This checklist walks you through everything worth checking before fire season hits.

1. Test Your Firefighting Unit — Now, Not in November

This is the most important item on the list and the one most often left too late. Pull your firefighting unit out, fill the tank with water, and run it. Check for:

• Engine starting: Does it fire first or second pull? If it's reluctant, service it now. Engine servicing books out fast as fire season approaches.
• Pump pressure: Is the flow rate what you'd expect? A drop in pressure can indicate a worn impeller, blockage, or air leak in the suction line.
• Hose condition: Check the full length of hose for cracks, kinks, or brittle sections — especially near fittings. UV exposure over summer degrades hose faster than most people expect.
• Nozzle function: Test the spray pattern. Blocked nozzles reduce effectiveness right when you need full flow.
• Hose reel operation: Does it reel out and retract smoothly? A jammed reel under pressure is a serious problem.
• Fittings and clamps: Check for corrosion or loosening at every connection point. Tighten or replace as needed.

If your unit needs an upgrade or you don't yet have one:

• 200L Compact Firefighting Unit — entry-level protection for small blocks
• 400L Compact Firefighting Unit – 5.5HP + Hose Reel — a capable mid-range unit ready to work
• 600L Compact Firefighting Unit w/ Hose Reel — serious capacity for medium properties
• 800L Compact Firefighting Unit w/ Hose Reel — maximum compact capacity for larger farms
• 800L Skid Mounted Firefighting Unit 6.5HP — heavy-duty skid setup for working farms
• 1,200L Skid Mounted Firefighting Unit 6.5HP — extended suppression capability for high-risk properties
• 2,000L Skid Mounted Firefighting Unit 6.5HP — maximum on-property fire response

2. Check Your Water Supply

A firefighting unit is only as useful as the water available to feed it. Before summer:

• Static water tanks: Are they full? Aim to have dedicated firefighting water supply filled and reserved — don't rely on your stock or domestic supply in an emergency.
• Dam access: If you plan to draw from a dam, check the access track is clear and suitable for your vehicle under load. A bogged ute in a fire scenario is a serious hazard.
• Bottom fill kit: If you're filling from a dam or tank at low level, a Bottom Fill Kit makes refilling significantly faster, worth having fitted before you need it.
• Suction hose and strainer: If drawing from open water, check your suction hose and foot valve/strainer are clear of debris and seated properly.
• Water trailer: If you're using a water trailer as a reserve, check the tank is sealed, the pump is operational, and the trailer is road-registerable if you need to move it on public roads.

3. Manage Vegetation and Fuel Loads

Equipment alone won't save a property with out-of-control fuel loads. Before fire season:

• Slash or graze long grass around structures, sheds, and along fence lines — long dry grass in January is one of the fastest-moving fire fuels in the Australian landscape
• Clear gutters and roof valleys of dry leaf litter and debris
• Remove or relocate combustible materials stored against structures (timber, hay, machinery with fuel)
• Treat and control weeds that generate additional fuel load, particularly along laneways, roadsides, and paddock margins

Spring is the ideal time to treat problem weeds before they set seed and dry out over summer. A well-maintained sprayer makes this job far more efficient, see our guide to choosing the right sprayer for your property.

4. Check Access Tracks and Firefighting Routes

In a fire emergency, minutes matter. Walk or drive your property's access tracks now and check:

• Are all tracks wide enough and clear enough for your firefighting vehicle under full load?
• Are gates unlocked or clearly accessible, including any that a neighbour or fire brigade truck might need to use?
• Are culverts and low crossings passable if a vehicle is heavily laden with water?
• Do you have a clear, safe exit route from every paddock?

Clear any overhanging branches, remove obstructions, and address any soft or boggy sections before the ground dries and hardens for summer.

5. Assemble Your Firefighting Kit

Beyond the unit itself, make sure you have the following ready and stored with your firefighting equipment:

• Spare hose lengths and fittings
• Leather or heavy-duty gloves
• Protective clothing (natural fibres, wool or cotton, not synthetics)
• Eye protection
• A charged UHF CB radio on the local emergency channel
• Property map showing water points, access tracks, and structure locations
• Emergency contact numbers: local RFS/CFA brigade, neighbours, and your local council fire officer

Worth checking in your accessories kit:

• Fire Fighting Poly Hose Reel — if your unit runs a loose hose, a mounted reel speeds up deployment
• Fire Fighting Poly Hose Reel – Bare — a cost-effective spare or second hose point
• Pressure Relief Valve ¾ inch Nylon — an important safety component for any pump running under sustained pressure

6. Know Your Local Fire Danger Ratings and Trigger Points

Before summer, make sure every person on the property knows:

• How to access the local fire danger rating (Bureau of Meteorology and your state's fire agency)
• What your household or property Fire Action Plan is — where to shelter, when to leave, who makes the call
• The location of your nearest rural fire brigade and how to contact them
• Your state's Total Fire Ban rules and what activities are prohibited on those days

Many states offer free property fire planning tools through your local RFS, CFA, or DFES — worth doing if you haven't completed a formal plan.

Pre-Fire Season Checklist Summary

Browse our full range of Firefighting Equipment, including Portable Compact Units and Skid Mounted Units. If you're not sure which setup suits your property, read our Portable vs Skid-Mounted Fire Units guide or get in touch and we'll help you work it out.