CFA identified an opportunity to utilise existing risk mapping, academic research and lessons learnt to provide a new approach to enhance preparedness and management of bushfire events. The approach developed identifies and spatially maps residents with the highest exposure to bushfire risk where it is CFA’s intent to focus delivery of services.

A door-to-door program has been designed for volunteers to deliver personalised risk communication and property advice. Research suggests the community regards volunteers as an authentic, authoritative and trusted source of information. Volunteers are able to connect with at risk communities and communicate in an effective and locally relevant way. Previous advice services assumed residents understand bushfire risk and would proactively approach CFA. This approach ensures that CFA engages face-to-face with residents to work together to understand their risk and start building a resilient community.

CFA understands the importance of regular communication and encourages at risk communities to stay connected. In conjunction with the door-to-door service, a strategy has been developed and existing technology has been linked allowing subscribing residents to receive targeted and localised information electronically. This on-going communication between CFA and the community is promoted through a number of programs delivered to residents at risk.

In December 2014 the community of Creighton’s Creek in Victoria’s North East experienced a fast moving and active fire impacting properties which CFA had identified and mapped at risk from bushfire. These targeted properties had received CFA’s Property Advice Visit Service and as a result were better prepared to enact bushfire survival plans.

CFA now needs to understand how and why residents with the highest exposure to bushfire risk react to information before, during and after a bushfire. Identifying trends, combining information and tools to enable better preparedness, management and recovery from bushfire will make for safer communities and a safer Victoria.