Return to normal view

Fire Refuges in Victoria Please note, Fire Refuges in Victoria: Policy and Practice, is currently under review as per the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Interim Report

In May 2003, Victoria's Auditor-General recommended urgent progress in developing a consistent state wide position on fire refuges. A fire refuge is a place or building designated for public use as a short-term shelter during a bushfire.

The policy

The Victorian Government's fire refuge policy and practice document establishes a clear basis for the provision of fire refuges.

The current fire refuges policy is being reviewed.

The purpose of the existing policy is to promote a safer and more consistent approach to the provision of fire refuges in Victoria. The policy itself neither encourages nor discourages provision of fire refuges in specific locations.

The Victorian Government's policy on provision of fire refuges is consistent with the primary strategy for people exposed to bushfire, that is to 'prepare, stay and defend, or leave early' on days of high fire danger.

Under the existing policy, the initiation and management of the process of determining whether an area needs a fire refuge falls on the municipal council. However if the community wishes to have a refuge, when there is not currently one in the area, any group in the community can initiate the process with the council. The policy does not require councils to identify, designate or maintain fire refuges.

CFA recommends people be prepared and have a plan in case of bushfire, whether that be to prepare, stay and defend their property, or to leave the area early. If leaving at an early stage, people need to know where they are going as part of their plan.

The Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner has worked in close partnership with the fire agencies and the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) on the fire refuges policy.

The 'Fire Refuges in Victoria: Policy and Practice' policy is available for download on the Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner website.