SA residents are being urged to 'Be Bushfire Ready' with a new advertising campaign rolling out across the state.
The campaign, launched at the weekend by fire chiefs and Emergency Services Minister Vincent Tarzia is using emotion and tactics to encourage people to prepare their families and properties for fire risks.
The campaign also has an added focus on Bushfire Safer Places following recent research which showed that nearly half of those living in bushfire prone areas don't understand their meaning.
It comes as the fire danger seasons begin - today - in seven districts.
Country Fire Service Chief Officer Mark Jones said it was important that South Australians had a Bushfire Survival Plan, or prepared one now.
"South Australians who work, travel or live in an area where bushfires can occur - including those on the urban-fringe - should familiarise themselves on where they can re-locate to if threatened by fire," he said.
"Getting to know your closest Bushfire Safer Place - whether it be in the Adelaide Metropolitan area, outer suburbs, or rural settlements - can provide a place of relative safety if you leave early.
"The message we want to get out to the community is that they need to prepare now, have a conversation with your family and ensure if you're threatened by fire, you know where and when you'll go, and what you'll take.
"The CFS is ready and prepared to respond should any incidents occur, but we need the community to play their part. Our volunteers cannot be everywhere."
RELATED:
The Fire Danger Season began today in Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Flinders, North East Pastoral, North West Pastoral, West Coast and Yorke Peninsula districts.
The Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Metropolitan and Kangaroo Island will be the last fire ban districts to start on December 1.
Mr Tarzia said this year's campaign was re-enforcing important messaging to ensure the community were informed, educated, and prepared.
"This year's campaign features a combination of previous messaging including the powerful and emotional advertisement 'Fire, Fire, go away', which aims to get people thinking about what they're willing to lose, to ensure they plan accordingly," he said.
"As South Australians, we unfortunately know the real-life impacts that bushfires can have on our communities and livelihoods.
"It's important to check weather forecasts, know your Fire Danger Ratings and what you can and can't do on days of Total Fire Ban."
SA Metropolitan Fire Service Deputy Chief Officer Paul Fletcher said bushfire risk was not limited to remote parts of SA.
"All South Australians live with the risk of bushfire. The urban fringes of metropolitan Adelaide and regional towns and cities, and the Adelaide Hills are also key bushfire risk areas," he said.
"And, even if people don't live in a bushfire prone area, it is inevitable that most of us will visit, work in, drive through or holiday in an area of bushfire risk during bushfire season.
"That's why the fire services are urging everyone to know where their Bushfire Safer Place is, well before a fire starts."
Already, there have been several "severe" fire days on Eyre Peninsula and the north of the state, while a bushfire burned out of control north of Iron Knob across a couple of days last week.
For tips on making a Bushfire Plan visit cfs.sa.gov.au/bebushfireready.
Get to know your Bushfire Safer Places at cfs.sa.gov.au/prepare-for-a-fire/be-prepared/bushfire-safer-places.
Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.
