Planning for the Unplanned: Bushfire Evacuations, Kids, Pets & All the Gear

Rural life is full of good things—open skies, space to breathe, rolling green after the rain, and the kind of peace you can’t buy in the suburbs. But out here, we know better than to forget how quickly those idyllic skies can turn smoky, or how fast the ground dries out heading into summer.

If you live on a remote homestead, you’ll understand that evacuation planning isn’t just being “a bit prepared”—it’s life-saving. And it’s especially important when you’ve got livestock, pets, kids, and kilometres of property between you and help. So grab a cuppa and let’s have a heart-to-heart about being ready before it’s too late.

Why Your Escape Plan Has to Work the First Time

You don’t get second chances when fires sweep through scrubland. One of my neighbours watched flames chew up paddocks in minutes, blocking his usual way out. He had fuel in the car, a “go bag” packed, but forgot to shift the livestock gate from padlock to clip latch. Twenty minutes of wrestling wire under pressure. Lesson learned the hard way.

I’m not just talking about a basic first aid kit tossed into a crate (though that’s a good start). I mean a thought-through, real-world kind of plan that accounts for bushfire alerts, farm dogs that bolt when stressed, bottled gas that might need turning off fast, and rainfall tanks that help with mop-up if needed. It’s all connected.

Escape Essentials for the Rural Family

• The Go Bag: Backpacks with water bottles, copies of documents like land deeds and pets’ vaccine records, torches, cash, chargers, snacks, basic toiletries, and weather-appropriate clothes. Don’t forget prescription meds.
• Pet Carriers, Leads & Tags: Have them packed near entry points—not buried in the shed behind a broken push bike. Choose lightweight, stackable carriers for easy transport.
• Safe Storage: Store flammable materials like fuel, oils, and gas cylinders properly in designated containers—away from structures and ignition points. Don’t leave loose items in garden sheds that could catch or reignite.

A Few Things That Make All the Difference

Some gear choices only make sense once you think through the what-ifs. For example, having quick-release gate systems or padlocks you can open without fumbling under stress. Or making sure your gas bottles are shut off and properly sealed if you have to leave in a hurry.

Comms Matter: Standard mobiles may drop out during fires. Consider having battery-powered radios or UHF sets as backups—they're old-school but dependable when towers go down.

Planning Isn’t Paranoia – It’s Practical

It’s not fear-mongering—it’s forward thinking. It means chatting with your household and walking through “what if this track’s blocked?”, or “where would the pets go?”, and scribbling out answers on a piece of butcher’s paper. Your kids need to know where to meet if you’re split up. And back-up plans? Can’t have too many.

Out our way, people don’t like to feel helpless. We take pride in managing our blocks with care. But being prepared isn’t something you throw together during a bad forecast. That’s when your prep should already be under your belt, and your gear packed by the door.

An Ounce of Readiness, a Tonne Less Stress

Deciding now that you're going to be the one with an exit plan—tools ready, maps printed, radios charged—means less chest-punching panic when things go sideways. Rural families are master jugglers, but no one can juggle in a crisis without hands free and minds clear.

Every paddock has a story. Make yours one where everyone gets out safely—people, pets and all.

If you need help getting started on a plan or want some backup advice, pop into your local hardware or rural supply centre. You don’t have to do the what-ifs all alone—we’re living it too, and we’ve got your back.

With care and common sense,

Candeece

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