Gapsted Fire Brigade GFR event
Victorians have taken steps to better prepare for fire risk following the inaugural Get Fire Ready initiative delivered by CFA last October with evaluation results showing strong behaviour change and increased community engagement across the state.
Delivered throughout October 2025, CFA brigades hosted events and engaged with their communities on local risk, property preparation, creating fire plans and knowing where to access emergency information before the fire season.
Market research, conducted by EY Sweeney, shows the initiative moved communities beyond awareness and into action with 96 per cent of attendees reporting they had taken or intended to take steps to prepare their property, while 70 per cent said they learned something new.
Post-event surveys also found 91 per cent of attendees surveyed had prepared their property or were likely to do so in the future.
CFA Acting Chief Officer Alen Slijepcevic said these results highlight the impact of early preparedness conversations.
"It shows that when communities understand their local fire risk, they take practical steps to get ready and the outcomes are safer for everyone," Alen said.
"Preparedness starts well before summer and Get Fire Ready helped thousands of Victorians build confidence and take action to protect themselves and their families.
This summer we saw firsthand the life‑saving impact of early preparedness. Communities didn't just make fire plans, they enacted them. People left early, stayed informed and made proactive decisions that undoubtedly saved lives."
More than 530 brigades hosted events across Victoria, with 60 per cent delivered in high fire-risk areas, ensuring preparedness information reached communities most at risk.
The initiative also drove strong digital engagement, including a 70,000 increase in active users of the VicEmergency app between September and October 2025, alongside a 300 per cent increase in visits to information about setting watch zones in the app.
While the results were statewide, the program's success was driven by local volunteers connecting directly with their communities through open days, pop-ups and information sessions.
"Our volunteers are trusted members of their communities, and those face-to-face conversations are what turn information into action," Alen said.
Following the strong outcomes achieved in 2025, CFA plans to deliver Get Fire Ready again in October 2026, continuing to build community preparedness across Victoria.
