As we enter another bushfire season, the Tasmanian Government continues to invest in the latest initiatives to keep communities safe.
The Tasmania Fire Service has implemented a new and nationally consistent Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) – designed to provide clear and accurate information about bushfire risk.
The AFDRS has four rating levels: Moderate, High, Extreme and Catastrophic, with simple actions for the community to take at each level:
- Moderate (Green) – Plan and prepare;
- High (Yellow) – Be ready to act;
- Extreme (Orange) – Take action now to protect life and property; and
- Catastrophic (Red) – For your survival, leave bushfire risk areas.
This is the most significant change to the fire danger rating system in more than 50 years.
Adoption of the AFDRS was a recommendation from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements Report.
To enable this initiative, the Tasmanian Government has invested nearly $1.4 million, which has been matched by the Australian Government.
The system will enable the community to make informed decisions to keep themselves prepared and safe before a bushfire starts.
As we've seen with recent flooding, investment in early warning systems saves lives and property.
