South Australia's fire danger season is here. Bushfires pose a threat to lives, property and electrical infrastructure. It's everyone's responsibility to be prepared.

Why bushfire preparation is essential

Bushfires pose significant risks, not just to properties but also to the power distribution network. Fire-damaged powerlines and infrastructure could result in extended outages, while bushfires can threaten critical electrical assets. Strong winds during bushfire conditions increase the likelihood of trees and debris coming into contact with powerlines, which can further escalate risks.

To minimize these dangers, it's important to prepare both your property and your household for the upcoming bushfire season, especially in the event of a power outage.

What you can do to prepare for bushfire danger season

If you live in a bushfire-prone area, planning for the possibility of losing power is critical. If you lose power during a bushfire situation it may be some time before we can safely restore supply - so keep that in mind when making your plans.

Here are some steps you can take:

• Make a bushfire plan: Visit The CFS website for information on how to create your own Bushfire Plan. And remember to consider a plan without power.
• Clear vegetation: Ensure trees and shrubs around your property are cleared to reduce the fuel load and risk of fire spreading.
• Backup power supply: Consider investing in a generator or battery backup system to keep essential appliances running during an outage.
• Emergency kit: Prepare an emergency kit that includes battery-powered torches, radios, and fully charged mobile power banks. Make sure you also have non-perishable food, water, and first aid supplies.
• Stay informed: Stay up-to-date with notifications about power outages at your property by signing up for outage notifications on our website. This service allows you to receive updates about any power disruptions that may affect your property.

What we’re doing to prepare for the fire danger season

We are dedicated to reducing bushfire risks to safeguard our customers and the community. Our pre-bushfire season management program is essential for preparing for the fire season and mitigating the risk of bushfires. This includes:

• Trimming vegetation around powerlines.
• Conducting aerial and ground inspections across our entire network in high-risk bushfire areas.
• Replacing and upgrading equipment where necessary.
• Providing bushfire risk management training to all employees.

During the Fire Danger Season, we continuously monitor weather and fire conditions.

In rare instances, when specific fire danger thresholds are reached, we may need to turn off the power supply to protect lives and property.

Key Fire Danger Season dates

The Bushfire Danger Season dates are listed below. Check the CFS website for more information.

Read more about Bushfire Safety around powerlines.