Facts of fire - Part 3 Spot fires

In todays instalment of the Facts of Fire series we are covering spot fires.

The term spot fire describes a fire ignited outside of a burning unit as a result of a windborne ember (sometimes referred to as a firebrand).

Spot fires can start new bushfires well ahead of the main fire front. In large fires, there’s the potential for many spot fires to start and quickly join together, blocking a safe escape.

Tomorrow we will be sharing part 4 which covers windspeed.

For more information about how to prepare your property for the risk of fire this summer visit http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/plan-and-prepare/

Make sure you have the VicEmergency app on your smart devices so you can get early warning of fire activity in your area.

Remember indecision and confusion during a fire could be a killer and on high-risk fire days, leaving early before a fire starts, is always the safest option.