Bushfire Season in Ballarat. What to Expect and How to Be Ready.

Australians don’t need to be convinced that bushfires are real. We’ve grown up with them. That’s why the message from the Country Fire Authority is simple and well understood. Prepare. Act. Survive.

Preparation matters more and more every year. Bushfire seasons are lasting longer, starting earlier, and ending later. Hotter temperatures, drier fuels, and more frequent extreme fire danger days mean conditions escalate faster and last longer than they used to. This has been clearly documented by both CSIRO and the Climate Council.

When fires occur, emergency services are stretched across the state. Power, roads, and supply chains are disrupted early. Help doesn’t arrive instantly.

Having the right gear ready removes hesitation. It lets you act early, protect the people and animals you’re responsible for, and avoid last-minute decisions made under pressure.

Plan your Bushfire Survival Kit with us. This guide aligns with CFA advice and should be read alongside your personal bushfire plan, which must always account for your location, household, and circumstances.  

What Bushfire Season Looks Like in Ballarat

Ballarat sits among grassland, bush pockets, farming land, and tree-dense suburbs. On hot, dry days, fire risk increases quickly even if a fire starts well outside town.

Common impacts are felt well before a fire reaches town:

• Smoke affecting air quality and visibility
• Power outages lasting hours or days
• Road closures and limited access
• Mobile coverage dropping under load
• Delays to services and supplies

These impacts often occur while a fire is still kilometres away.

This is why the Country Fire Authority consistently advises households and businesses to prepare early, including having a Fire Ready Kit organised before the season escalates.

Where People Commonly Underestimate Bushfires

Most Australians understand fire risk, but a plan can fall apart if a detail is overlooked.

Smoke is underestimated.
Smoke causes breathing issues, eye irritation, headaches, and fatigue long before flames are visible.

Time is overestimated.
Evacuation advice can change quickly when wind shifts or conditions worsen.

Water and basic supplies are under-planned, increasing the risk of heat stress and dehydration. Shops and utility services may be inaccessible while emergency services and relief are stretched thin.

Protective gear is overlooked.
Everyday clothing and footwear aren’t designed for embers, radiant heat, or debris.

If the CFA issues an Emergency Warning, it means the fire is imminent or already impacting, conditions are life-threatening, and leaving is no longer safe. 

A Close to Home Reminder

In summer of 2024, the Grampians bushfire that threatened Halls Gap showed how quickly conditions can escalate even when towns are not directly impacted by flames.

Smoke, road closures, emergency warnings, and uncertainty affected people well beyond the fire ground.

That event reinforced a simple point for regional communities like Ballarat.
Distance doesn’t remove risk. Preparation reduces it.

What a Practical Bushfire Survival Kit Looks Like

A bushfire kit should support clear decision-making and basic safety.

At Hip Pocket Workwear Wendouree and Delacombe Town Centre, we put together custom Bushfire Survival Kits based on CFA recommendations and real-world conditions.

Core Safety Items We Supply

• P2 respirator masks for smoke protection
• Gas-tight goggles to protect eyes from Smoke
• First aid kits with burn treatment
• Flame resistant clothing or Natural fibre protective clothing
• Leather gloves for handling debris
• Enclosed leather boots
• 100 percent cotton wide-brim hats
• We can even embroider a bag with “BushFire Survival Kit” so it never gets misplaced.
• Torches and headlamps

These essential safety items help protect lungs, eyes, skin, and mobility when conditions deteriorate, so be sure to come down to our Ballarat stores to kit out your own grab-and-go Bag. 

Essential Extras to Add to your Bushfire Survial Kit

CFA recommends being able to look after yourself for several days. While we don’t sell the following items, it helps plan everything you’ll need to pack into your Grab-and-Go Bushfire Kit. 

• Water. At least 3 litres per person per day. Plan up to 5 days
• Non-perishable food that needs no cooking
• Electrolyte drinks or sachets
• Battery-powered radio and spare batteries
• Power banks and charging cables
• Copies of important documents in a waterproof pouch
• Wool or cotton blankets
• Toiletries and required medications
• Pet food, water, and carriers if needed

Remember, most people don’t regret packing too much water.
They regret packing too little.

Stopping Small Fires Before They Escalate.

According to the Country Fire Authority, most fires in Victoria are started by people, either accidentally or deliberately.

CFA is clear. You should never attempt to fight a bushfire front. But small, controllable fires may be safely dealt with if conditions allow and you have the right equipment.

Portable fire extinguishers are designed for:

• Grass and vegetation fires in their earliest stages
• Small spot fires caused by embers
• Machinery or vehicle fires
• Sheds, workshops, and farm equipment areas

Fire blankets are often overlooked, but they play a specific role in fire safety.

They are suited to:

• Smothering small fires
• Containing embers
• Vehicle or kitchen-related fires
• Wrapping around a person if clothing catches alight

We sell a variety of extinguishers and blankets so be sure to speak to our expert team to determine the best fire safety equipment to suit your household or business. 

Get Fire-Ready Before You Need To Be

Bushfire plans only work if the right gear is already in place. Waiting until smoke is in the air is too late to start thinking about kits, protection, or what you’re missing.

We can help you build a custom Bushfire Survival Kit based on how you actually live and work in Ballarat. Households. Farms. Vehicles. Businesses.

Come in and talk it through with our team. We’ll help you identify gaps, select the right equipment, and help you find everything you need to prepare, act, and survive this summer.

Come visit us in-store with 2 great locations in Ballarat:

• 1265-1267 Howitt Street, Wendouree VIC 3355
• Delacombe Town Centre, Shop T26/315 Glenelg Hwy, Smythes Creek VIC 3355
• or call on 03 5339 5446