Make a grab-and-go bushfire kit before the fire season, keep it in a clearly marked waterproof container that everyone can reach, and build it around your written household survival plan. Pack enough for evacuation and several days without power, water, communications, shops or pharmacies: radio and lighting, first aid and medicines, water and long-life food, protective clothing, phone power, documents, household-specific supplies and pet needs. A kit supports an evacuation decision; it never replaces following official warnings and leaving early when your plan says to go.
What a bushfire emergency kit is—and when to prepare it
An emergency kit is a pre-packed set of supplies you can take when a bushfire threatens or use during the disruption that follows. The NSW Government says to “prepare an emergency survival kit before the bush fire season starts.” Its practical guidance is available in Prepare your emergency survival kit.
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Assemble the kit well before seasonal fire danger, not when smoke is already visible. Put it in a sturdy, waterproof container in a place every household member knows and can reach quickly. Mark the container clearly; the NSW Rural Fire Service recommends reflective tape so it can be found in darkness. Check and replenish it before every fire season and after every use.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThere is no nationally standardised kit size. Your written bushfire survival plan, local fire authority, household size, medical needs, pets and likely time without services determine what belongs in yours. A remote household may need more than a metropolitan household because roads, shops and pharmacies can remain inaccessible for longer.
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Start with the household plan, not a shopping list
Decide first whether your plan is to leave early, and identify the triggers, destination, routes and transport arrangements. Queensland’s Bushfire evacuation kit guidance and the National Emergency Management Agency’s 2025 Bushfire Emergency Evacuation Checklist both frame the kit around prompt evacuation.
The NSW Rural Fire Service describes an emergency survival kit as useful whether you leave or stay. That does not mean a kit makes defending a property safe or advisable. Your written plan and current official warnings govern the decision. NEMA’s instruction is direct: “Act decisively and early – don’t wait until the last minute.”
| Planning question | How it changes the kit |
|---|---|
| Are you leaving early? | Prioritise a compact, vehicle-ready container, documents, medicines, chargers, food, water and supplies for people and pets. |
| Could services be unavailable after evacuation? | Increase water, food, medicines, batteries, hygiene items and cash for the expected duration. |
| Does anyone need extra support? | Add mobility, communication, sensory, continence, infant or other personal equipment and allow extra loading time. |
| Do you live remotely? | Plan for a longer interruption to roads, power, water, shops and pharmacies than the minimum state checklist. |
| Do you have animals? | Include identification, restraint, transport, food, water, medicines and familiar comfort items for each animal. |
Complete bushfire emergency kit checklist
Information, communication and lighting
- Portable battery-operated radio for official warnings when mobile networks or internet are unavailable.
- Waterproof torch or head torch, plus spare batteries stored where they cannot be accidentally drained.
- Mobile phones, charging cables and a fully charged power bank. Keep a second charging option if your household depends on phones for medical or accessibility reasons.
- Printed emergency contact numbers, meeting points, evacuation destinations and relevant local authority details. Do not rely on contacts stored only in a phone.
A battery-powered emergency radio is useful because it does not depend on household electricity or broadband. Test the radio and torch before each season and confirm that batteries are in date.
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- First-aid kit and a first-aid manual.
- Regular prescription medicines in labelled containers, copies of prescriptions and a medication list showing doses and allergies. NEMA’s checklist specifies a minimum of three days’ medication; people with critical or hard-to-replace medicines should ask their clinician or pharmacist what reserve is safe and practical.
- Personal hygiene supplies, sanitary products, hand-cleaning supplies, toilet paper and rubbish bags.
- Special-needs equipment, including continence supplies, mobility aids, hearing-aid batteries, glasses, communication devices or other daily supports.
- Smoke protection appropriate to the user. NSW guidance identifies P2/N95 masks as capable of filtering fine smoke particles. A mask must fit the wearer and does not make it safe to remain in a fire area; follow fire authority instructions and leave when directed.
Drinking water and food
- Stored drinking water in sealed containers. NSW Rural Fire Service guidance and South Australian Country Fire Service guidance both use at least three litres per person per day as a baseline.
- Packaged, shelf-stable or long-life food that household members can eat without complex cooking. Include a manual can opener and any required utensils.
- Food for infants, medical diets, allergies and pets, with enough variety for the planned duration.
South Australia’s Country Fire Service specifies three litres of water per person per day and food for at least 48 hours in its Emergency kits guidance. NSW’s Emergency survival kit guidance also states at least three litres per person per day. These are preparedness recommendations, not a guarantee that two days is sufficient. Increase quantities for children, hot weather, medical needs, remote locations or an authority’s longer-duration advice. NEMA warns that water, electricity, gas, shops and pharmacies may be unavailable after an emergency.
Clothing and protection
- A complete change of clothes for each person, including long-sleeved natural-fibre clothing.
- Sturdy enclosed boots, a hat, safety glasses or goggles and gloves.
- Appropriate smoke masks, selected for fit and the wearer’s needs.
- A pure wool blanket if your plan calls for one. The Country Fire Authority’s What to take with you guidance warns against synthetic fibres and blends and says never to shelter under a wet wool blanket. Keep the blanket dry and do not treat it as a substitute for evacuation.
Choose clothing that covers skin without creating a trip hazard, and keep footwear immediately beside the kit rather than buried under other luggage.
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Documents, money, keys and valuables
- Identity documents, insurance details, medical information, prescriptions and copies of important records.
- Keys for the home, vehicles, gates and any required storage or medication locations.
- Cash and payment cards in case electronic payment systems or power are unavailable.
- A waterproof bag or container for documents, phones and other valuables. Keep backup copies of critical records in a secure location that remains accessible during an evacuation.
Include the information needed by someone helping you: emergency contacts, allergies, medications, health conditions, accessibility requirements and authority to make decisions for dependants.
Children, older people and disability-related supplies
- Infant formula or feeding equipment, nappies and wipes.
- Children’s comfort items, books, activities or headphones that make an abrupt move easier.
- Mobility aids, transfer equipment, communication cards, sensory items, continence supplies and spare batteries or chargers.
- Extra clothing and medications for older people or anyone who cannot easily replace personal items away from home.
Label personal bags and rehearse who will assist each person. A kit is only useful if the household can carry, load and use it under stress.
Pets and assistance animals
- Identification tags and current contact details; keep a photo and identifying information with your documents.
- Leash, harness, carrier or crate appropriate to each animal.
- Food, drinking water, bowls and any medicines.
- Familiar bedding or a toy to reduce stress.
Plan where animals can go before a fire threatens. Never assume an evacuation centre, motel or friend’s home accepts animals, and never leave a pet behind because loading was not practised.
Choose between a leave-ready kit and an extended household kit
Many households find it easier to separate supplies into two clearly marked containers. A small leave-ready bag contains the items needed in the first minutes: medicines, identity and insurance documents, phones and power, keys, masks, a radio, torch, essential clothing and pet restraints. A larger household container holds additional water, food, hygiene supplies, spare clothing and comfort items for the period after arrival. This division keeps the vehicle load manageable without discarding supplies that may be needed when services are disrupted.
| Comparison | Leave-ready container | Extended supplies |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Immediate evacuation | Several days away from normal services |
| Storage | At the exit or in the vehicle-loading area | Nearby, dry and easy for one person to move |
| Contents | Documents, medicines, communications, lighting, keys and restraints | Extra water, food, hygiene, clothing, batteries and household-specific items |
| Review | Every season and whenever a person, pet or prescription changes | Also rotate expiry-dated food, water and medicines |
Do not let the second container delay departure. If a warning is issued, take the ready bag and leave according to your plan; collect additional supplies only when this can be done safely and without delaying an evacuation direction.
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How much to pack for your household
Use the three-litres-per-person-per-day baseline for drinking water, then adjust for household circumstances and local advice. For example, two adults preparing for 48 hours would start with 12 litres for drinking (2 people × 3 litres × 2 days), before adding water for pets, medication, heat or a longer disruption. That calculation is a planning example, not a maximum.
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SA CFS names at least 48 hours of food, while NEMA’s checklist calls for at least three days of medication. Because the agencies do not publish one universal duration for every item, set a written target for your location and increase it when roads or services may be cut. Remote households should plan beyond the minimum where access to shops or pharmacies may be delayed. Rotate food, water and medicines before expiry; never remove essential medicines from their normal storage without replacing them.
Count each person and animal separately. Infants may need formula and feeding equipment rather than the household’s usual food. A person with a medical diet may need familiar shelf-stable alternatives. Pets need their own water, food and medication in addition to the human allowance. Write the quantities on an inventory sheet so a seasonal check reveals what has been used or outgrown.
Pack and store the kit: a practical procedure
- Write the plan. Record your leave-early trigger, destination, alternate route, meeting point, responsibilities, pet arrangements and who checks official warnings.
- Inventory the household. List every person’s medicines, equipment, clothing size, dietary needs and documents. List each pet separately.
- Choose the container. Use a sturdy waterproof tub or bag large enough to lift safely. Mark it clearly and add reflective tape if the area may be dark or smoky.
- Pack by priority. Put documents, medicines, phone power, radio, torch, keys and masks where they can be reached first. Keep heavy water low and secure.
- Add date-sensitive supplies. Label food, batteries and medicines with expiry dates and a replacement month.
- Store it at the exit. Keep the kit near the main departure route, away from likely heat, and tell every household member its exact location.
- Prepare a vehicle option. Keep a second small grab bag if the main container will not fit safely with people and pets. Do not overload a vehicle or block visibility.
- Test the plan. Once before fire season, practise collecting the kit, loading people and pets and departing. Time the exercise and fix anything that delays you.
Vehicle loading and evacuation practice
Practise packing the car with the kit, people and pets while there is no smoke or time pressure. Put carriers, leashes, boots and the container where they can be reached without moving other cargo. Keep fuel, keys and any accessibility equipment ready according to your household plan.
During a warning, check official channels, follow the route and destination in your plan, and leave while roads are open. Do not wait for the kit to be perfect. If authorities issue an evacuation direction, act on it even if some supplies remain unpacked. NEMA’s checklist emphasises early action because last-minute departure can coincide with smoke, traffic, fallen trees or closed roads.
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Assign jobs in advance: one person checks warnings, another gathers the ready container, another secures medication and documents, and another loads animals. Include a backup person for each task in case someone is away. Practise with mobility aids, child seats and carriers in place, and check that every passenger can enter and exit safely. A timed drill often exposes simple problems such as a key stored in the wrong room, a carrier that does not fit through the door or a charger missing its cable.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common kit mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for a warning: smoke and traffic can remove the time needed to shop, print documents or find a missing prescription.
- Relying on one power source: keep a battery radio, torch, spare batteries and phone power rather than assuming electricity or mobile networks will work.
- Using the water baseline as a cap: three litres per person per day is a published baseline, not a promise that an incident will end after 48 hours.
- Putting all supplies in an inaccessible place: a locked shed, dark cupboard or hot location can make a well-stocked kit unusable.
- Choosing the wrong blanket: CFA recommends pure wool, warns against synthetics and blends, and says never to shelter under a wet wool blanket.
- Assuming a mask replaces evacuation: P2/N95 masks can filter fine smoke particles when correctly fitted, but they do not make a fire area safe.
- Forgetting replacement cycles: medicines, batteries, food, water, children’s clothing and pet supplies change throughout the year.
- Leaving animal arrangements until departure: confirm destinations that accept pets and practise loading each animal.
Seasonal maintenance checklist
- Open every container and verify that the radio, torch, batteries, power bank and chargers work.
- Replace expired or damaged food, water, medicines, batteries and hygiene items.
- Check that documents, contact numbers, insurance details and prescriptions are current.
- Refit clothing, masks, boots and protective equipment to each person; replace anything outgrown or damaged.
- Confirm children’s, disability-related and pet supplies, including carriers and medication.
- Re-read the current state or territory fire authority guidance and update the written plan, routes and destination.
- Repeat the vehicle-loading drill and include anyone who may need to help during an evacuation.
State guidance to check before fire season
| Authority | Useful guidance | Distinct detail |
|---|---|---|
| NSW Government | Prepare your emergency survival kit | General emergency-kit preparation and storage advice. |
| NSW Rural Fire Service | Emergency survival kit | At least three litres of drinking water per person per day; kit framed for leaving or staying, subject to the written plan. |
| Queensland Fire Department | Bushfire evacuation kit | Evacuation-focused checklist; last updated 10 August 2026. |
| National Emergency Management Agency | Your Bushfire Emergency Evacuation Checklist | 2025 checklist; asks for a minimum of three days’ medication and stresses decisive early action. |
| Country Fire Authority Victoria | What to take with you | Pure wool blanket recommendation, with warnings about synthetics, blends and wet wool. |
| South Australian Country Fire Service | Emergency kits | Three litres of water per person per day and food for at least 48 hours. |
These checklists are not interchangeable legal instructions. Before each season, use the current guidance for your state or territory and any local warning or evacuation direction. Keep the kit ready, but let the written plan and official advice decide when and where you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I make a bushfire emergency kit?
Assemble it before the bushfire season starts, store it where everyone can reach it, and check it before each season and after use. Do not wait for smoke or an evacuation warning to begin shopping.
How much drinking water should I store?
NSW Rural Fire Service and South Australian Country Fire Service guidance use at least three litres per person per day. SA CFS also specifies food for at least 48 hours. Increase quantities for pets, heat, medical needs, remote locations and longer local advice.
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Do I need a radio if I have a mobile phone?
Yes. A battery-operated radio provides another way to receive official warnings if electricity, internet or mobile networks are unavailable. Keep a torch, spare batteries, charging cables and a power bank as well.
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Are P2 or N95 masks enough during a bushfire?
NSW guidance identifies P2/N95 masks as able to filter fine smoke particles when correctly fitted. They do not make remaining in a fire area safe and never replace an early evacuation decision.
What kind of blanket belongs in the kit?
The Victorian Country Fire Authority recommends pure wool and warns against synthetic fibres and blends. Never shelter under a wet wool blanket; keep it dry and follow your evacuation plan.
Should I make a separate kit for pets?
Include identification, a leash, harness or carrier, food, water, medication and familiar bedding or a toy for each animal. Confirm in advance where pets can go because not every evacuation centre or accommodation accepts animals.
Can I use the kit if I plan to stay and defend my home?
NSW describes a survival kit as useful whether leaving or staying, but a kit does not make property defence safe or advisable. Your written bushfire survival plan and current official warnings determine what you do; evacuate when directed.
How much medicine should be packed?
The National Emergency Management Agency checklist asks for a minimum of three days’ medication. Keep medicines labelled, include prescriptions and a medication list, and ask a clinician or pharmacist about a safe reserve for critical medicines.
The Bottom Line
Build and test a clearly marked, waterproof bushfire kit before fire season. Start with at least three litres of drinking water per person per day, food for the duration you have planned, medicines, radio, lighting, phone power, documents, protective clothing, personal supports and pet supplies. Store it where it can be loaded quickly, practise leaving with people and animals, and act on official warnings early; no kit replaces a written survival plan or a timely evacuation.
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