How schools prepare for emergencies
Schools plan and prepare using their emergency management plan, based on local risks.
Sometimes schools temporarily close due to emergencies and on advice from emergency services. These emergencies can include fires, floods, storms and other natural disasters.
We do not make these decisions lightly. Our schools’ top priority is always the safety of staff and students.
Every school has an emergency management plan outlining their response to local risks.
Schools will communicate with parents and carers as soon as they can. This includes if they need to pause face-to-face learning for the next day or during the day due to an emergency.
Bushfire risk ratings and school closures
In 2022, the department reviewed the bushfire risk of its 2,200 public schools.
Every NSW public school has a risk rating, from Category 1 (most risk) to Category 4 (least risk).
These ratings reflect the risk profile of each school to bushfire and grassfire.
They consider:
- landscape
- distance to vegetation
- bushfire behaviour
- impact of catastrophic bushfire behaviour
- evacuation options
- isolation from emergency services.
The department directs Category 1 and Category 2 schools to proactively close if:
- catastrophic Fire Danger Ratings are issued for the following day
- higher risk fire conditions are forecast.
We don’t direct schools to close if the fire danger rating changes during the day. However, the school closely monitors conditions and will respond if fires start nearby.
We may temporarily close any school based on nearby fires or other emergencies after talking to emergency services.
You can find a list of temporarily closed schools on School operational status.
Schools will provide learning from home for students when face-to-face learning is unavailable.
The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) also launched in September 2022. All states and territories use the same colours, signs and words to signal the threat of fires.
These new ratings under the AFDRS are moderate, high, extreme and catastrophic.
| Level | Colour | Key message |
|---|---|---|
Moderate |
Green |
Plan and prepare. |
High |
Yellow |
Be ready to act. |
Extreme |
Orange |
Act now to protect your life and property. |
Catastrophic |
Red |
For your survival, leave bushfire risk areas. If a fire starts and takes hold, lives are likely to be lost. |
Learn more about the Australian Fire Danger Rating System.
How schools prepare for the Bushfire Danger Period
The Bushfire Danger Period is from 1 October to 31 March each year. The NSW Rural Fire Service can vary these dates due to local conditions. Check the dates of your local Bushfire Danger Period.
NSW public schools review their emergency management plan before the Bushfire Danger Period. Their plan includes a bushfire and grassfire response plan or a response to other impacts such as smoke and road closures as relevant.
Schools communicate with their communities at the start of the Bushfire Danger Period. They explain why they may need to temporarily close.
Our approach to preparing for bushfires is informed by the NSW Bushfire Inquiry, National Natural Disaster Arrangements and the work of the department’s Bushfire Relief Strategy from 2020 to 2023. This program supported the more than 250 NSW public schools directly impacted during the 2019-20 bushfires.
Bushfire Hazard Mitigation Program
More than one-third of NSW’s public schools are located on bushfire-prone land.
Our Bushfire Hazard Mitigation Program helps protect schools in these areas by reducing fuel. This lowers the risk to buildings if bushfires or grassfires occur.
We review the risk to infrastructure on bushfire-prone land, including the potential impact on neighboring properties.
School Infrastructure NSW maintains vegetation – which includes trimming trees and bushes and mowing grass – as needed, at least every year or two. This is scheduled based on seasonal outlooks and local climatic conditions.
Schools on bushfire-prone land are assessed individually with multiple considerations, including the surrounding environment and vegetation conditions.
This informs school specific Bushfire Vegetation Management Plans (BVMP). These plans might be different for schools located close to one another.
We maintain asset protection zones based on each school’s BVMP. This zone provides a buffer of reduced bushfire fuel between a bushfire hazard and buildings. This allows space for:
- fire suppression
- backburning
- emergency services access.
The zones can include:
- bushland
- grassland
- fire breaks
- landscaping
- playgrounds
- ovals and sport courts
- buildings
- roads
- car parks.
More information
Your school will tell you if there is activity under the Bushfire Hazard Mitigation Program which impacts you. For further information:
- learn more about the Bushfire Hazard Mitigation Program (staff only)
- email schoolinfrastructure@det.nsw.edu.au.
Smoke and air quality
Schools take steps to minimise exposure to bushfire smoke and heat where possible. This includes cancelling sports and outdoor activities and keeping everyone indoors during breaks. Schools will try to keep students calm.
Speak with your school about reviewing student health care plans and ensure medications are available. School staff monitor students and follow first aid plans if students are unwell because of poor air quality.
Be prepared
Before the Bushfire Danger Period, we recommend you speak with your family about how you prepare and respond to fires.
The NSW Rural Fire Service have resources to help you develop your plan online in as few as 5 minutes at myfireplan.com.au.
For more information on how you can prepare your family for natural disasters, visit Get Ready NSW.
Stay informed
Stay up to date during the bushfire danger period and when there is local bushfire activity:
- Hazards Near Me app – download the app and set up a watch zone for your home and school
- Live Traffic NSW
- local radio, TV, newspaper and your local ABC/emergency broadcaster
In an emergency call Triple Zero (000).
